And youre right: the way of unleashing the hidden potential (or: simply trying to use the manual functions in a sensible way) is completely unlogical most of the time. Ive noticed that the more a person pays for a camera, the more inclined they are to review it positively. The Konica Hexar, first released in 1993, is a fixed-lens, autofocus camera from Konica with a 35mm f2 lens, rather expensive when new. On top of this, it also offers a few extra options often lauded as hidden features that unlock its potential. But too many button combos make Jack throw the camera across the room, or at least put it in a drawer. The Konica HX-14 flash is cute but not necessary. Because of this, certain lenses cannot be mounted without damaging the arm: those with excessively protruding rear elements (often super wide-angle) and some collapsible lenses (which can be used if you dont fully collapse them). Dimensions: Width 137.5mm, height 76.5mm, depth 64.5mm For more precise shots Ive used the manual mode. Your regular 50mm f/1.8 or 50mm f/1.7 Minolta lenses are dirt cheap, and 50mm f/1.4 or 55mm f/1.4 lenses are incredibly affordable as well. Pre-Owned. Its actually this raft of features that largely speaking have put me off using it. In my opinion, the most impressive aspects of the AF include: (1) its fantastic 35mm lens; (2) its modern implementation of the 1960s guide number flash system; (3) its nice parallax-corrected viewfinder; (4) extensive user control over all of its functions; (5) its optional "silent mode;" and (6) the ability to use regular camera filters. I recommend either the Metabones or the Fotodiox Pro, with an edge to the Metabones. The Konica AR System Viewfinder accessories Eye cups The rubber eye cup protects the viewfinder from light reflections that can make focusing difficult in strong-light conditions. Haha. I wouldnt buy one at the current price theyre fetching. The second is that I think its most good in program auto. The AFs external hot shoe flash system was a modern implementation of the old 1960s guide number flash system, appearing in such products as the Auto SE and the Auto S3. The Canon P, despite being the less advanced of the two, commands higher prices, but can often be found for under $225, though prices have been on the rise. Leica and Minolta designed and released the Leica 40/2 Summicron with the camera as well as the Leica Elmar-C 90/4. The faster 35/2.8 lens and rangefinder coupling of the original XA, along with aperture priority, allows for a bit more versatility and control compared to the XA2 and XA3. The Konica Hexar AF is one of those cameras. Holy mackerel! But sharpness and contrast? Shutter speed, however, is only displayed in the viewfinder. You have only the distance numbers to go by, you can't look through the viewfinder and use a focus patch to focus. The only difference between the two is the addition of an electronic self-timer in the GT, as well as the relocation of the cable release socket to a position less likely to result in accidental triggering. On a personal note, in my experience with thousands of cameras, there is no correlation regarding longevity or reliability and whether the camera is mechanical or electronic. This is an inherent trade-off in return for their diminutive size. Thanks Jack, they're lovely cameras to use :), Hi Daniel, Vic is technically retired, which is probably why you can't find contact details. Lomopedia: Konica Hexar 5 Share Tweet. Thus if the v/f readout malfunctions and appears not to be working, the camera may still expose correctly and still be usable as an aperture priority point-and-shoot. Like most Contax lenses, G-mount glass was made by Carl Zeiss, and they are some of the companys finest work. Another in your Hexar category; try using it without its user manual! The only thing that doesn't put it in the same league is the fixed 35mm lens. Again, there are so many variables, I could never do that. It also works well for exposure compensation when using filters. 1.8k Posted March 26, 2008 The 35mm Hexar AF came with a non-zoom 35mm f/2 lens. The Konica Hexar combines everything one can look for in a point & shoot: image quality, innovative design and speed of use. If using 400/800 speed film in daylight conditions, a neutral density filter is pretty much necessary. The first model, the Olympus XA, is a tiny rangefinder-coupled, aperture-priority (with +1.5 backlight compensation) compact fitted with a sterling six-element 35/2.8 F.Zuiko lens and a leaf shutter up to 1/500 of a second. The Nikon F6 unsurprisingly the sixth model in Nikons highest tier of professional models that began with the Nikon F in 1959 was released in 2004, supplanting the also excellent Nikon F5. Konica Hexar RF - KenRockwell.com Nothing about Konicas early 1990s camera product line, consisting mostly of semi-advanced point-and-shoots in the form of the Big Mini series, would have foreshadowed the AF. If you search for Contax G1 bodies, you may find some described as green label. These are updated versions with modified ROM and will have a literal green label inside where the film canister sits. Realistic to the lens, the film, the scanner I used or the subject/lighting? Konica Hexar AF - ten years later Konica Hexar AF - ten years