Digital revolution?.....I love it!

[Dave Wilkinson]

O.k.! - it's not a rangefinder, but the outfit pictured remains my favourite, after about six months in my possession. First came the black FT1, in mint condition and sporting a 40mm f1.8 lens, for the princely sum of UK £36-00!, a couple of weeks later came the 50mm f1.8 @ £8-00, then 28mm f3.5 @ £15-00 and last week - the 135mm f3.5 @ £11.50 + shipping, thanks to the digital revolution I now have another great outfit, in imaculate condition - for a total of £70.50 ( about US $114 ? ).
IMO the FT1 is the best kept secret around! - not much bigger than my rangefinders, and with built-in motor wind and the option of accurate shutter priority auto, it handles beautifully, and those lenses are exellent!. Since digital.....bargains abound!
Cheers, Dave.

 

[MichaelW]

That gear looks in beautiful condition. It's amazing how much good equipment is being discarded, makes you wonder about peoples values. They were probably replacing it with some digital camera that produces ugly noise at high ISOs & has a slow zoom lens. Good on you for seeing the value & keeping it in use.

 

[bmattock]

At least part of that drop in price is due to the fact that the Konica AR mount is an orphan, and that Konica ended production of SLR cameras in 1987. There is also no easy way to use the lenses on digital cameras, as the flange-to-film distance is a very short 40.5mm.

My M42 and Pentax P/K lenses are a bit more dear, but my old Canon FL and FD glass is still quite cheap. I've been interested in a Konica SLR for awhile, mainly to see how that pancake 40mm f/1.8 lens you have a copy of works. Might pick one up at some point, but urgh, I'd got enough 'systems' now, so I may not.

There is an adapter out there for Konica AR to Micro Four-Thirds, so I would buy Hexanon glass whilst I could; the price is bound to climb now, I think. Unlike Canon FD glass, the Konica glass sold in much lower quantities.

 

[splitimageview]

Konica lenses can work on 4/3 too.

 

[bmattock]

Konica lenses can work on 4/3 too.

Not via an 'adapter' but rather by performing some work on the lenses themselves, yes? Not that it would be bad to do that, but just to be clear.

 

[batterytypehah!]

I have the 50/1.8, for free even. Part of a kit that ended up on the "Free" pile after someone's yard sale. The body, unfortunately, is the lowly FP-1 (fully automatic exposure, and crippled at that: f/2.8, 5.6 or 11 at 1/30 to 1/1000).

Still, it's been working so well that I'm trying to get a worthier body and more lenses together. Needs to be dirt cheap, though, as SLRs don't get much use with me at all.

So, enough of this price-driving talk already. You don't need Hexanon ARs. They were outsider choices in their day, and are obsolete now. Dump them. On me.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

It works very well indeed! - and has just about become my 'standard'....can't go wrong - at current prices!
Dave.

 

[Al Kaplan]

A lot of once common lens mounts have been orphaned completely, or sometimes by the same manufacturer making minor changes in coupling.

 

[f16sunshine]

I have the 3.5/28 if someone should like it for the cost of postage.
It was given to me with some other Koni Reflex kit (I passed it to my niece).

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

I have the 3.5/28 if someone should like it for the cost of postage.
It was given to me with some other Koni Reflex kit (I passed it to my niece).

that's a fine offer for someone!...and should you happen to find the 85mm!.....😉

 

[Pherdinand]

I agree.
Due to the great digital craze, emm revolution-revelation, i got a very very nice LPL7700 enlarger for peanuts, all the other darkroom accessories for free (the owner thanked me that i take it but i did give a bottle of wine to her) AND a huge box of BW paper, about 5-600 sheets, from 13x18 up to 40x50 cm, for the great sum of euro 75.

thanks digital!

 

[konicaman]

Dave - you are gonna love the results. The Hexanon lenses are some of the finest SLR lenses ever made; I should know, have been using Konica SLRs for 35 years now. Still have my first T3 that I got for my confirmation - still in use. Congrats on your new set!

 

[caperunner]

The AR Hexanon 50/1.7 and the 40mm/1.8. Get 'em!

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Dave - you are gonna love the results. The Hexanon lenses are some of the finest SLR lenses ever made; I should know, have been using Konica SLRs for 35 years now. Still have my first T3 that I got for my confirmation - still in use. Congrats on your new set!

been trying my 'new' 135 today - seems o.k. - for £11-50! 🙂
Dave.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

and another - on HP5+
Dave.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

I'm warming to this 135 - for picking out detail!
Dave.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

 

[batterytypehah!]

This is beautiful, Dave. Talk about shallow DOF, though. I'm not sure I could have focused this one with an SLR.

 

[johnny9fingers]

Hello Dave, How accurate is the meter on the FT-1? I have the Hexar AF and love the results the lens gives me, the ability to use more Hexanon glass is almost too much to resist.....
Regards,

John

 

[jfretless]

For every great find, there has to be someone that either doesn't see the value in something or sees the value, but realizes that the value to someone else is more that their own. I have had collections of different stuff all my life, but up until recently, I realized what good is X amount of Y when I don't them or even display them, ...only collect them to sit in a box or garage or attic.

John