Beesa R3A vs Hexar Rf Which to buy?

[Huck Finn]

Don't worry, none of us will get out of this alive anyway.

Yeah, but whoever dies with the most toys wins. 😛

 

[sf]

Hexar is a better camera from what i read here. The lenses are negotiably better - but you would probably have more options with the R3A, and you'd spend lots less on glass since the CV lenses are reasonably priced and there are so many to choose from.

 

[Alec]

Hexar is a better camera from what i read here. The lenses are negotiably better - but you would probably have more options with the R3A, and you'd spend lots less on glass since the CV lenses are reasonably priced and there are so many to choose from.

... and since you cannot use anything wider than 40mm or longer than 90mm (and the numerous cheap excellent old 135/4 lenses in M and M39 mounts are usable on a RF camera and should not be discounted)

As quoted above, the defining issues for me are
1. will anaanda ever want to go wider than 40mm? (then out goes the R3a)
2. will s/he cope with the motor? (if not, then out goes the Hexar RF)

And as quoted above, prices mentioned seem a bit high. But then, we are not so very far from a reasonably used M6 (+ Voigtländer lens), which would be a very different animal, hopefully over a very different time frame. And if a built-in lightmeter is not absolutely required, then Bob's your uncle.

For me, issue 1 + build quality (coming from an M2) + the inability to even see 40mm frames with glasses ruled out the R3a despite the nice 1:1 view ; and issue 2 ruled out the Hexar RF despite the very nice wide-angle viewfinder...

 

[amateriat]

as of april 1st, sony will be handling all repairs for konica minolta. here's a pdf of unrepairable cameras. the hexar rf and af aren't on it, even though they're older than 7 years (the age of cameras that generally may not be repairable).

Actually, that's seven years from the date of discontinuance for a given model. Depending on whom you ask, the Hexar RF has been out of production for anywhere between one to three years (although it's been on Konica Minolta websites in various parts of the world as late as a few months ago). The last version of the Hexar autofocus left the production line a bit longer ago than that, but both should be supported under the Sony regime (if they have their act together at all over there).

As far as which camera to pick? Since I own a pair of HRFs as my main shootin' iron, I'm a trifle biased, but, as others have mentioned, the focal lengths you prefer might influence your choice. Neither is a bad camera, although I feel the Hexar is a a more thoroughly engineered camera (DX, auto framelines, motorized wind/rewind, auto flash sync, etc.), while the R3a is a more basic design, albeit a darn good one for the buck.


- Barrett