Got a Hexar RF YAY!

[kuvvy]

Bob
Why not consider buying a Zorki 4 / 4k. These tend to come with the Jupiter 8 at decent prices. that way you get two toys for the price of one.

Paul

 

[aizan]

that's a nice one, mr. funnell. what film did you use?

 

[mfunnell]

that's a nice one, mr. funnell. what film did you use?

Thanks! The street scene was Kodak Porta 800. I'd not used it before - and I rather like it. I've been unimpressed with other colour 800 film I've tried (Fuji Pro800Z being the best of a bad lot). The lens shot was ( 😱 ) digital.

...Mike

 

[Bobfrance]

Well I took it out for a little test-run this weekend.

I certainly enjoyed using it. The camera has a nice feel apart from the lugs for the strap being in the wrong place. Still got quite a few exposures left on the roll so no pics yet I'm afraid.

A quick question. Does anybody know if it is possible to obtain replacement rear glass for the viewfinder? I notice it screws out and mine's al little scratched (not that it affect visibility at all).

 

[amateriat]

A quick question. Does anybody know if it is possible to obtain replacement rear glass for the viewfinder? I notice it screws out and mine's al little scratched (not that it affect visibility at all).

Replacement eyepieces tend to be rather thin on the ground, unfortunately. They have turned up here and there, though.

Congrats on getting that Hexar. I think you'll like it "lots."


- Barrett

 

[mfunnell]

Well I took it out for a little test-run this weekend.

What lens did you use?

...Mike

 

[Bobfrance]

What lens did you use?

...Mike

Kuvvy (RFF member) has kindly lent me a 40/1:2 Rokkor.
Seems like a nice little lens. Just a shame the Hexar doesn't have the correct framelines to match it.

 

[FrankS]

Bob, the Hexar's 35mm framelines are a VERY close match. I've altered my CV40f1.4 lens to bring up the 35 rather than the 50mm framelines. Check with Kuvvy before filing away at his lens' mount though! 🙂

 

[Bobfrance]

Haha!

I'll tell him you said it was okay Frank 😉

 

[Issy]

A quick question. Does anybody know if it is possible to obtain replacement rear glass for the viewfinder? I notice it screws out and mine's al little scratched (not that it affect visibility at all).

Hold on to it like gold, do whatever to keep it on the body....very rare.

Lose it, and you'll either have to scrouge for a close value diopter, or do this:
http://www.1point4photography.com/blog/diy-hexar-rf-eyepiece/

Bill

 

[Bobfrance]

A cautionary tale. Thanks Issy,

I just checked mine was tighly screwed in.

 

[Issy]

As Matt points out on his blog, the eyepiece is not just flat optical glass, but a lens; lose it, and you also lose the viewfinder image.

Yeah, bummer on the strap lugs, huh? She just doesn't want to hang well around the neck. 🙁

Also, make it a habit to infinity check your RF from time to time (i.e. focus on something at infinity, and make sure the lens confirms the distance.)

Great camera though --- I, personally, love Ap. The M7 I could never afford. Very different animal from your G2, although, supposedly, the guts came from the same place.

Bill

 

[Krosya]

On a separate, yet related note - isn't it about time we got our own Hexar RF section here? Bassa has one, Leica has one, Zeiss does too. I think we have enough people that have, use and love Hexar Rf cameras and lenses to have a separate section for us as well. What do you think?

 

[amateriat]

On a separate, yet related note - isn't it about time we got our own Hexar RF section here? Bassa has one, Leica has one, Zeiss does too. I think we have enough people that have, use and love Hexar Rf cameras and lenses to have a separate section for us as well. What do you think?

I believe I asked for one as long as three years ago. Nothing happened. No matter: I hardly needed a separate forum to validate my experience with this camera, but it would've been nice to compare notes in an uncluttered manner. 😉

And, yes, add that wee bit of beeswax or Loctite to keep those eyepieces in place, if you still have 'em. (Thankfully, both my Hexars still have theirs.)


