E-P2 + Konica Hexanon AR

[shadowfox]

One of the reason to get the E-P2 for me is that it's the only digital system that allows me to use my Konica AR lenses unmodified.

I sold my Konica film SLR but I kept the lenses because I knew that one day I'd have a chance to use it with the E-P2.

That chance came today. I got the proper adapter from Hong Kong and I took it for a spin with two lenses:

Hexanon AR 50mm 1:1.4

100% crop from the above picture:

I knew that this lens is one of the sharpest even among the high standard of the 50mm focal length. So glad that it proves itself yet again when used with a digital system.




Next, my favorite "bokeh monster" the Hexanon UC 80-200mm 1:4 zoom:

* The grain elevator looks like it's only four-inches tall thanks to the Diorama Art filter (yep, lot's of people hated these in-camera filter, but I love it 🙂 )

* Didn't I tell you this lens is a bokeh monster, the weird colors is Cross-process Art filter

* Ok, here's a more normal shot, 3-D look and such...


And what does the setup look like?

Pretty wild, I must say. 😀
Thanks to the IS system on the E-P2, I can handheld most of the shots even at the long end of the lens and still get an acceptably sharp photos.

 

[jmilkins]

Awesome Will - those hexanons would have to be amongst the best bang for buck ever.. And there I was about to pull the trigger on the GF1 and you show some artfilter possibilities...and mention the IS advantage with the EP2 and other lenses

Sigh ...choices choices. I'm trying to tell myself its part of the fun!

Thanks for the images and particularly what the set up looks like with with longer lens.

 

[viggi]

Nice setup! The photos show off the lenses really well. I like the first shot especially. I've been hesitating moving on to the micro 4/3rds cameras. I looked at and handled G1, GF1 and E-P1, but wasn't convinced. I shoot Konica film cameras, with those sweet AR lenses, and I was initially very excited about getting a panny or olympus and use legacy lenses. Currently I shoot with old Konica TC and T3, using the 50mm 1.7, occasionally the 28mm and 135mm 3.2 (which I really like). But I need find a digitial solution and I like your shots.

If you want to use the AR lenses on a panny GF1, do you have to modify the lenses? I remember reading about these modifications early on and didn't like the idea of changing the lenses and losing the option of using them with my film system.

 

[shadowfox]

Awesome Will - those hexanons would have to be amongst the best bang for buck ever.. And there I was about to pull the trigger on the GF1 and you show some artfilter possibilities...and mention the IS advantage with the EP2 and other lenses

Sigh ...choices choices. I'm trying to tell myself its part of the fun!

Thanks for the images and particularly what the set up looks like with with longer lens.

You're welcome, John. That is what makes the E-P2 so much fun to use, the whole package of features.

Nice setup! The photos show off the lenses really well. I like the first shot especially. I've been hesitating moving on to the micro 4/3rds cameras. I looked at and handled G1, GF1 and E-P1, but wasn't convinced. I shoot Konica film cameras, with those sweet AR lenses, and I was initially very excited about getting a panny or olympus and use legacy lenses. Currently I shoot with old Konica TC and T3, using the 50mm 1.7, occasionally the 28mm and 135mm 3.2 (which I really like). But I need find a digitial solution and I like your shots.

If you want to use the AR lenses on a panny GF1, do you have to modify the lenses? I remember reading about these modifications early on and didn't like the idea of changing the lenses and losing the option of using them with my film system.

I also shoot with film previously, I had a FT-1 and an old T4. I sold the FT-1 and kept the T4 because it won't fetch a lot of money even if I sell it.

To answer your question, you don't have to modify the AR lenses to use with E-P1/2 or any other micro-4/3rds cameras such as the GF1, GH1 or G1. That's the beauty of it 🙂

Although you lose in-body IS if you go with the GF1.

Next, I'll try the setup with my favorite AR lens, the 35mm 1:2.

 

[Trius]

Yummmm. Now I'm thinking of the EP-2 with my AR 40/2 attached. Sigh.

 

[viggi]

Would be great to see shots using the 35mm - please post samples if possible. I'm in the UK and haven't found a wide range of AR lenses for sale, always a 28mm 3.5, a 50mm version, and usually I can locate a 40mm or 52mm 1.8. Right now ebay uk is offering a 21mm F4. I wouldn't mind getting my claws on a 35mm (and 85mm for the film camera)...

 

[johnny9fingers]

I'm not familiar with the AR lenses. What kind of adapter do you use?

 

[Trius]

You use an AR -> m4/3 adapter. 😀

 

[johnny9fingers]

Ha ha ha ha...... ; )
Hi Earl, very funny.... That seemed like too obvious an answer....
Thanks,
John

 

[Trius]

😀 Seriously, though, I suppose the Cameraquest or auction site are the likely places to start looking.

 

[johnny9fingers]

I think the ability to use such a variety of lenses is the coolest thing about the m4/3 cameras...

 

[shadowfox]

I'm not familiar with the AR lenses. What kind of adapter do you use?

Hi John, like Earl said, I use the AR to m4/3rd adapter. I got it from Hong Kong seller on ebay, just search "hexanon ar adapter" and you're bound to stumble upon several of them.

They are about $50, for the image qualities of the AR lenses, I think the adapter is worth the price.

I haven't got another chance to shoot, but here's a similar shot as above, using the Hexanon AR 35/2 (which is quite rare nowadays):

Wide open.

And 100% crop:

You still can see the strands of the paper fibers on the peeled old sticker.

 

[Trius]

Will: I just took a recently acquired T4 into the local shop for a CLA today. In the display case were the AR 28/3.5, a 55(?) macro and a few other such as the 200, and the Vivitar 28/2.5, which I already have. But this 28/2.5 had the original hood, which has a HUGE diameter! No bodies, but I still left the shop quickly, before incurring more damage. 😀

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Threads such as this should be banned - and the author severely reprimanded for inciting GAS in poor pensioners - still recovering from the financial rigours of Christmas!. Several times of late, I've mentioned how totally blown away I am by the Konica FT1 and bunch of lenses that I picked up a few months ago, and now - the hitherto un-realized knowledge that I may use that superb little AR 40mm f1-8 pancake ( and its siblings ) on a digicam, may prove too much of a temptation!....shame on you! 🙁
Dave.

 

[Trius]

Dave, I'm with you. What I do in such cases is say "I'll just wait and see what the next model (Olympus, Panasonic, whatever,) has to offer." In this manner, due to the perpetual churn in the industry, I never actually buy anything new. 😀

 

[shadowfox]

Some more shots from the Hexanon 35/2 in my latest photo-journal entry.

Teaser: