Have I been Hexanon ripped-off???

[infrequent]

$450 is prolly more like it in LN condition but its an awesome lens. build quality is exceptional. the lens is underrated and ought to be worth more. so don't feel too bad about it.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Should I cry then because I paid $575 for my Hexanon 35? I've seen them go for more, sometimes for less, but I made it a point not to care about comparing prices because the items in question are in my hands, and that's what counts. Otherwise, I'd cry for every Nikon F100 that I've seen for sale for less than I paid for mine.

I short, I don't think you were ripped off. A lens like this is worth every penny. Just go and enjoy it. 🙂

 

[awilder]

Here's the skinny on price. When Popular Photography reviewed the Hexar RF and it's three lenses in June 2000, the 50mm lens listed for $700 and had a street price of $560. That would assume of course the lens also came with a box, papers and soft case. These are standard items included when sold as new at the above price. Judging from your photos, it appears the bayonet flange was removed at some point based on the badly worn crosspoint screwhead to the left of the cutout slot on the back of the flange. You might want to take some shots with the lens to make sure it's focus is accurate as there have been instances where focus callibration was off with some Hexanon-M lenses on other M bodies. I've owned two 50 Hexanons in the past. One went to DAG for focus adjustment and the other was fine as it was.

 

[elshaneo]

At 550 US Dollars, it's a bit expensive indeed, as I saw one last week on Ebay selling at 435 US Dollars and according to the photos, it was as the same Mint condition as the one You bought.

Anyway, there's always a risk of buying stuffs on Ebay which is more expensive than the average selling price...

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I have just purchased a Konica M Hexanon 50mm /2, looking perfect and working supersmooth. However, I paid US $ 550! I now see the same lenses coming here in the ad's for cirka 350+ USD--- Have I thrown 200 USD out of the window?

Some sellers here at RFF give prices lower than the common current rate to make their items sell quickly. Some do it as a "perk" to RFF members.

AND...yes, eBay sellers for photo gear like to overprice a few popular items.

 

[awilder]

One reason Ebay sellers can be higher than on RFF classified is that they have to build in the 3% Paypal fee and the sellers fees are higher than at RFF which is only $5. Also, the clientele on ebay may not be as savvy as our group on price of rf gear. OTOH, Ebay casts a wider net and sometimes one can get a better price selling on Ebay than RFF.

 

[astroman]

I think you had your pants taken off and the seller is doing a little jig, and laughing when he tells how much he got from you to his beer buddies.

Is this guy always an A** Hole

 

[Krosya]

Is this guy always an A** Hole

Yes he is.


As far as Hexanon goes - as others stated - it is a great lens and well worth the money. Look at it this way - it's as good or better than current Summicron 50/2 and you still paid less than what those go for!

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

As far as Hexanon goes - as others stated - it is a great lens and well worth the money. Look at it this way - it's as good or better than current Summicron 50/2 and you still paid less than what those go for!

Them's fightin' words. Put 'em up. Put 'em up.

My tabbed Summicron is well worth its price given its size, weight, and amazingly great ease of focusing with that love-it-or-hate-it (which I love) tab. I appreciate it even more when wearing gloves (in cold weather), as it allows me to use my finger.

The Minolta tab slips off easily when not using your bare hands.

That said, their glass is certainly a match for the Leica optics of similar focal length and "speed" of the same era.

 

[Al Kaplan]

The real question might be whether or not you'll actually get much use from the 50, or just want one to fill in "the hole" in your lens line-up. A lot of photogs use a 35 as their "normal" and maybe carry around an 85 or 90 for portraits or a bit more reach in in their framing. The 50, in the middle, sits unused in the bag. I bought my 1969 model Summicron about 1971 and I doubt if I've shot twenty rolls with it in 37 years! I got rid of my 28 Elmarit a few years ago. I keep asking myself why I bother owning a 135 Elmarit, and it gets more use than the 50.

 

[Krosya]

Them's fightin' words. Put 'em up. Put 'em up.

My tabbed Summicron is well worth its price given its size, weight, and amazingly great ease of focusing with that love-it-or-hate-it (which I love) tab. I appreciate it even more when wearing gloves (in cold weather), as it allows me to use my finger.

The Minolta tab slips off easily when not using your bare hands.

That said, their glass is certainly a match for the Leica optics of similar focal length and "speed" of the same era.

NO not really fightin' words. As you say - glass is a match. Plus I think Hex control flare better. And in my case - I cant stand tabs - reason I sold tabbed UC-Hex - could never get used to that tab and partly due to that prefer CV 35/1.2. But handling is a personal thing. Yet glass is where Hexanon lenses easily hold their own against anyone. Just too bad that they didnt make more choices, like 50/1.4 or a 21mm or 25mm ones.

 

[infrequent]

@krosya - quite right there. it would have been nice to see what konica would have come up with asph glass. but the 50/1.2 and 60/1.2 are not too shabby though. shame that the widest they went was the hex 21-35 dualie that Dante uses primarily on his M8.

 

[pvdhaar]

Thanks for all replies and inputs. The opinions are divided, I do admit that it seems a bit too pricey, however, condition seems exceptional, so that is the main comfort..

That, and the original lens cap..

Not all Hexanons that you see on ebay have the original lens cap included; it's a sought after item in itself. I've even seen it pop up in the WTB adds on RFF a couple of times..

 

[peepete77]

Hehe, okay, so I have been HOAXanoned....hehe, but in a good way! I love my 35/2 Hexanon UC, so I guess I'll grow accustomed to this too...
Thanks everyone. pvdhaar, Krosya, emraphoto, Al (again), Gabriel and Astroman!! Much appreciatred and hats off!

 

[Avotius]

Looks like you probably bought it from digifan who is based here in China where all the prices for such camera equipment things are inflated. Yes its a little much, but either way just use it and be happy with that.

 

[Krosya]

enjoy the lens! here is a little taste of it from mine (posted this before some place):

 

[peepete77]

Wow, that is a LOVELY pic! Great job of capturing the natural light in such way!
🙂

enjoy the lens! here is a little taste of it from mine (posted this before some place):

 

[peepete77]

Looks like you probably bought it from digifan who is based here in China where all the prices for such camera equipment things are inflated. Yes its a little much, but either way just use it and be happy with that.

Yes you are absolutely right, it's digifan in Hong Kong. I will be using it with joy 🙂

 

[BigSteveG]

You've done fine. We all pay a little too much sometimes. The great deals we get make up for it. Nice lens.

 

[Roger Hicks]

enjoy the lens! here is a little taste of it from mine (posted this before some place):

Dear Krosya,

Very nice shot.

I have a simple criterion for admiring pics: would I have been proud to take that?

The answer for that pic is: yes, very proud indeed.

But I think it's at least 99% photographer, at most 1% lens, in this case.

Cheers,

R.