HU: Hexanon 50/1.2

Final price of 2K seemed quite reasonable considering the current prices people are asking for the 50/1 Noctilux. I've tried both and prefer the Hex due to better correction, less vignetting and far less weight/bulk. The Noct's 1/2 stop gain in speed is partiallly mitigated by more vignetting at similar stops, however for M8 fans, it's much less of an issue.
 
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I would not be surprised if the lens was relisted... I would not expect the "wiining bidder" to buy something like this for his/her FIRST ebay purchase......

This has happened to me a few times... very annoying
 
its funny to think that at 2000 bucks, its a steal. i wonder what the original price was for the hexar limited set! prolly around that for the kit and not just the lens.

a friend on RFF once said that anybody can make a good lens at any price. funny that zeiss and konica managed to make some special leica quality glass, without ever resorting to leica prices.
 
I go to the Matsuiyastore website nearly every day to watch their offerrings especially the Konica ones. But it never ceases to amaze me I can buy a brand new Nikon AIS 50 1.2 from them for $450 odd bucks but a secondhand Hex version is deemed a bargain at $2000. My gut feeling is either Zeiss or CV are going to have a 50 1.2 for us at Photokina this year.
 
alan davus said:
I go to the Matsuiyastore website nearly every day to watch their offerrings especially the Konica ones. But it never ceases to amaze me I can buy a brand new Nikon AIS 50 1.2 from them for $450 odd bucks but a secondhand Hex version is deemed a bargain at $2000. My gut feeling is either Zeiss or CV are going to have a 50 1.2 for us at Photokina this year.
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That's an interesting possibility and fairly likely at some stage surely. More likely CV I'd bet .... Kobyashi is a smart operator with his ear to the ground and he'd know very well that if he brings out an f1.2 or f1 he'll sell a lot of them instantly and with these superfast lenses speed seems more important than anything. There's some pretty quirky f1.2's around but people still pay pretty high prices for them ... the Canon now seem to be going consistantly at over $400.00 which is a fair bit more than I paid for mine. Recently after a search I paid close to $500.00 for a 1.2 Zuiko for my OM system ... the bokeh from this thing is right up there with the Noctilux and not the sort of thing you should view with a hangover! :p

I like the Hexanon but to me it has a slightly sterile look compared to the alternatives ... I'd have trouble giving my opinion of it's signature because it doesn't really seem to have one. I found the same thing with the 1.5 Nokton ... it was just too good, sharp wide open no flare no swirly OOF areas and no vigneting ... what's the point in owning a lens like that? :p
 
Signatures are a double edged sword as we all know by now. The 50/1 Noctilux vignettes, has that swirly weird bokeh but on balance is well regarded for it's unique look and nice flare free rendering. The current 50 'cron is super sharp across the field but slightly flare prone. Same for the 50 ASPH. 'lux without the flare issue but at a very high price tag. The ZM 50/1.5 C Sonnar has a beautiful look but also has that nasty focus shift issue wide open. The pre-asph. Summilux may be the best of all having a classic look with it's only shortcoming being some softness in the mid to outer zones at apertures wider than f/4.
 
The pre-asph. Summilux may be the best of all having a classic look with it's only shortcoming being some softness in the mid to outer zones at apertures wider than f/4.
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Which makes it a very "people friendly" lens. :)
 
That's exactly the case with the pre-aspheric 'lux, you nailed it to a tee. This is the reason Leica enthusiasts use to carry both the 'lux and 'cron. One for people, reportage and low light, the other for landscapes or work requiring edge to edge sharpness especially at wider apertures. The C-Sonnar/Planar combo is a different kettle of fish in that the C-Sonnar doesn't perform as well as the pre-asph. 'lux wide open while the Planar is quite similar to the 'cron. However, both have better flare supression than their Leica counterparts.
 
Keith said:
I found the same thing with the 1.5 Nokton ... it was just too good, sharp wide open no flare no swirly OOF areas and no vigneting ... what's the point in owning a lens like that? :p
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umm, well, the point might be so you can see clearly the content of the photo rather than distracting optical effects???:D
 
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