- Barrett

 

[mfunnell]

On a separate, yet related note - isn't it about time we got our own Hexar RF section here? Bassa has one, Leica has one, Zeiss does too. I think we have enough people that have, use and love Hexar Rf cameras and lenses to have a separate section for us as well. What do you think?

I don't see why not except, of course, that nobody's making 'em anymore whereas Leica, Zeiss and CV still are. Not sure if that makes any difference...

...Mike

 

[Krosya]

I don't see why not except, of course, that nobody's making 'em anymore whereas Leica, Zeiss and CV still are. Not sure if that makes any difference...

...Mike

They don't make most if not all FSU, barnack, Canon, X-pan,Contax, Folding cameras, etc either.
I only want to have a separate section so it's easier to discuss, look for , etc Hexar related issues and topics. Otherwise - it's all over the place.

I also think it's a very important/significant camera from RF history stand point to have a separate section for it.

 

[Doug]

A cautionary tale. Thanks Issy,
I just checked mine was tighly screwed in.

I just tightened mine a skosh too! Thanks for the heads-up.

I too have been using the C-Sonnar-ZM on mine, for its first roll. 🙂

 

[alan davus]

Yes, guard your eyepiece finder like gold. I lost mine walking up the Hooker Valley in Mt. Cook N.P. a couple of years ago. Fortunately I had a CV 21 with me with its separate finder so I was able to still use the camera. And luckily the owner of the camera store in Adelaide where I bought the Hexar uses one also so he had a couple of spares in stock. I religiously tweak mine now to make sure it's tight. Love the titanium top and bottom plates.

 

[Bobfrance]

Well I've had my first roll developed.

Well I've had my first roll developed.

I tried Ilford XP2 partly for conveniece and also to see what C41 processes B&W is like.
It wasn't bad not as grainy as I expected. Though I think the next roll I put through will be good old 100asa B&W.

The camera performed brilliantly. It felt great and has proved to be very fast and instinctive to use.
I think I'm getting the hang of zone focusing and was pleased to see most shots were in focus. The speed and silence with which I've been able to use it compared to my G1 has made me a lot more confident of grabbing shots in public.

I really like using lenses with focusing tabs and the CV 50mm Skopar I used on it mostly, worked a treat.
I have invested in a 35mm CV Pancake lens but haven't had much chance to use it yet. And to be honest, 50mm feels so right to me that perhaps I'll sell it and upgrade to a better 50mm.

I do miss the lenses on my Contax G1. perhaps a 50mm Ziess Sonnar would work well on it. 😉

My only bugbears are the position of the lugs for the straps and the fact that, when slung over my shoulder, the AEL lock seems to keep being enabled.

All in all - I think this camera is ace!

 

[Doug]

I tried Ilford XP2 partly for conveniece and also to see what C41 processes B&W is like. It wasn't bad not as grainy as I expected.

I've been using this film for a couple decades and it's a favorite. It does not like underexposure, despite the claims, getting muddy and grainy in the shadows. The highlights are bulletproof, may get blown out in the machine lab prints, but the detail's there in the neg. I find that the film "likes" a bit of overexposure, picking up a creamy smoothness, and rich shadow tonality given an extra stop or so. I usually just set my meter to 250.

I really like using lenses with focusing tabs and the CV 50mm Skopar I used on it mostly, worked a treat.
I have invested in a 35mm CV Pancake lens but haven't had much chance to use it yet. And to be honest, 50mm feels so right to me that perhaps I'll sell it and upgrade to a better 50mm.

I have used a Zeiss C-Sonnar on my HRF, but I've found nothing to complain about with the 50 Skopar. Both are "personality lenses" that can be a bit controversial, subject to preferences. Is there something you dislike about your 50 Skopar? Not the fastest 50 around of course, yet in consideration of its modest sale value you might choose to keep it as an option among others. 🙂