later. So, whilst not exactly a hidden feature, I do wonder how many users know this? I started taking photos at the age of 9. Automatic Infrared Film Focus Compensation: When using infrared film, the AF has a setting that will automatically adjust the focus appropriately. Shutter speed, aperture, and light meter values can be easily seen and adjusted while looking down at the camera and the quality of the Zeiss-designed 40mm Sonnar lens speaks for itself. Thats far more than most cameras in this price range, plus it has an unusually extensive ASA range from 12 to 3200. So capable and tech-filled was the EOS-1V, Canon would continue to manufacture it for another 18 years until they ended production of all non-digital bodies in 2018. Quite often cameras include a button on the back of the camera for thumb activation of modes like this this isnt the case with the Konica Hexar. X100 and Konica Hexar AF | Rangefinderforum That camera was the G1 a titanium-clad body with electronically controlled exposure, autofocus, and rangefinder system. But without an instruction manual one will not be aware of a hidden feature concerning the shutter. My second choice, and one that does have a hidden feature as it is not mentioned in the user manual, is the Olympus XA. The date function only goes up to December 31, 2019. And all the points are valid Dont care . Because of the aforementioned legal trouble, Konica stated that it had removed this feature from the AF Silver. There are of course many other cameras that are just as quiet, though its fair to say that the Konica Hexar is at very least one of, if not the quietest autofocus auto-advancing camera Ive come across. Its bulkier- but consequently easier to hold. Took a fall I thought would shake all the fittings loose. Konica Hexar RF vs M6 - Leica and Rangefinders In program mode, it tells you either (not both) the set shutter speed or the aperture. It shows too - it's not in mint condition - but it's not far off. To any reasonably knowledgeable photographer some cameras dont need much thinking about to operate them. Cheers Jran, Thanks Jran, I well remember the days mashing buttons on my snes I guess Im not the only one , The Hexar is one of the, if not the, fastest cameras for grab shots. [] it just needs unlocking via a crazy combination of buttons akin to activating some sort of horrendous finish him move on Mortal Kombat- sometimes, your reviews just make me laugh! The lens is excellent, the viewfinder is a pleasure, and it is built well. The upgrade allows these bodies to use the 21mm and 35mm lenses (regular G1s can only use the 16mm, 28mm, 45mm, and 90mm lenses). According to the manual, to December 31, 2019. I suspect the because we can do rather than the why got the better of Konicas designers and why accessing its functions is so obfuscating. To set the ISO manually you have to switch it into aperture priority, the press and hold select for a moment then again use the unlabelled up and down buttons. So if its designed as a kickass P&S, why be chuffed at hidden features. mashtosh (959) 100%. Otherwise, the bodies and features are nearly identical. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I still regret selling mine during my Leica M2 honeymoon period; but Ive ran into issues with shutter switch reliability on multiple occasions and couldnt really trust it fully after that. Of course, the AF can also use any regular old electronic auto mode flash. Ive recently found myself less and less inclined to force myself to use cameras that dont feel right for me, and using the Konica Hexar quite strongly gives me that feeling. Im presenting what my set of variables achieve. And what do you mean by post process something in the scan, or lightroom? Free shipping. To me, the Hexar feels a little like a complicated camera trapped in the body of a simple one. Clearly youre not a proper photographer, Hamish Proper photographers set the camera to auto and P mode, and get out and about shooting great shots! from Japan. The Hexar AF is often said to be one of the best available for street photographers and has a fixed 35mm f2 lens stated to be a copy of a Leica Summicron. Each pick is based on user experience and, naturally, my personal preferences. More than once I have wondered why I am even messing with the Hexar. Its a unique piece of tech with some quirks that make it absolutely irresistible to me. Unfortunately for the Konica Hexar, I dont see it like that. But I love it anyway. This will be clear to the massive majority of people who read this website in fact, in 6 years, millions of pageviews, Ive not had anyone subject that I am presenting anything falsely. Im a bit late to this post, but the Hexar AF was in the top 2 film cameras Ive ever had. There is a system that determineswhich it shows but cant get my head around it in any way that it sticks in my brain. The F3HP is simply the F3 with a high-eyepoint finder (very nice for those of us who wear glasses). A few quick buttons pushed easily becoming muscle memory and you can have the lens out and pre focussed at hyperfocal distance and its like the Ricoh GRs snap mode. Konica Hexar AF - ten years later - Accessories Absolutely right; in camera design, hidden features is a nice way of saying crap