Buying Konica RF, what to look at?

[valdas]

OK, I have enough cameras and was not looking for more (wasn’t I?), but I noticed an add in the local classifieds where a guy is selling Konica Hexar RF with M-hexanon 50mm F2 - 600€ for the combo. Looking at ebay prices it seems to be almost too good to be the truth, so maybe the is a catch? He says the camera is fine and I will be able to inspect it in person. I will probably do this - so the question is - what to look for except those error codes? I plan to meet twice, bring my film, shoot it on the spot the whole roll, go home, develop and if all is fine then I buy.

 

[DennisM]

Hexar RF

Hexar RF

I have a Hexar RF; it is indeed a wonderful camera; However, my advice is to be careful if considering purchasing one,. I purchased mine used around '07-08 from a local camera store in NJ. Had no issues for several years. Then while traveling, the viewfinder image became black; camera repaired by the former Essex Camera Repair in NJ. No issues for several more years of use. More recently after several years of non-use, the camera exhibited erratic behavior - suddenly rewinding in mid-roll, etc. The advice one may hear about cleaning battery compartment contacts and the visible gold contacts at the bottom of the interior when the door is opened do not fix the problem. My problem was solved after a full CLA which I believe required partial disassembly and cleaning of internal electrical contacts. After the CLA, the camera is fully functional. My advice would be to question the seller about erratic rewinding and advance behavior. There are several posts on this forum about this problem.

 

[valdas]

I have a Hexar RF; it is indeed a wonderful camera; However, my advice is to be careful if considering purchasing one,. I purchased mine used around '07-08 from a local camera store in NJ. Had no issues for several years. Then while traveling, the viewfinder image became black; camera repaired by the former Essex Camera Repair in NJ. No issues for several more years of use. More recently after several years of non-use, the camera exhibited erratic behavior - suddenly rewinding in mid-roll, etc. The advice one may hear about cleaning battery compartment contacts and the visible gold contacts at the bottom of the interior when the door is opened do not fix the problem. My problem was solved after a full CLA which I believe required partial disassembly and cleaning of internal electrical contacts. After the CLA, the camera is fully functional. My advice would be to question the seller about erratic rewinding and advance behavior. There are several posts on this forum about this problem.

Thanks. Yes, I have read quite a lot about this camera- one concern I have - it can turn into paperweight on any Monday, but if it works for several years that is probably good enough. I guess the lens alone cost close to what is the asking price for the combo. I will probably never be 100% comfortable with those electronic cameras, e.g. my Contax G2 developed a shutter problem and I had to sell it “for parts” (but got the same as I paid for working camera because prices are now crazy). On the other hand my Hexar Af works flawlessly for over 10 years...

 

[filmtwit]

Meter, I bought one about 3 years ago and meter was less than stellar and it was in need of a CLA. Also, the paint is **** on them too, so don't exect em to look new.

 

[Matthew Runkel]

I had one years ago when I was also shooting M5, M3 and Contax T3. The reason I bought it was finding the camera and 50/2 for $500. Ultimately I did not use the camera very much because the shutter lag was too much for me compared to my other cameras (with T3 half-press prefocus). As I recall it was not so much the literal lag as the sense of disconnect from the camera.