Hexanon M 35/2 - good choice?

Alex Krasotkin

Alex Krasotkin

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Guys,

I see Hexanon M 35/2 at one of the local shops at excellent condition for just $415. I guess it is a very good price. What do you think? Anyone used this lens on Leica M? No problem with focusing?
How about the charachter of the lens? Bokeh? I heavily used Hexar AF with its 35/2. Any similar to it?

thank you for you replies in advance.

regards,
Alex
 
Hi Alex

I don't own either now, but can say that whilst I loved the Hexar AF, I don't think I shot more than the test roll of slide film with the 35mm Hexanon. It's very sharp, with great colour saturation and fine detailing even wide open. The problem I had was with it's double lining in the background when used close up anywhere from wide open to around f4. It was just far too distracting. The lens went back the next day. Sorry I don't have those shots anywhere to hand to show you.

As I'm more of a 50mm shooter I wasn't so worried, but have been getting back into 35mm lately and got a Voigtlander 35 PII Skopar. Although it's not f2 (more like f2.8, or so it seems) it's more than fast enough for me and the background blurs out beautifully and evenly.

Hope that helps

Ian
 
That's an extreeemely good price as they are very hard to come by and usually go for about $1000 as most were sold in the japanese market. Optically it is completely different than the 35/2 in the Hexar AF which is similar to the v4 Summicron. The 35/2 Hexanon M is similar in design to the 35/1.8 Nikkor W for their rf camera in the 60's. Wide open they have a slight veiling sort of softness that some find artistic but stopped down a few stops, it is tack sharp.
 
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I love this lens, and that's a really good price. Did you get to try it at the shop? It has only a focusing tab (instead of a full focusing ring). This may not be a concern for you, but if you don't like how the lens handles, it doesn't matter how good the results are.
 
Some examples that might indicate a little of the look from the lens (at least as far as can be done from low-res web shots):

@f2



@f2 again



@f8


...Mike
 
Yes Alex, check the lens on the camera and use the focusing tab. I didn't like the tab on that lens and sent it back. If you are OK with it buy the lens immediately before someone else does. It's an excellent lens at an excellent price!
 
Sorry, I mispoke earlier. The lens I was talking about was the 35/2 UC Hexanon in L mount (LTM). The 35/2 Hexanon M is a different animal altogether and of truely excellent quality but not as compact as the rarer UC version.
 
Buy it try it and if you don't like it there will be a frenzy of sharks to buy it from you if you don't want to keep it, me included.
 
Roger Hicks in his book Rangefinder said the Hexanon 35 (along with the Leica and Zeiss (Contax) 35's) were "stunning and are amongst the finest lenses made today in any focal length for any camera."
 
Alex Krasotkin said:
Guys,

I see Hexanon M 35/2 at one of the local shops at excellent condition for just $415. I guess it is a very good price. What do you think? Anyone used this lens on Leica M? No problem with focusing?
How about the charachter of the lens? Bokeh? I heavily used Hexar AF with its 35/2. Any similar to it?

thank you for you replies in advance.

regards,
Alex
Click to expand...

I've got it and I use it on an M body. I've never had a problem with the focusing. A very nice lens, great looking, well-made, a little on the big side


I like it. No plans on selling :)
 
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