design. As I guess Ive made it quite clear that me and this camera didnt entirelygel. I wonder if he works for Sony This limitation is puzzling as leaf shutters can often achieve at least 1/500. The Konica Hexar AF is like a Leica! In 1996, Konica commissioned a run of lenses in both the Leica M mount and Leica Thread Mount. That said, since the distance reading is only accurately shown on top of the camera, the only way to use it with ease and accuracy is to look at the top of the camera rather than through the viewfinderwhen activating it. Viewfinder: The viewfinder is a 0.7x window, with crosshair reticle for 2-channel infrared autofocusing, green light for focus confirmation . Like the M4, it had framelines for 35/50/90/135mm lenses with a 0.72 magnification viewfinder. Since then I've taken photos for a hobby, sold cameras for a living, and for a little more than decade I've been a professional photographer and, of course, weekly contributor to 35mmc. For me the ratio of keepers that I was satisfied with to be slighly higher from the hexar. Like the Tessar, focus was controlled via a ring at the end of the lens, while the aperture and shutter speed were set via dials positioned to the right and left of the lens, respectively. Review: The Konica Hexar AF Silver - davidde.com None of this itself is a reason to add it to your bag, but the lenses are what clinch the deal. Konica Hexar | Camerapedia | Fandom This feature can also allow ashooting experience thats akin to how I enjoy shooting cameras like the Olympus AF-10 Super (which doesnt have the lower shutter speeds at all). The leaf shutter and manual film advance mean youll never hear the camera in action unless you happen to be alone in a padded isolation room. In my opinion, the most impressive aspects of the AF include: (1) its fantastic 35mm lens; (2) its modern implementation of the 1960s guide number flash system; (3) its nice parallax-corrected viewfinder; (4) extensive user control over all of its functions; (5) its optional silent mode; and (6) the ability to use regular camera filters. Neutral Density Filters: One of the best things you can do to get the most out of the AF is to invest in a high-quality 2 or 3 stop neutral density filter. Image credits: Header photo by Mia Domenico. Guide Number Flash System: The AFs electronic leaf shutter permits flash synchronization at all shutter speeds. It allows one to use non-DX coded film cassettes at any ASA. Im glad you linked to my review at the start of yours. A working Canon 7 can be sourced for under $150, though if you intend to use the light meter, be sure to check its accuracy as selenium meters often didnt stand the test of time. The XA3 retained identical features as the XA2 but added automatic DX coding, ASA 1600 support, and the backlight compensation feature from the original XA. The Data Back: The AF Silver came with a data back whose only function is to perhaps ruin your photo by imprinting a date on the bottom right quadrant of your negative. The following model, the XA1, is a fixed-focus point and shoot with a 35mm f/4 lens, programmed auto exposure, limited film speed settings of ASA 100 and 400, and maximum 1/250th of a second shutter. Required fields are marked *. There were also some improvements: a hinged door, which would eventually become the standard camera design, 35mm framelines and parallax correction in the viewfinder, and metal shutter curtains, preventing burning. Where it has one significant advantage is in one of the hidden features: the Critical speed setting. I said at the time that I had no intention of doing this, unfortunately, Im going to have to go back on my response a little here. Full disclosure, I havent held one, much less shot it. The first rangefinder to hit the market from the Canon Camera Company was the Hansa Canon in 1936, which was fitted with a Nikkor bayonet focusing mount. Unfortunately for the Konica Hexar, there are so many design decisions that I find confusing to use that in many ways I just cant see how anyone could perfectly get on with every facet of this cameras function. But Im OK with putting up with that because its not a huge problem and the lens is so worth it. This was the era of crap user interfaces and poor instructions- so to flip it on its head I almost want to celebrate their ingenuity for adding so much to the camera with so few buttons , albeit in such a ridiculously arcane way!I use my Hexar as a point and shoot- just leave it on autoand enjoy whats great about it. In our opinion, the best U.S.