Poisoned by dantestella, I just got a UC Hexanon 35f2 recently. The test shots show that it is definitely as good if not better than the pre-ASPH cron. BTW, the canon LTM 35f2 is also excellent but the UC Hexanon has richer color.
YOL
Konica Hexanon M Lenses
- Thread starter K3N
- Start date
- Status
Poisoned by dantestella, I just got a UC Hexanon 35f2 recently. The test shots show that it is definitely as good if not better than the pre-ASPH cron. BTW, the canon LTM 35f2 is also excellent but the UC Hexanon has richer color.
YOL
Hacker
Senior Member
Go to Evilbay! http://cgi.ebay.com/Konica-HEXANON-...hZ005QQcategoryZ30063QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem
This is the UC (Ultra Coat or Ultra Compact) but in Chrome version. Add the John Milich Adapter (US$180 for shipping) and the Heliopan UV/IR (US$120 including shipping) and you will have an absolute gem.
Hacker
Senior Member
I think this is the last one:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Konica-UC-HEX...9004025QQihZ002QQcategoryZ30062QQcmdZViewItem
Remember, only 1000 were made. The chrome one listed seems to be the initial non-tabbed ones produced. BUY NOW!! Black enamel!!!
Hacker
Senior Member
More food for thought:
Erwin Puts does write that overall the Hexar 35/2 is better than Leica's 35/2 pre-Asph (Cron IV).
Chasseur d' Images #240 published earlier reports on the Hexar and Leica lenses together. They rate the Hexar 35/2 highly. Four stars for "Note technique" and "Cote d'amour" -- but they rate the Leica Summicron 35/2 Asph higher: five stars on both counts. (Interestingly, they rate the Hexar 28/2.8 higher than the new Elmarit 28/2.8.) See pages 176 and 177.
Erwin Puts views on lenses better than Leica's, e.g. Canon 300 f2.8 IS, Konica Hexanon 50 f2, Hexanon 35 f2, Voigtlander Nokton 50 f1.5!
Stephen Gandy from CameraQuest: An ODD thing about these lenses is that if you put them side by side their Leica equivalents, the Konica lenses appear to be the better made with heavier construction! OK, I know it's Leica heresy even to suggest such a possibility, but try putting the new Konica M lenses side by side current lens offerings from Solms, and draw your own conclusions.
Colin Jago (Auspiscious Dragon): 50mm f2 KM mount - 1999. Very highly regarded.
Robert Hitt: Konica had a peculiar, almost dilettante attitude to lens production. Almost Leica-like in some ways with the limited production runs. Hexanon has always been of the highest quality. During their production heyday years the Hexanon lenses were used by the Japanese Ministry of Industry as the reference standard by which the quality of all other manufacturers' lenses were judged. There are other Japanese companies that make extremely high quality glass in limited quantity that fit Leica, the Y.K. Optical Company that makes the Kobalux lenses comes to mind.
The older Summicon has interesting imaging properties, but has problems with 'valed flare' which can lower contrast over the whole image, and in extreme cases 'halo flare'.
Erwin Puts does write that overall the Hexar 35/2 is better than Leica's 35/2 pre-Asph (Cron IV).
Chasseur d' Images #240 published earlier reports on the Hexar and Leica lenses together. They rate the Hexar 35/2 highly. Four stars for "Note technique" and "Cote d'amour" -- but they rate the Leica Summicron 35/2 Asph higher: five stars on both counts. (Interestingly, they rate the Hexar 28/2.8 higher than the new Elmarit 28/2.8.) See pages 176 and 177.
Erwin Puts views on lenses better than Leica's, e.g. Canon 300 f2.8 IS, Konica Hexanon 50 f2, Hexanon 35 f2, Voigtlander Nokton 50 f1.5!
Stephen Gandy from CameraQuest: An ODD thing about these lenses is that if you put them side by side their Leica equivalents, the Konica lenses appear to be the better made with heavier construction! OK, I know it's Leica heresy even to suggest such a possibility, but try putting the new Konica M lenses side by side current lens offerings from Solms, and draw your own conclusions.
Colin Jago (Auspiscious Dragon): 50mm f2 KM mount - 1999. Very highly regarded.
Robert Hitt: Konica had a peculiar, almost dilettante attitude to lens production. Almost Leica-like in some ways with the limited production runs. Hexanon has always been of the highest quality. During their production heyday years the Hexanon lenses were used by the Japanese Ministry of Industry as the reference standard by which the quality of all other manufacturers' lenses were judged. There are other Japanese companies that make extremely high quality glass in limited quantity that fit Leica, the Y.K. Optical Company that makes the Kobalux lenses comes to mind.
The older Summicon has interesting imaging properties, but has problems with 'valed flare' which can lower contrast over the whole image, and in extreme cases 'halo flare'.
