Hey Dante, you know, your great write about the Hexanon Dual was one of the decision makers, to decide, to buy the sample, offered to me.
I loved, how you started your article and couldn't agree more! Upon opening the mount of the lens, every single detail of this lens just shows, how much Konica's designers were seeking perfection - they indeed tried, to improve everything about this lens, starting from the very high standards of Leica designs as a base.
I love mine, but didn't give it the use, it deserves lately.
Most of my shots on flickr are shot wide open @ 21mm, as I am mostly searching for light. I had the chance, to compare two samples - mine and one of a friend, who had one sample.
I found, that there can be slight differences in corner performance.
Usually the Hexanon is incredibly sharp in the corners, while the other sample, I tested showed one blurry corner, when comparing against my lens. If I can find those shots, I will upload them here - the crops really show in my opinion, how good this lens is.
I think though, if ultimate sharpness and performance in even illumination is, what one is going for, the equally priced and much smaller (more usable) new Leica Super Elmar 21mm is a much smarter choice.
I personally prefer the rendering of the Hexanon, as it is indeed not the razor blade rendering with ugly, deadly contrast, but it has a more natural, organic rendering (not soft).
It must be something about it's contrast signature, that really blows me away.
This also is of great advantage, when using this ƒ3.4 lens, shooting in the night - shadows are far more extended as with latest Leica ASPH lenses - I love that!
The Hexanon Dual is one of those lenses, one should test for defects and go ahead with a purchase, as they are not made like this anymore. It saddens me, to know, that Konica won't never again do such a wonderful exercise in technology :-(
I don't shoot brick walls and I cannot comment on color and color shifting, as I shoot only B&W (although a few color shots, I did, didn't show any issues).
I use my Hexanon @ 21mm, coded as the Leica 21 Elmarit pre ASPH in the M9 menu - works fantastic (but overcorrects distortion, when shifting to 35mm, which I prefer though, having a wonderful rendering @ 21, where I use this lens most of the time).
The paired (likely Cosina made) Hexanon plastic finder is evenly spectacular in brightness, magnification and especially eye point - the perfect finder, to shoot prefocussed action with. The finder built of course is not remotely a match to the lens' built and materials, but it does work very well.
I use a single focal Leica metal finder, as I find the combination of small size and optics the best compromise for me.
The Frankenfinder is fantastic as well, but has lower magnification and more bulk.
Untitled by
teknopunk.com, on Flickr
Untitled by
teknopunk.com, on Flickr
Untitled by
teknopunk.com, on Flickr
Untitled by
teknopunk.com, on Flickr
US bikes in Shanghai - Konica M-Hexar Dual 21-35 f3.4-4 by
teknopunk.com, on Flickr
Konica M-Hexar Dual 21-35 f3.4-4 by
teknopunk.com, on Flickr
more on flickr …
a few from my website:
… pretty much endless shadows:
…and the only sort of "brick wall shot" I could find:
This thread actually animates me, to do some 21mm shooting ;-)
Oh - reason for not using the Hexanon Dual much recently was also partly due to having found a Avenon 21/2.8 Millennium, which fit's with its optically inferior optics to much better fitting to the lenses I like (pre ASPH Summilux, Noctilux f1 and alike).
The Hexanon Dual simply murders the Avenon in all respects.
PS: I forgot to mention the fine print: I almost always add a small amount of
light falloff to my photographs during post processing. The Hexanon shows a beautiful, but controlled light falloff with coding as 21 Elmarit, but it is not as much, as seen here - even shot wide open, as I mostly do.
