Found a brand new Hexar RF yesterday

wow, excellent!

I have the same set (+ the 90 and 28) and I vastly prefer it to any Leica I ever had, mostly due to ergonomics and how it feels in the hand.

But I have to admit that while the body is superbly made, the rangefinder is a bit harder to focus precisely than on the M, if only slightly so (less contrast I think).

If you like to use the 90 or even want to be a bit more accurate with the 50, I recommend the ms-mag viewfinder adapter that japanexposures sell. It is € 36,-- or something like that and allows to screw in Leica (and 3rd party) viewfinder magnifier lenses. Very handy with the 90.
 
Congratulations, that's just a tremendous find. Just last week I received a Hexar RF body with some paint chips but in perfect working condition and have been enjoying myself rediscovering what a great body this is. (I bought an RF kit just like yours new at the end of 2000; paid $1,400 for it, which was a deal at the time. Still have it, and the 28, 35 and 90 as well.)

Pop open the back, slip the film in and draw it across to the orange mark. Close the back and like 2 seconds later you're ready to shoot. And for quick action there's nothing like that autowind. Film rewinds in something ridiculous, like 10-12 seconds. Repeat. For serious fast moving action I don't think there's a better rangefinder camera.
 
Wow that is an insane deal. The lens is worth more than what you pai for the kit, and if you put it on ebay some collector would probably double your $$.

Forget that, use it well.
 
Congratulations, that is awesome. I love reading stories like this.

A number of months ago, an RF plus the 50/2 was for sale in Melbourne for about $1400, I think. I was considering buying it, but I've got so many cameras now that I couldn't justify another one. Then there's the just-serviced M4-2 in my local shop for $1100. Arrrr...
 
Richard G said:
A nice one was going second hand with a 50 f2 in central Melbourne for just $1900. So very very well done. What a singular pleasure to open up all of that. Was it lost on the back shelf for most of those ten years?
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I think they just put it in the back after it sat on the shelf for years. They just gave up on it ever selling.

I'm glad they didn't. Certainly made my year.
 
You might want to check the serial number. The early ones especially had rangefinders what were impossible to keep aligned. I sent mine to Konica twice, and they could never get the RF properly aligned. By the time it came back to me, the RF was off again, maybe from the bumps and vibrations of shipping. If indeed you have an early model, you might want to unload it while it's still new and make a huge profit.
 
Pablito said:
You might want to check the serial number. The early ones especially had rangefinders what were impossible to keep aligned. I sent mine to Konica twice, and they could never get the RF properly aligned. By the time it came back to me, the RF was off again, maybe from the bumps and vibrations of shipping. If indeed you have an early model, you might want to unload it while it's still new and make a huge profit.
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The number is much higher than any other Hexar I've seen. Do you have any info on finding the build date from the serial number?
 
Thanks for all the replies, everyone.

This summer, I'll be leaving the States to travel to 16+ countries over the course of a year. The Hexar will be in my Domke right next to my 5D2 as I work on this project.

Maybe I'll share some photos from the RF along the way :)
 
Also, If anyone is interested in the 50/2, I'd be willing to trade for a C.V. 35/1.4. I'm much more comfortable with a 35 than a 50.
 
Pablito said:
You might want to check the serial number. The early ones especially had rangefinders what were impossible to keep aligned. I sent mine to Konica twice, and they could never get the RF properly aligned. By the time it came back to me, the RF was off again, maybe from the bumps and vibrations of shipping. If indeed you have an early model, you might want to unload it while it's still new and make a huge profit.
Click to expand...

Ditto for me. I bought mine on the release date, and the rangefinder could not be properly aligned by Konica. After a few tries, they replaced the camera. No problems ever since.

Harry
 
Jobin said:
I want a Hexar :( How is the build quality? I have never had the privilege to hold one.
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build quality is comparable to that of Leica, and thus superb! I had one, and a M7. For one thing kept the M7 and sold the Hexar: like many Japanese camera's the Hexar has all these little flashy leds at the left part of the view/rangefinder. In many cases I didn't see what they where pointing at (they are in the viewfinder very hard to see), were the M6 an M7 have only 3 big leds below the viewfinder - not in the viewfinder. Further the more round body of the Leica felt better in my hands...

but wish you luck with the nice catch, still a price below market value I guess.
 
Hexar vs Leica

Hexar vs Leica

Jobin said:
I want a Hexar :( How is the build quality? I have never had the privilege to hold one.
Click to expand...

build quality is comparable to that of Leica, and thus superb! I had one, and a M7. For one thing kept the M7 and sold the Hexar: like many Japanese camera's the Hexar has all these little flashy leds at the left part of the view/rangefinder. In many cases I didn't see what they where pointing at (they are in the viewfinder very hard to see), were the M6 an M7 have only 3 big leds below the viewfinder - not in the viewfinder. Further the more round body of the Leica felt better in my hands...

but wish you luck with the nice catch, still a price below market value I guess.
 
I sold my Leicas and kept the Hexar RF as I liked the feel in hand much better. But yes, the build quality is comparable as is the viewfinder, for the most part.
 
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