-based sources for vintage cameras are Roberts Camera (UsedPhotoPro) in Indianapolis, Indiana, and KEH Camera in Smyrna, Georgia. As you can see looking back again at the quick guide there are a whole bunch of manual focus modes. Konica Hexar 35mm AF Rangefinder Film Camera Silver with 35/2 Lens Japan F/S. curates egg Ive not head that before sounds about right! While this function may have been useful for some documentary, industrial, or scientific purposes, it is useless for taking real photos. , Pingback: The Konica Hexar AF - Guest Review by Rob MacKillop. Closing Update (3): Sending the silver one back. In my opinion, the 2.8/90 Sonnar and 2/45 Planar stand out as the crown jewels. You just saved me money! I use it as a quieter, quicker stylus epic or yashica t5 with a better viewfinder and faster lens. konica hexar af for sale As the quick guide shows, to get to exposure compensation you press select in either auto mode, then used the two unlabelled up and down buttons to set it. The Hexar also excels in several other ways due to its larger construction: there is actually a slight grip rather than the flat-fronted, boxy designs of the others, and the viewfinder is of significantly higher magnification closer to an actual rangefinder than a point and shoot. Combined with 35mm f/2 Im interested to see how close I can get to this, but with a user experience I can get on board with. It uses all LEICA lenses, as well as Leica-mount lenses from Konica and others. Modes being accessed through combinations of unlabelled buttons combined with important shot feedback that can only be seen on the top of the camera just doesnt work for me. As for the XA, I would call that contingency, rather than a hidden feature . The CLE also added a frame line for 28mm lenses in addition to 40 and 90mm lenses the former was paired with the release of Minoltas new M-Rokkor 28/2.8. Your choice will depend on the features you want. Furthermore, from 1972 to 1973, some Rollei 35 cameras featured a 40/3.5 S-Xenar lens made by Schneider. Ricoh GR1 Review The Path to Enlightenment, Fuji Klasse W Comments on Exposure and Focusing, The Konica Hexar AF - Guest Review by Rob MacKillop, https://filmosaur.wordpress.com/2017/04/26/meet-the-camera-hexar-af-rhodium/, https://www.35mmc.com/08/04/2019/my-colour-film-photography-workflow-or-a-rant-about-how-software-isnt-the-enemy/, Konica Hexar AF - A Love Letter To - By Ong Sien Hong - 35mmc, Rolleiflex 2.8D Getting to know a Classic Three Years of Ownership. Viewfinder [ edit] The viewfinder uses projected parallax -corrected brightline framelines which shows the field of view to be captured when a photograph is taken. Find One For (in 2023): $500. And even worse, trying to then remember how you did it! The last photo is beautiful. The Hexar AF is a great fixed lens camera. Subscribehere. The program auto on the Konica Hexar is much as you might find on most cameras. 15 Best Vintage Cameras for Pro Photographers in 2023 . For another assessment, my initial impressions are here: https://filmosaur.wordpress.com/2017/04/26/meet-the-camera-hexar-af-rhodium/, Cheers for the thoughts (and nice to hear from you!) I just dont expect cameras from past eras to be great interface wise. The Minolta CLE is not only superior to the Leica CL by every metric, but usually, not much more expensive, and the M-Rokkor lenses are decidedly cheaper than their (single-coated) Leica counterparts. Peter Lindbergh in the 90's Now I get it. That really is at the fringes of useful though isnt it 9 films? Inside the viewfinder, you do get a basic distance indicator, parallax correction and a few little lights that tell you useful information. No matter your chosen focal length, the entire viewfinder will be used. Konica Hexar RF - Wikipedia It would have been the carry with me camera. I absolutely love the Nikon Ti series (in either 28mm or 35mm flavors): theyre fitted with utterly fantastic lenses and the at first odd and potentially off-putting dials on top are one of my favorite points of design in any camera. Aperture Priority is also straightforward, with you setting the aperture on the rotating dial and the camera sets the appropriate shutter speed. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I was absolutely gutted when it broke and I couldnt find anyone to repair it. These shots would have looked a lot different if they were scanned with a frontier scanner compared to the Noritsu that was used. I suppose as long as the difficult shots arent fleeting which is I suppose probably core to my issue now I come to think about it in that context. Of course, if you have set a manual focus distance, you will have to reset it again after you turn it on, but never mind that. At 50 ASA, daylight photos can be shot at normal apertures. It appealed with its superb lens and the general high quality of its construction. When you use AF in the optical viewfinder, the AF measurement window will be shifted to reflect viewfinder parallax as a function of focus distance. It is certainly not in line with my normal camera preferences I prefer my cameras to have come from the pre-battery era but Ive used it some and I really dont find it that objectionable. Its predecessor, the Leica CL (sometimes labeled Leitz Minolta CL), was designed in concert with Minolta and released in 1973. All our Contributors have an ad-free experience for life.Sign uphere. One touch infinity has its uses and is easy enough to access, but as soon as you want to set focus to a distance, you are into the world of button pressing. Treat It Like a Point and Shoot: At the end of the day, although the AF has remarkable capability and user override, in my opinion, the AF is really best used as an advanced point and shoot that can excel in available-light situations. Interestingly, Konica serviced the Hexar for a long time, they stopped servicing it a few years ago, simply because there were no more parts available to keep fixing them. Filters are very useful