Konica LTM Konica 35/2 UC-Hexanon LTM

Konica M39 lenses
Gid said:
Jim,

Apologies for missing the end of this thread.

Mine turned up on the Wednesday morning following my purchase - effectively 3 working days from Japan to the UK, which I think is amazing. The whole experience with the seller was excellent - great communication - and I recommend him to anyone.

The lens is superb in terms of fit and finish (gorgeous black lacquer) and reminds me very much of my (now gone) 35 F2 summicron IV in terms of handling. I've been trying it out on my new M8 (both arrived same day) and I am very pleased with the results. I've attached a couple of examples.

First at F2, second at F8 and third at F4 all with M8 and B+W 486 filter
Click to expand...

I figured you were busy taking photographs. Mine arrived in the US in 3 days as well. Unfortunately I'm on the road so I don't have it yet. I had the same excellent experience dealing with Noriaki. I wanted to ask him where he is getting these things! Thanks for the examples. I can't wait to try mine out on the R-D1.

Jim
 
Gabriel M.A. said:
I was waiting to get enough money by the end of the auction. Now I find out why it's gone. Somebody spilled the beans!! :bang:
Click to expand...

Oh that one sold days ago! There was at least one or two more after that. You missed those too. I think "newbies" got them.
 
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Someday I will regret passing these up. I picture one semi-permanently attached to one of my Canon bodies. Oh well. I already have a couple of nice 35mm lenses. Isn't that enough?
 
#901 here. It is a solid little lens. I bought this because I had a bad experience buying a used V3 Summicron. It had oil on the blades and a sticky aperture and I had to send it off to DAG. Buying 35 year old lenses has its risks.
I began reading about the Hexanon lenses and decided to give them a try. Then I happened upon this UC, a lens I didn't even now existed. It is nice to have a brand new (V4) lens with solid click stops (doesn't move a hair past f2 or f16 like my 1972 Summicron). And what does a new Leica cost, a couple grand? Asph? Not for me thanks.
One thing I noticed that Dante didn't take note of is the travel of the focus tab from closeup to infinity. It's just about exactly 90 degrees, kinda equidistantly
divided between each side of the bottom (6 o'clock) of the lens.
I like this as opposed to the V3 Summicron I have, which has about 135 degrees travel, much too far up and over as you focus closer. I have to change the position of my finger. I feel like I could hurt myself, maybe flip upside down🙂 I am still learning how to use these tabs but I prefer the shorter travel of the Hexanon, even though it doesn't focus quite as close.
Looks good (but larger than life) on the Hexar Mike. I have been tempted by that camera. Espressogeek I would like to see your comparison shots when you can.

Jim

Oh yeah here's yet another one (St. Paddy's edition) with your name on it Gabriel:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Konica-UC-HEXAN...38743QQcategoryZ30039QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

I find it funny that you took the time to publicly chastise me for what you viewed (rather childishly) as my ruining your opportunity to purchase this lens, and yet you haven't purchased one of the many listings which have followed.
 
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I'm curious to see how it performs wide open and stopped down a just couple of stops with the same subject. The optical layout is very similar to the 35/1.8 Nikkor-W for their RF cameras. I briefly tried that Nikkor last year which came with the 2005 SP but found wide open it was a bit softer than the V4 'cron due to a sort of veiling softness from what I assume was inherent aberration. Other users of that lens have posted much better results with that lens so maybe mine was simply sub-par. I saw Dante's article on the UC Hexanon and it has a similar veiling quality wide open that disapears when stopped down.
 
I have not done any scientific testing but I have a few shots to post. First off, wide open and then 2.8 .

konicatestf2as3.jpg


konicacf28of4.jpg



Then another one at 2.8 this time with some lens flare.

konicaf282xd6.jpg


Next Konica at F2 focused on left glasses lens.

Full Image

konicaf2fulluj3.jpg


and crop

konicaf2croptv7.jpg



Next Zeiss 35/2 ZM at F2 focused same.

Full image

zeissf2fullcz1.jpg


and crop

zeissf2crophm0.jpg


The UC is about half the size of the ZM . It weighs a LOT less as well and the hood is nicer. The Zeiss, at least at full aperture, zeems to be sharper and have a bit more contrast. Here is another one of the zeiss at f2 just to show how amazing it is.

Full

zeiss2f2fullex3.jpg


and crop

zeiss2f2cropaj0.jpg


The zeiss is an amazing lens. The little UC is too but it is a big softer and more gentle. I wouldnt say its fuzzy and I could be completely wrong. Its definitly an interesting look.
 
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Gabriel M.A. said:
Yeah, I find it curious.

If you ever decide to let go of the M-Hexanon, let me know! 😀
Click to expand...
Hey, hey, no crowding, m'man! 😉

Actually, I'm sort-of holding out for a 17-35mm M-Hex "duallie", and I'm happy as a pup with my 28. But you know about temptation...


- Barrett (potentially ruining my "gearhead-ascetic" rep on RFf)
 
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Thanks for the shots. The comparison crops wide with the ZI are interesting as the ZI has a tiny bit more snap to the sharpness/contrast but that doesn't surprise me based on the design differences. The f/2 and f/2.8 UC comparisons were also interesting in that at f/2 sharpness isn't much less than f/2.8. Veiling softness at f/2 does not seem present like my sample of the 35/1.8 W-Nikkor C. I'm curious to see how sharp the lens really gets, say f/4 or f/5.6 where it should be at it's peak.
 
I will take it out tomorrow and do one of my other favorite test shots overlooking nashville. I will shoot it one stop apart up to say f11 or so and post the results.

It is definitly sharp enough for anything I want to do with it. What impresses me is the size and build. What impresses me about the zeiss is that extra snap and it still having the smooth bokeh. I would not expect those two traits to go hand in hand.
 
espressogeek: thank you very much for the comparison. UC results do indeed look like Summicron results.
Because of your first photo however (f2 with forest back ground), I am still undecided. The double lines
in the OOF trees bother me. Do you know how it behaves wide open with point light sources in the background ?

Thanks (also to the model),

Roland.
 
ferider said:
espressogeek: thank you very much for the comparison. UC results do indeed look like Summicron results.
Because of your first photo however (f2 with forest back ground), I am still undecided. The double lines
in the OOF trees bother me. Do you know how it behaves wide open with point light sources in the background ?

Thanks (also to the model),

Roland.
Click to expand...

I posted a B&W version of this in another thread. M8, F2, ISO 160, 1/90. Lightroom and no PP.
 

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