Hexanon gas release

[wintoid]

This feels like a confession.

A little under a year ago, I sold my almost new M-Hexanon 35mm lens on RFF because I felt it was a little large, and went with a Leica 35mm Summicron IV preasph instead. I have found myself regretting that decision, and with the passage of time I've started to think that size is not such an issue. Many times I've looked for another M-Hexanon 35mm but never found one in acceptable condition at an acceptable price.

I have spousal permission to buy myself a new lens for Crimbo and was thinking about going for a Summilux 35mm so set about perusing the various camera shop websites I know of. Unable to find one at a reasonable price, I stumbled on a Hexanon 35mm and a Hexanon 28mm. Sheer impulse took over and I ordered both. They will join my much loved Hexanon 50mm.

I guess I'll be selling the Summicron at some point soon. Anyone in London looking for one?

 

[jmilkins]

Congratulations! I really like my hex 50.

Will you post any images from the 35 and 28 in the new year...please!🙂

 

[KoNickon]

My Hexanons are not ever for sale willingly. I was quite fortunate to get the 35 early in 2005 and it's a lovely lens. I suppose if I come across a Summicron at a reasonable price (hah) I would get it, but I wouldn't sell the Hex. 35 to do so.

 

[dazedgonebye]

Say 5 Hail Marys and shoot 3 rolls of film this weekend.
Share the best of the lot here in a thread titled "Why I'll never sell my Hexanons again."
Go in peace (leave a donation on your way out).

 

[wintoid]

Assuming all goes well, I'll try to post a few images by the end of the weekend 😀

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

shhhhhh ... let's be careful about telling people how good the hexanon-Ms really are ... you'll drive the prices up 😉

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

how Konica managed to build Leica quality in build and optics at 1/2 the price is simply amazing

 

[AusDLK]

Meloves the dual 21-35mm Hexanon that I picked up a few months ago.

 

[back alley]

i have the hex 90/2.8 and it's solid and very wll made.

dare i say it...leica like?

joe 😉

 

[venchka]

Replacing Summicron lust

Replacing Summicron lust

Perhaps the question should be, "Why does Leitz charge twice as much for Konica quality?"

Assuming the 35mm M-Hexanon is the equal of the 28mm M-Hexanon, I should make an official pronouncement: I think that the 35mm M-Hexanon could satisfy my 35mm Summicron lust. The change could be applied to numerous rolls of Kodachrome. That makes very good sense to me. What say ye?

 

[ghost]

where online did you find them? do they have any more? having compared the 50mm and 28mm m-hexanons with their leica counterparts, the only reason i'd ever buy a leica lens is for a larger aperture.

 

[wintoid]

They were from Ffordes. They weren't cheap, although together they cost less than the cheapest decent Summilux 35mm I'd found (dealer, not eBay). I don't think there are any more.

To be honest I might not have jumped at the price they asked were it not for the fact that both lenses were listed as being in "almost as new" condition. You can usually trust Ffordes descriptions I've found (except for once).

 

[ghost]

ffordes...gotta bookmark that. thanks!

 

[Trius]

Wayne: I think you know how I'd vote. 😀

 

[wintoid]

Weird, maybe Ffordes do have a batch of lenses after all. I notice they have a 35 and 28 Hexanon listed on their site yet again.

 

[pvdhaar]

how Konica managed to build Leica quality in build and optics at 1/2 the price is simply amazing

To be more accurate;

How Leica managed to fail to build a lens that handles as nices as the Hexanon at 2x the price is simply amazing.. 😛

The 50 Hexanon may not reach exactly the same MTF values wide open in the edges as the Summicron, but the handling is unsurpassed. The smoothness of the click stops, the smoothnes of the machining of edges, it just feels better..

Anyone who sells a Hexanon should have his/her head examined if you ask me..

 

[amateriat]

Can't add a whole lot to this thread, but what I've seen from my M-Hex trio (28/50/90) has left me wanting for nothing. Makes me happy that Konica at least went out with a bang rather than a whimper.


- Barrett

 

[wintoid]

Mmm my 35 and 28 arrived in the office this morning and they are in stunning condition. I'll probably spend my lunchbreak walking around the local area trying to work through a test roll with the 28.

I have a question for anyone with the 28 Hexanon. The lens cap seems to be very shallow. I would imagine that with a filter on the lens, the lens cap would actually not work, or would it grip the filter just as well as it does the barrel of the lens?

Also, on an Voigtlander R2a, would you say the whole viewfinder approximates the field of view of a 28mm?

 

[wintoid]

No great photography as this was just a test roll, but here are 2 shots from a roll of HP5Plus developed in HC110 Dilution B.

The shot of my daughter is with the Hexanon 35 wide open. Shutter speed was only 1/15s which is adventurous for me.

The shot of the statue is with the Hexanon 28. Aperture was f8 or thereabouts, so may not reveal all that much about the lens.

For what it's worth, I like them both.

 

[mfunnell]

I really liked the 50 that came with my Hexar RF kit, so when the opportunity arose to buy a near-new M-Hexanon 35 from a fellow RFFer I jumped all over it. I like the 35 as much as the 50, and am pretty sure they'll always be my most-used focal lengths. But... I'm now thinking "well, maybe..." about a 28. I should stop myself, as 28 is too wide for most of my shooting. But every once in a while I wish I had one. Then again, it would get use... I should:bang: until the GAS dies down...

...Mike