Konica Hexar AF
- Thread starter anadivine
- Start date
Royale With Cheese
Senior Member
hi there
the hexar AF is actually not a RF system.
I think you should be looking at the Hexar RF instead of AF.
Yup, the AF is a serious compact. But comes with a seriously good lens.
I love the Hexar AF but wouldn't recommend this for a starter... for someone beginning out in RF, why not consider the voigtlander Bessas? Good value for money and fairly easy to find a nice used copy from the B/S sub forum too...
of course, you'll find out that if RF is your cup of tea, then the end goal eventually will still be Leica...
Well, its not too late then to get the Hexar AF as a second (or third) body to play with!
of course, you'll find out that if RF is your cup of tea, then the end goal eventually will still be Leica...
Well, its not too late then to get the Hexar AF as a second (or third) body to play with!
Royale With Cheese
Senior Member
I'm not a very big fan of the Contax system as they are AF.
Problems is you never know what the AF is focusing especially when you have the lens wide open
Hexar RF would be a better bet & the camera is M mount, which opens up a wide world of lenses from Konica themselves, Leica, Canon, Nikkor & other independent lens makers.
with the Contax G system, you are prob stuck at 3 lenses if I'm not wrong?
The Voigtlander Bessa would be a good one to be looking at as well.
I'm not a very big fan of the Contax system as they are AF.
Problems is you never know what the AF is focusing especially when you have the lens wide open
Hexar RF would be a better bet & the camera is M mount, which opens up a wide world of lenses from Konica themselves, Leica, Canon, Nikkor & other independent lens makers.
with the Contax G system, you are prob stuck at 3 lenses if I'm not wrong?
The Voigtlander Bessa would be a good one to be looking at as well.
cool. so now its either the bessa r2a (i'm wearing specs) or the hexar rf. both used prices very similar too. :dunno:
i shoot alot on a 50mm on my nikon fe2. but i see alot of rangefinder users using the 35mm.
any good m-mount lens to recommend?
gommy
Senior Member
I'm not a very big fan of the Contax system as they are AF.
Problems is you never know what the AF is focusing especially when you have the lens wide open
Hexar RF would be a better bet & the camera is M mount, which opens up a wide world of lenses from Konica themselves, Leica, Canon, Nikkor & other independent lens makers.
with the Contax G system, you are prob stuck at 3 lenses if I'm not wrong?
The Voigtlander Bessa would be a good one to be looking at as well.
Contax G has 7 lenses:
Hologon16mmf8, Biogon21mmf2.8, Biogon28mmf2.8, Planar35mmf2, Planar45mmf2, Sonnar90mmf2.8 and a zoom lens, Vario-Sonar35~70mmf3.5-5.6
Contax is a good system if you don't mind AF; not sure about servicing since it's discontinued.
HexarRF & Bessa are good starting point.
hey thanks, i have the electro 35 gsn. been using it for awhile but it has some limitations. which is why i only use the fe2 now. recently been poisoned by leicas but decided to take a slight dip with a cheaper range rangefinder first. :bsmilie:
Royale With Cheese
Senior Member
Usually a minty piece of Hexar RF can go on CS for 1k & above without the lens. I believe there is quite a very used copy with paint chips on CS going for $700......
R2A is lower. Brand new would set you back at $830 at Chiif Cameras. Re-sale sets would be in the range of $600++ - $700++ if I'm not wrong.
The nokton 35mm F1.4 priced at $780 is seriously a all rounder performer for day & night for its price. Of course dont expect performance & build quality to be like a Leica Summilux, you can check the price of a used 35mm lux on ebay, not cheap at all :sweat:
Other then that, if you are not very anal or got the leica poison in you, pictures coming out from both the nokton 35mm & lux 35mm, naked eye can hardly tell (generally la....... From F2.8 - 16, cant tell.......)
gommy said:
woah, so many ah? haha! :embrass:
But I feel that AF on an RF just takes out the fun of RF.
