What to do with my Hexar AF?

[PatrickT]

I have a bit of a conundrum...

I own a gorgeous Hexar AF that I got several months ago. Great camera...problem is, I don't really enjoy shooting with it.

I wanted to love the camera and really tried...went out shooting with it a lot, took it everywhere, etc. But it's just not clicking with me.

I think that I dislike the lack of physical controls, the way everything is settled in a "menu" and believe it or not, the fact that it is AF and doesn't have a useful MF function. When I go out shooting, I tend to grab my M6 first, everytime. I feel that it is more engaging to shoot with. I may get flack for this, but it feels too much like a big point and shoot...albeit a great one.

I've thought about selling the camera to fund some other gear but something in me always stops me from doing so. I guess that I'm affraid that with such a wonderful, relatively rare camera as this one, if I sell it, I will greatly regret it down the line. Perhaps I could always just get another one, but they are getting older and prices are only going to go up (and have, since I bought mine).

What would you do? Has anyone here had one, sold it, then regretted it? If so, what did you regret?

Thanks!
Patrick

PS. As a side note, I also fairly recently purchased the Fuji X100 and am having a bit of the same reaction to it...even though it does have great manual controls (aside from manual focus).

 

[FrankS]

Had one, sold it, bought another. If you need the money then sell it. If you don't need the money and you think you might miss it, then don't sell it.

 

[Dr Gaspar]

Hexars are easy to sell, and easy to buy.

No harm done if you let it go.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Sell both and focus manually. Or sell the X100: inside a dim light church, or for fast street shooting, nothing beats HexAF's fast & precise autofocus at f/2... Any Leica is an inferior camera for many situations... By the way, in AE modes its the fastest and most reliable camera ever... If you want to meter or decide settings, why use it or buy it?

Cheers,

Juan

 

[j.scooter]

Before anyone else chimes in, You can send it to me I will take good care of it for you. haha

Seriously though, sometimes you just don't get on with a camera, even when there are lots of people raving about how good it is...

If you are not going to use it, you might as well get rid of it, unless you like the looks of it on your shelf.

 

[filmfan]

I have bought and sold 4. Haha
I love the results it makes but it's not exactly the best tactile experience.

 

[thegman]

I'd give both the Hexar and the X100 a good chance, and if it does not work out, sell them, if you're not a collector, and you're not going to use them, I'd get shot and buy something you'll use.

 

[VTHokiEE]

Before anyone else chimes in, You can send it to me I will take good care of it for you. haha

Darn you beat me 😀. If you aren't a collector, then sell it. They seem to only get more expensive so it won't hurt to hang onto the camera until you're sure about your decision, but (based on your post) I think you should move on.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

An honest answer to your precise question in the OP is:

Keep it for getting the great photographs your M6 can't.

(I guess that's what it was conceived for... And obviously that's why most manual RF users keep it...)

The other option is using the M6 on those situations too: I mean it's just A or B... But if you don't use it, what would you regret about no Hexar AF with you? Sell it.

Cheers,

Juan

 

[FrankS]

It is the ultimate P+S as far as results go. (Could be smaller.)

 

[jsrockit]

If you aren't using it, sell it... it's only a camera.

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

Put it away for a few weeks or months, come back to it and shoot a few rolls. If its still not clicking with you sell it and save the cash for something else.

 

[filmfan]

I think of the Hexars like s***s... the are fast and easy, they come and go. Sell your Hexar if it aint for you. Buy it again later if you need to.

 

[perudo]

I'm in the same situation as you.

I think of selling my hexar for a lens for my m6 because I'm in a minimalist mood concerning gear right now.
Some month later I will regret selling it and look for another one :bang:

 

[muf]

I know what you mean! I've recently got rid of mine for that very same reason. I just didn't love it. I have a Rollei AFM35 that for me is far better to shoot with. The meter is also much better.

For not much difference in price you pick up a Minolta CLE with Summicron lens. You won't miss your Konica with one of those!

Lastly. I actually find the Konica Auto S3 to be a much more enjoyable user experience.

As with all things photographical. We all have favourites and what fits well for one person may not fit well for another. That's why I have lots of camera's. I know I'm not alone on this... 😀

 

[Paddy C]

I felt the same way about my Contax G2 kit. And that was after using if for two years. Sold it to fund a ZI kit and haven't regretted it for one day.

 

[jsrockit]

I think of the Hexars like s***s...

😱😱😱😱 😀

 

[Richard G]

Have a look at silent1's night photographs or Spyro's photos at f2 and you'll keep it.

 

[Brian Legge]

I'm in the same boat with the Olympus 35RD. I was sure enough I'd love it that I had it CLAd to deal with the shutter issues... And the didn't use it as the ergonomics just didn't work for me. It's really frustrating as it has a great lens, etc but I always find myself grabbing a different camera. I guess I'm just hoping to stumble across a workaround for the aperture ring frustration some time.

I think we're just spoiled now. There are too many decent deals on gear out there to learn to live with what we don't like. 🙂

 

[raid]

I had two such cameras,and I sold both (Black and Silver).

Then, I missed having such a camera for travel, but there are no regrets. I prefer the Hexar RF.
I sold the cameras because I prefer a camera without so much automation, plus the ability to change lenses. The Hexar RF is automatic, but I can use it with my M lenses.

As said above; it sells quickly. Note that it is an aging camera with lots of electronics in it.