has anyone converted their Hexar AF lens to M-mount?

yossarian123

yossarian123

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Due to an ebay transaction gone wrong, I'm now the not so proud owner of a genuine Hexar AF paperweight. After a call to Weber Camera I'm led to believe that the circuit board is bad and there are no replacements to be had.

I've seen that some people have had MS Optical (Miyazaki) convert their lenses to M mount and the Hexar AF 35/2 lens is on the list of supported lenses. Has anyone actually gone ahead and paid for the conversion of this? If so, please add your comments on image quality, handling, focusing issues, etc. Feedback on other converted lenses seems to be generally favorable.

I'm exploring this option only because the price for a conversion isn't horribly bad (~$550 USD). Combine that with the lower price I paid for the hexar and I could have a unique pre-asph Cron clone for well under a grand.
 
Well, as good as the Hexar AF lens is-- it's no pre-asph cron clone that's for sure... Other than the design being different, there is SIGNIFICANTLY more distortion. In fact, there is more distortion with the Hexar AF lens than almost any other 35mm lens (RF or SLR) that I've ever shot with. This being said, it's still quite a gem!
 
filmfan said:
Well, as good as the Hexar AF lens is-- it's no pre-asph cron clone that's for sure... Other than the design being different, there is SIGNIFICANTLY more distortion. In fact, there is more distortion with the Hexar AF lens than almost any other 35mm lens (RF or SLR) that I've ever shot with. This being said, it's still quite a gem!
Click to expand...

It's derived from the RF Nikkor 35/1.8, and basically the same lens as the UC Hexanon 35/2. Both have similar distortion.

I also would like to know if anybody had their AF lens M converted. Just having 0.7m min. focus on an M body with that spectacular lens would be cool.

Roland.
 
I have a Schneider Xenar 38/2.8 lens from a Kodak Instamatic 500 which was converted. Impeccable workmanship. The design is a touch fiddly for aperture adjustment, but it focusses smoothly and right on the money with my M9.

L1060635.jpg


L1060634.jpg
 
sepiareverb said:
I have a Schneider Xenar 38/2.8 lens from a Kodak Instamatic 500 which was converted. Impeccable workmanship. The design is a touch fiddly for aperture adjustment, but it focusses smoothly and right on the money with my M9.
Click to expand...

That's good to know. That answers one of my questions - whether they check focus against digital M bodies or just film.
 
bumping this thread as I've been researching on this lately, basically buy an inexpensive Hexar AF, get it converted to M mount all for under $1200 which brings it to the Summicron III price territoy.

I inquired with Bellamy from JCH and according to him it's a very common and easy conversion for Miyazaki san and that it would take 1-2 weeks to do it.
Anyone in RFF that has done this conversion?
 
bumpy bump
I have one on the way back from miyazaki san via Bellamy @ JCH
Will report back on arrival, You can see it along with another at the bottom of "Camera Geekery: Miyazaki Special Editions" .

Sven
 
punctum said:
bumpy bump
I have one on the way back from miyazaki san via Bellamy @ JCH
Will report back on arrival, You can see it along with another at the bottom of "Camera Geekery: Miyazaki Special Editions" .

Sven
Click to expand...
Hey Sven, did you ever get around to testing / trying the lens after getting it back from JCH? I'm thinking of doing the same thing as my Hexar also broke recently.
 
taomei said:
Hey Sven, did you ever get around to testing / trying the lens after getting it back from JCH? I'm thinking of doing the same thing as my Hexar also broke recently.
Click to expand...
Make sure you have also sent mail. As a recent starter to posting you know that people can screen but not post - but some of us get erratic. Sven's last post was nearly 12 months ago - this very post you link.

And sorry, I was more interested in a finish - interesting thread.
 
For those who sent their lenses out for m mount conversion, can you post pics of how the lens looks like after conversion?

Also would like to hear about ergonomics :)

I have a dead hexar af and currently considering sending it to ms optical for conversion.

Thanks,

Nathan
 
Yes, I had Hexar AF lens converted 3 years ago when I purchased a broken Hexar AF.
Overall I liked and enjoyed it for film work, it did have some light vignetting when used on the m240.
 
Love the Hexar lens optically but not a fan of the MS Optical conversions. Ergonomics are, frankly, poor.

There is another conversion in development that has OEM quality ergo, by the same group that makes a conversion barrel for the 40mm Summarit from the Leica Minilux.
 
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