for, e.g., protecting a lens, for black and white photography, and for increasing exposure time with neutral density filters. While the AF can do a lot, many of its advanced functions require some button and switch combinations that are neither necessarily intuitive or easy to remember without a cheat sheet. Nikon Reviews Canon Reviews See more Hexar image examples at Free Digital Camera, which is this is if you want. Product Information. Three years later, Canon would release the Canon 7, whose biggest design change was the addition of a selenium exposure meter into the cameras top. Focusing screens are also easily interchangeable. KONICA HEXAR AF: the best point and shoot ever? - Davide Caniatti Feel free to post a link to some photos youve taken with it always interested! Free shipping. Sign up here. Konica Hexar RF 35mm Film Camera Review - YouTube Its quite relieving to read I was half expecting to read from fans of the camera no, youre not using it right etc.. Youre just lucky I didnt have my pitchfork on me . Because of the Rollei 35s success, in 1967 a higher-end variant was planned for market, but due to the productions shift from Germany to Singapore, it would be a number of years before it saw an audience. Eventually, the Rollei 35S now the most desirable of Rollei 35 models debuted with a new, faster 40mm f/2.8 Zeiss-designed and licensed Sonnar lens. The two lenses perform remarkably similarly. Sadly it was laid to rest in 2015. That is, with the shifted AF window, you can do . Unlike the CL, the CLE utilized a silicon photodiode meter that measured the light reflected off the unique spotted patterning of the shutter curtain protruding rear elements or collapsible lenses were no longer an issue. Its really interesting what you say about the guy who designed it makes me wonder what hes doing now? Konica Hexar AF Correction Lens -0.5 -1.0 -1.5 -2.0 -2.5 -3.0 -3.5 -4.0 1Piece. Nippon Kogaku (later Nikon), Chiyoda Kogaku Seiko (later Minolta), Tanaka Kogaku, Showa Kogaku there was no shortage of options, many of which used Leicas M39 thread mount. I think it sounds like youre on the right track with the c35! On vacation a few months ago I used it to shoot some slide film because of the auto-exposure, and it did well. Thats how my Hexar would finish up. over one year later.) Unlike the XA2 and XA3, which only gave users the choice of one of three focus positions (1.2-1.8m, 1.8m-6.3m, and 6.3m to infinity), the XA4s sliding scale allowed for incremental positioning anywhere between infinity and the cameras 0.3m minimum focus distance. This camera was on my list to try some day. Oddly enough, the W-Nikkors barrel distortion is much better controlled, perhaps due to its use of discontinued (and slightly radioactive) lanthanum glass. All of the Olympus XA models remain quite affordable and can usually be found for under $200. The 90 Sonnar can be found for very reasonable prices and is a must-have lens for any G1 or G2 owner. Make sure to check compatibility between lens types (MD versus MC) if you intend to use the X-700s program auto mode (MC lenses are aperture priority or manual only). The Konica Hexar AF is a really great camera. But as I say, its basically moot, since you cant see the when youre taking a photo anyway. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The lens and viewfinder are both clean with no hazing or fungus, there is no visible dusting. Additionally, reported lens quality equals the best Mandler designs. 1/250 Top Shutter Speed: The most popular gripe about the AF is its relatively-low maximum shutter speed of 1/250. The viewfinder also includes lights for over/under exposure, a spartan distance scale which collapses appropriately, and a warning light if the subject is too close to focus. Ditto. Why two? Typically, I mostly just leave it in program mode and use it for snapshots or in aperture priority wide open to get some depth-of-field. I mainly use mine as a point & shoot with the benefit of full manual controls whenever I need them. In simple terms, if you set the cameras critical speed to 1/30 even if the light meter in the camera determines that there isnt enough light it wont use a slower shutter speed. This isnt because I dont think its a good camera, I think its a brilliant camera (sort of), Ive just really struggled to make it work for me. It is about evaluating a product. To me, this isnt representative of hidden features, it just feels like slightly shit user interface design. The Nikon F3 is one of the finest cameras ever made. It would be pointless trying. Get the best deals on Camera Viewfinders & Eyecups for Konica Minolta when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. Before I bought the camera I was convinced I could make it work for me, but after trying it I found that to be far from the truth. As such it is very similar to the viewfinder/rangefinder of Leica M-mount cameras (if, perhaps, not as bright). + 35mm f2 (199.6g). The poor implementation of focus hold being a particular frustration. Since the finders are interchangeable, a regular F3 can become an F3HP by swapping in the DE-3 finder, and an F3HP can use one of the many other finders available including the basic DE-2 finder.
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