The Autoreflex TC was smaller and lighter than any previous Konica slr. It achieved this distinction because the body used plastic parts for bringing down the weight and lowering the cost of construction, but the frame was still made of metal. The top cover with the prism housing was cast as one piece of plastic but was very resistant to wear. There was no standard silver and black version like most cameras of the era, the Autoreflex TC was offered only in black. It featured an improved, brighter viewfinder and was equipped with split-image focusing and a microprism ring. A new version of Konica’s Hexanon AR 50mm F/1.7 lens was developed specifically for the Autoreflex TC. Its design and optics have garnered accolades and it has become known as one of the best 50mm lenses of the era.