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Specification

Manufacturer description

TYPE: Fully Automatic exposure control type 35mm SLR with TTL electronic system.

FILM: 35mm roll film with 20 or 36 exposures.

PICTURE SIZE: 24 x 36mm.

STANDARD LENS: Auto Cosinon MC 55mm f/1.4 or MC 50mm f/1.8 in straight helical action with fully automatic aperture.

SHUTTER: Copal EF-394 electrically controlled focal plane shutter. Auto electronic shutter: 2 - 1/2000 sec. (continuous with no stages). Manual shutter: B, 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125(x), 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 - 1/2000 sec.

FINDER: Pentaprism finder with fresnel lens and cross microprism, magnification 0.9X, field of view approx. 95%, eyesight -0.8 diopter.

FOCUSING: Image on focusing plate blown up with distance scale for viewing.

MIRROR: Quick return type.

FILM WIND: With wind lever (in an arc of 180° with a play of 20°).

FILM COUNTER: Automatic re-setting exposure counter.

FILM REWIND: Crank type.

LENS INTERCHANGE: Screw mount (42 dia. mm P=1mm.).

SYNCHRO FLASH: FP and X (terminal of JIS B type), X - 1/125 sec. with hot shoe (X).

EXPOSURE: TTL meter of average light metering type (silicon blue cell), automatic exposure system giving priority to aperture determination (shutter speed indicated in finder), automatic exposure range EV 1 - 19 (with ASA 100 at F/1.4 - 16), film speed ASA 25 - 1600 with built-in light memory by IC circuit.

POWER SOURCE: 6V silver battery cell of 4G-13 type (Eveready No. 544 or Mallory 4G 13).

BATTERY CHECKER: Run-down indicated in finder.

FILM TYPE REMINDER: Reversal, panchromatic and color.

OTHERS: Release lock, film loading indicator window, self-timer.

ACCESSORIES: Finder cap, lens cap, battery, shoulder strap stop, shoulder strap ring.

From the Modern Photography magazine (December 1973)

The Argus/Cosina EC 2000, one of the most interesting cameras introduced at Photokina '72, provides automatic aperture-preferred exposure at full aperture without specially keyed thread-mount lenses. When you consider that the thread mount in question is the extremely popular Pentax/Praktica-type screw thread, you get an idea of the interchangeable lens capability of this camera. While viewing and focusing is done at full aperture, the actual exposure measurement of the whole picture area is made just an instant before the shutter is opened.

This nearly instantaneous operation requires a sort of two-stroke shutter release. After setting the film speed on a small collar around the shutter-speed dial and setting the latter dial to "Auto," you then select your aperture. Next, you press the somewhat stiff, high-riding shutter release slowly. When you reach a point about halfway down, you'll hear a definite click as the diaphragm is stopped down to the preselected aperture. It's at this instant that the meter's fast-acting silicon cells determine the shutter speed, which is indicated by a needle at the left side of the viewfinder. Continue pressing and needle and setting are locked in as the picture is taken.

Even when using the single, steady stroke you normally use to release the shutter, you will - for that instant - see the finder darken as the lens is stopped down. But since the entire metering operation takes less than 1/10 sec., the only practical diference you might notice in shooting is a slightly prolonged blackout of the instant-return mirror. The action is so fast that you can't see the point at which the needle is crossing the scale. So you never actually know what shutter speed you are using. But if you must know, you can go through the two-step stroke described above. In one respect, however, this method is actually preferable. When shooting a backlit subject, you can take your reading right off your subject, hold the shutter in the halfway position, go back to shooting position and take the picture.

Cosina's good try at automation still isn't perfect. Since the EC 2000 works with all sorts of lenses, they couldn't pin down the memory circuit switch-in timing. The shutter-release button switches in the circuit right after it stops down the lens diaphragm. As a result, if you press down the release too fast, the circuit memorizes the scene's brightness while the diaphragm is still moving and you get an incorrect reading. Based on our experience, we recommend holding the release button momentarily at the stop-down point.

Despite the full manual override available when you turn the shutter dial, the meter does not work as a match-needle system. You must stop down the diaphragm, read out the shutter speed, transfer it manually, push the diaphragm reopening button to reopen the diaphragm and then focus, compose and shoot.

From the editor

The dimensions are indicated for the camera body with the 55mm F/1.4 standard lens.

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