mpve
Member
Hi All,
Some time ago I decided I wanted to have a longer baselength RF next to my Bessa R4m. This because I wanted to be able to use 75/90 mm lenses and the R4m is not able to do that.
The choice was to buy a used camera because I wanted a high quality camera. I found the EBL for the R2 and R3 Bessa's to be too limiting for possible future lenses to use so I made a shortlist consisting of Leica M6 TTL .85, M6 .72, ZI. All based on available used stock at my local camera shop.
Yesterday I got there and saw they also had a demo Konica Hexar RF in a kit with the 50/2.0 and a flash (you know, the red plush box with the gear in it). Plus the 90 mm Hexanon in demo. I decided to take that camera into the choice as well.
And so I was standing there having the best of RF's made in the world in my hands to choose from. What a feeling! And also, what a choice...
My findings:
As the 35 mm is my favorite lens and I could not oversee the 35 mm frame in the M6 .85 (I am wearing glasses) this, for me, ruled out the M6 .85. I found the VF to be very narrow.
Then I found the ZI to look cheap and plasticy in comparison to the M6 and the Hexar RF. The VF was a marvel though! And the shutter noise was not all that much more then the M6. I found that discussion to be greatly exaggerated.
The M6 had had a good bit of use and it showed. I found it a very nice camera and a really good choice. It ruled out, for me, the ZI as a competitor. Also here I found the VF to be narrower then the ZI and the Hexar RF.
Then the Hexar RF. I found it to have a very good quality feel. The VF was very nice and I could oversee the entire frame very well. Its controls were very nicely laid out and although AE was not really a MUST it was definitely a pre. The lens it came with (the 50/2.0) was also very nice and small. Had a very good quality feel. Only downside I saw was the noise made while transporting the film.
Then came the choice. I played with the camera's for quite some time and it was a tough decision to go with either the M6 or the Hexar RF. I finally decided for the Hexar RF.
Why? Well, it had an equal quality feeling compared to the M6. The noise should not bother me much (I have a Contax G2 too and there it does not bother me also). It saves me buying a good quality 50 mm as it was in the package. And it was (as the kit) as expensive as the M6. Or cheaper???
If I would have bought the M6 (that saw a good deal of use) I would have send it to Leica for a CLA. I also wanted then the VF upgrade to eliminate the patch flare. This would have added EUR 500,= to the deal. And as the shop also had a Hexanon 90/2.8 demo, and it gave me extra discount on the Hexar RF kit the equation became:
A battered looking M6, 100% in order and CLA' ed and patched for the same price of a brand new Konica Hexar RF with Hexanon 50/2.0 and Hexanon 90/2.8.
I decided on the Hexar! Also in the equation was that I cannot get equally high quality lenses in M mount for 50/90 mm for the same amount I now paid for the lenses AND the camera. So, even if the Hexar RF dies on me in some years I still have the lenses I can use on any other RF.
Looks like a good deal to me...
What do you think?
Some time ago I decided I wanted to have a longer baselength RF next to my Bessa R4m. This because I wanted to be able to use 75/90 mm lenses and the R4m is not able to do that.
The choice was to buy a used camera because I wanted a high quality camera. I found the EBL for the R2 and R3 Bessa's to be too limiting for possible future lenses to use so I made a shortlist consisting of Leica M6 TTL .85, M6 .72, ZI. All based on available used stock at my local camera shop.
Yesterday I got there and saw they also had a demo Konica Hexar RF in a kit with the 50/2.0 and a flash (you know, the red plush box with the gear in it). Plus the 90 mm Hexanon in demo. I decided to take that camera into the choice as well.
And so I was standing there having the best of RF's made in the world in my hands to choose from. What a feeling! And also, what a choice...
My findings:
As the 35 mm is my favorite lens and I could not oversee the 35 mm frame in the M6 .85 (I am wearing glasses) this, for me, ruled out the M6 .85. I found the VF to be very narrow.
Then I found the ZI to look cheap and plasticy in comparison to the M6 and the Hexar RF. The VF was a marvel though! And the shutter noise was not all that much more then the M6. I found that discussion to be greatly exaggerated.
The M6 had had a good bit of use and it showed. I found it a very nice camera and a really good choice. It ruled out, for me, the ZI as a competitor. Also here I found the VF to be narrower then the ZI and the Hexar RF.
Then the Hexar RF. I found it to have a very good quality feel. The VF was very nice and I could oversee the entire frame very well. Its controls were very nicely laid out and although AE was not really a MUST it was definitely a pre. The lens it came with (the 50/2.0) was also very nice and small. Had a very good quality feel. Only downside I saw was the noise made while transporting the film.
Then came the choice. I played with the camera's for quite some time and it was a tough decision to go with either the M6 or the Hexar RF. I finally decided for the Hexar RF.
Why? Well, it had an equal quality feeling compared to the M6. The noise should not bother me much (I have a Contax G2 too and there it does not bother me also). It saves me buying a good quality 50 mm as it was in the package. And it was (as the kit) as expensive as the M6. Or cheaper???
If I would have bought the M6 (that saw a good deal of use) I would have send it to Leica for a CLA. I also wanted then the VF upgrade to eliminate the patch flare. This would have added EUR 500,= to the deal. And as the shop also had a Hexanon 90/2.8 demo, and it gave me extra discount on the Hexar RF kit the equation became:
A battered looking M6, 100% in order and CLA' ed and patched for the same price of a brand new Konica Hexar RF with Hexanon 50/2.0 and Hexanon 90/2.8.
I decided on the Hexar! Also in the equation was that I cannot get equally high quality lenses in M mount for 50/90 mm for the same amount I now paid for the lenses AND the camera. So, even if the Hexar RF dies on me in some years I still have the lenses I can use on any other RF.
Looks like a good deal to me...
What do you think?
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