kanzlr
Hexaneur
Good morning.
I read a lot about these lenses in the last few months and I became curious. So I bought three from different sources: A 90/2.8 for € 230,--, a 50/2 for € 350,-- and a 28/2.8 for € 600,--
to make things clear: NONE of these did focus properly on my M8 (while all Leica, Minolta and Zeiss lenses I own do). All have backfocus, and all to a comparable degree.
now what did I do? I sent back the 28mm because it was rather expensive to begin with. Instead I got myself a Biogon and am happy.
That left me with the two longer lenses. I got the 90 first and after some tests, I put some tape on the RF cam and focus was spot on (according to Puts, the difference between Leica and Konica is 0.04mm. Most insulation tapes being in the <0.1mm thickness range this seems to be correct). But the problem with the 90 is that the RF cam rotates during focusing, putting extra stress on the tape that won't sit there securely anyways. Also, you have to manage to apply it without ripples over a longer part of the chamber back (That is pushing in the RF lever in the body) and this was trickier than I thought.
In the end I decided to send it to Don at DAG camera in the US (a hassle if you live in Europe. But I couldn't find anybody in Europe willing and able to adjust this lens. Don said he can. I hope taxes and duties won't come in as too big a shock.
Finally, the 50. It arrived yesterday evening and I was sobered to learn that it too had some back focus. But the 50 chamber does NOT rotate! thus I again put the insulation tape on the chamber. It is much easier here, because you just have to cover the small spot where it pushes the RF lever, not 1/3 or 1/4 of the whole chamber. It worked flawlessly, the RF is now SPOT on with the 50/2, but again, insulation tape is not a lasting solution.
due to the difference recorded by Puts being 0.04mm (with some tolerances), I will buy 0.035mm thick copper foil used to repair conducting parts. They are self adhesive, bend easily, can be cut easily, and have almost the perfect thickness.
Will report back when I have results with this method.
What I wanted to say: Don't buy M-Hexanons if the seller won't guarrantee that they focus correctly on the body you plan to use it with. The digital Ms seem to be bitches in regard to this. The alternative is, get a cheap M-Hexanon and be prepared to either fix it yourself if you are more of the Mc Guyver type of guy/girl or to send it to DAG, who charges around USD 90,-- for the service (+ shipping and duties and taxes if you live outside the US and are unlucky).
I don't doubt that there are many Hexanons out there that work perfectly well with digital M cameras, otherwise there wouldn't be so many posts about the success with these. But either this is luck regarding Konicas tolerances, me being unlucky with three samples of different lenses, or the lenses that work have been adjusted by Konica or a Konica workshop to focus properly on Leica M bodies.
I really can not say why, but I only know that I was disappointed that NONE of the Hex I tried focused properly.
On the other hand, I today and yesterday shot a few test shots with the Hex 50/2 with the tape in place and boy it is surprisingly sharp at f2, has nice color and contrast and creamy OOF areas. Very nice thus far 🙂
I read a lot about these lenses in the last few months and I became curious. So I bought three from different sources: A 90/2.8 for € 230,--, a 50/2 for € 350,-- and a 28/2.8 for € 600,--
to make things clear: NONE of these did focus properly on my M8 (while all Leica, Minolta and Zeiss lenses I own do). All have backfocus, and all to a comparable degree.
now what did I do? I sent back the 28mm because it was rather expensive to begin with. Instead I got myself a Biogon and am happy.
That left me with the two longer lenses. I got the 90 first and after some tests, I put some tape on the RF cam and focus was spot on (according to Puts, the difference between Leica and Konica is 0.04mm. Most insulation tapes being in the <0.1mm thickness range this seems to be correct). But the problem with the 90 is that the RF cam rotates during focusing, putting extra stress on the tape that won't sit there securely anyways. Also, you have to manage to apply it without ripples over a longer part of the chamber back (That is pushing in the RF lever in the body) and this was trickier than I thought.
In the end I decided to send it to Don at DAG camera in the US (a hassle if you live in Europe. But I couldn't find anybody in Europe willing and able to adjust this lens. Don said he can. I hope taxes and duties won't come in as too big a shock.
Finally, the 50. It arrived yesterday evening and I was sobered to learn that it too had some back focus. But the 50 chamber does NOT rotate! thus I again put the insulation tape on the chamber. It is much easier here, because you just have to cover the small spot where it pushes the RF lever, not 1/3 or 1/4 of the whole chamber. It worked flawlessly, the RF is now SPOT on with the 50/2, but again, insulation tape is not a lasting solution.
due to the difference recorded by Puts being 0.04mm (with some tolerances), I will buy 0.035mm thick copper foil used to repair conducting parts. They are self adhesive, bend easily, can be cut easily, and have almost the perfect thickness.
Will report back when I have results with this method.
What I wanted to say: Don't buy M-Hexanons if the seller won't guarrantee that they focus correctly on the body you plan to use it with. The digital Ms seem to be bitches in regard to this. The alternative is, get a cheap M-Hexanon and be prepared to either fix it yourself if you are more of the Mc Guyver type of guy/girl or to send it to DAG, who charges around USD 90,-- for the service (+ shipping and duties and taxes if you live outside the US and are unlucky).
I don't doubt that there are many Hexanons out there that work perfectly well with digital M cameras, otherwise there wouldn't be so many posts about the success with these. But either this is luck regarding Konicas tolerances, me being unlucky with three samples of different lenses, or the lenses that work have been adjusted by Konica or a Konica workshop to focus properly on Leica M bodies.
I really can not say why, but I only know that I was disappointed that NONE of the Hex I tried focused properly.
On the other hand, I today and yesterday shot a few test shots with the Hex 50/2 with the tape in place and boy it is surprisingly sharp at f2, has nice color and contrast and creamy OOF areas. Very nice thus far 🙂