Last edited:
anadivine, you might want to share why the electro 35 gsn is limiting for you. Cos honestly, the leica system is almost as limiting, especially if you compare to a SLR.
Cheers,
Bernard
I shoot street most of the time. 2 things i realised i need, compactness & flexibility. I dont like the idea of bring out my 5dmk2 to take candid shots on a day to day basis as both its lens and body is big.
as for the 35 gsn, its a good cam but its not versatile enough for me, like exposure lock, shutter speed control, size. which is why i always end up using the fe2 instead.
my fe2 is always used with a pancake 50mm (for portability). as i kept researching and reading on street photography, rangefinders are greatly promoted being smaller with better optics (if you compare small lens with small lens). therefore im thinking of trying out a rangefinder with like the 35mm f1.4 and a 50mm.
Hi anadivine, may I second RWC's suggestion of a Voigtlander body and lens. The R2, R3 or R4 bodies are capable performers and the VC 35mm F1.4 lens will allow you the versatility of shooting in low light, yet maintain a small and slim profile which will suit your needs. Save the rest of the $ to dabble in film and developing, and maybe a film scanner and you will be kept busy for a long long while.
Cheers,
thanks for your insight. i have a film scanner but so far i always get the film processed at a lab. i'll try the b&s forum for a bessa r2a then.
It depends on your preference and shooting style. The Bessar has 4 framelines; 35mm, 50mm, 75mm, 90mm as compared to 6 from the Hexar. The Bessar has a top speed of 1/2000 sec while the Hexar has 1/4000 sec. The Hexar on the other hand has a viewfinder with a smaller magnification, which i find a little difficult to use when shooting with a 50 F1.4, wide open.
Based on my personal experience with the Hexar, unless you find a good condition one (mine was frm ebay and it came with the baseplate loose, cos one of the screw thread mount was broken) my vote goes to a New Bessar R2a.
Based on my personal experience with the Hexar, unless you find a good condition one (mine was frm ebay and it came with the baseplate loose, cos one of the screw thread mount was broken) my vote goes to a New Bessar R2a.
I'm one of those (un)fortunate ones to have had to experience using both the bessa (r3a) and the hexar RF before eventually settling for a Leica... just to note, something unique to the Hexar RF is the electronic motorised auto film advance feature, there's no lever so it kind of felt strange to me but on the other hand, that increases your shooting speed frame after frame.
Without considering other specs, if the film advance lever is a must as part of your workflow shooting a RF, then get the r2a. if you're ok working without, then the hexar RF is definitely worth considering. Good luck!
Last edited:
Royale With Cheese
Senior Member
I think the mag for Hexar is 0.6 if I'm not wrong.
I still own it. A very minty set with not even a scratch. Titanium plates top & bottom, moto drive, 1/4000 & it is capable of shooting in between shutter speeds like the M7.
If electronics is no biggy, then consider the Hexar RF.
If you like 35mm lenses & you wear specs, the Hexar is one of the clearest VF for 35mm shooting for specs users, you see everything! Unless you got $$ to hunt down a Leica with 0.58 VF mag
I've got the M2 with the standard 0.72 mag, with a 35mm lines up, I cant actually see the 4 corners but on the hexar, its crystal clear
Lever no lever doesnt matter, M8 & M9 also no lever but people still pay for it! heehee
I still own it. A very minty set with not even a scratch. Titanium plates top & bottom, moto drive, 1/4000 & it is capable of shooting in between shutter speeds like the M7.
If electronics is no biggy, then consider the Hexar RF.
If you like 35mm lenses & you wear specs, the Hexar is one of the clearest VF for 35mm shooting for specs users, you see everything! Unless you got $$ to hunt down a Leica with 0.58 VF mag
I've got the M2 with the standard 0.72 mag, with a 35mm lines up, I cant actually see the 4 corners but on the hexar, its crystal clear
Lever no lever doesnt matter, M8 & M9 also no lever but people still pay for it! heehee
Last edited:
Similar threads