Hacker
Senior Member
800 pieces released only for the Japanese market is not considered rare? If you have any info, please share.
madsolitaire
New Member
Konica-Hexanon lens are available at Matsuiya store at ebay. This guy from Japan offers both used and new lens. If you are patient enough, you may find an "Excellent +" or "Mint" used lens one day.
Hacker
Senior Member
In my previous post, I was referrring to the pre-ASPH IV Cron. The Hexanon is better in terms of coating (more modern). The 35 Summarit performs worse than the Lux ASPH in the latest LFI comparisons. Actually, all the Summarits do not show promise except the 75mm. If you want razor sharpness, ZM 35mm or the Summicron 35mm. If you want character, IV and Hexanon 35. If you want speed, Lux.
Apology for OT.
Found a nice review of the famous W-Nikkor 35mm F1.8 RF lens on which the UC-Hexanon 35mm is said to be based.
The design was done by a famous japanese lens designer Azuma in the year 1955, using only abacus and log table. The fact that his design resurface some 50 years later speaks volume about his talent:thumbsup:
YOL
Found a nice review of the famous W-Nikkor 35mm F1.8 RF lens on which the UC-Hexanon 35mm is said to be based.
The design was done by a famous japanese lens designer Azuma in the year 1955, using only abacus and log table. The fact that his design resurface some 50 years later speaks volume about his talent:thumbsup:
YOL
yup, the UC-Hexanon 35mm is a really good lens. You can say that its the last chance to get a lens like that new. Maybe by the time I have a go at it, it'll be gone LOL. Most of the 35mm Summicrons pre-ASPH must be quite worn by now and the Hexanon is well made with a brass barrel and black paint. Most new Leica lens use an alloy for the barrel now. If the 35mm Summarit performs close to the 35mm ASPH F2 it would be quite a lens too, albeit with a modern look and lacking that unique fingerprint.
Not really
For easy reference, I have reproduced the optical formula for pre-ASPH cron; UC-Hexanon, and the W-Nikkor 35mm f1.8 lens below:
Quite evidently, while the pre-ASPH cron's formula and the W-Nikkor's are somewhat similar, the UC-Hexanon & the W-Nikkor are almost identical. The Japanese words for pre-ASPH say "5 groups 7 elements" but for UC-Hexanon, it says "6 groups 7 elements".
Anyway, I will shoot these 3 lenses side-by-side and do a comparison, one of these days.
YOL
I have the Hexanon 35mm M bayonet mount version. It is quite a huge beast comparable in size to the Leica Summilux 35mm! Erwin Putts rates this lens as being better than the Summicron 35mm (4th version) but not as good as the Summicron 35mm ASPH (current version). Interestingly, the new Zeiss 35mm ZM lens (made by Cosina) is rated by Erwin Putts to be better than the Summicron 35mm ASPH. Leica has been dethroned by Zeiss!
I also have the Leica 35mm ASPH and looking at my photos, it is really quite difficult to tell the 2 lenses apart. However, I would rate the 'bokeh' of the Hexanon 35mm as being better than that of the Summicron 35mm ASPH. I don't shoot lens resolution charts so I don't really know which lens is sharper. And due to some lens flange to film plane distance issues, I always shoot the ASPH with a Leica M6 and the Hexanon on a Hexar RF.
I also have the Leica 35mm ASPH and looking at my photos, it is really quite difficult to tell the 2 lenses apart. However, I would rate the 'bokeh' of the Hexanon 35mm as being better than that of the Summicron 35mm ASPH. I don't shoot lens resolution charts so I don't really know which lens is sharper. And due to some lens flange to film plane distance issues, I always shoot the ASPH with a Leica M6 and the Hexanon on a Hexar RF.
Hacker
Senior Member
The "bokeh" of the UC-Hexanon 35mm is outstanding. The M-Hexanon's bokeh is not known to be good or bad, but sharpness is there, along with the build.
gommy
Senior Member
M-Hexanon 35 being shipping ....& arrived?:bsmilie::bsmilie:
Hacker
Senior Member
Abandoned--did not come with the filter pouch
. Item is missing after clarification. BTW, you must get the UC-Hexanon. Really creamy bokeh.So for 35mm: Lux 35mm ASPH, Cron Aspherical, M-Hexanon, UC-Hexanon, Zeiss Biogon T*, Cron IV. :bsmilie:
fei
New Member
I am new in manual cameras and really hope some pros here can answer my question regarding konica hexanon lenses?
I received a konica T3n with a hexanon 50mm f1.4 and 28mm f3.5 as a gift.
I love it.
may I ask if I am able to buy Leica lens to mount on my t3n??
And is there any 3rd party products that can help me to mount my hexanon lens onto my nikon D200?
Thank you so very much!
I received a konica T3n with a hexanon 50mm f1.4 and 28mm f3.5 as a gift.
I love it.
may I ask if I am able to buy Leica lens to mount on my t3n??
And is there any 3rd party products that can help me to mount my hexanon lens onto my nikon D200?
Thank you so very much!
- Status
