Hexar 50mm f1.2

[Leicanthrope]

Does anyone know anything about this lens, or have any experience of using it? I've seen new 'limited edition' Hexars on eBay which come with it, but have no idea how it compares optically with the f2, or other M lenses of this focal length. While I've never used one, my impression of ultra-fast lenses is that they're not as sharp as the slower lenses, but I'd appreciate some informed opinions.

 

[laptoprob]

Welcome to the Forum!
The Konica lenses in general are exceptional. Comparable to Leica standards or so it seems. I have never - regrettably - seen direct comparison tests.

Rob.

 

[StuartR]

I responded to this on photo.net (if you are the same person). The M Hexanon 50mm f/1.2 is a great lens. I managed to buy mine used, separately from the body, about a year ago. It seems to be very slightly off on my MP when compared to the 50 cron and 50mm summilux ASPH. I did a lens test comparing all of them at several apertures, but the Konica came out fuzzy despite my very careful focusing, tripod use and use of the 1.25x viewfinder magnifier. Since I have taken sharp shots with the Konica, I know that it is not the lens, but the interaction between it and the Leica body. In any case, I posted some shots over on the other forum, please check over there if you need to. I would say that once it was properly aligned, it will give excellent performance. The closest lens to it (in terms of lens character) that I have used is the 35/2 in the Hexar AF. Very sharp, but wonderfully smooth with great bokeh. I would say it is not so pastel-like as the noctilux, but it is not as blisteringly sharp as the 50mm f/1.4 ASPH or the 50/2. Come to think of it, it is probably pretty close to the latest 50mm Summilux-R (E60). In any case, it is very good!

 

[Sumo_du_Jour]

Erwin Puts compares a handfull of different lenses with Leica optics, although not the 50 1.2 specifically.

http://www.imx.nl/index.html

A great source of technical info, and passionate opinion.

 

[saxshooter]

There is apparently a very very small mount to film plane distance differences between the Leica M and Konica Hexar RF. The results of this is not apparent in the wider lenses (depth of field of the wide lenses saves you), but some people may experience misfocusing of fast Leica 50mm lenses on Hexar RF and vice versa.

So I am guessing that the 50mm 1.2 hexar is perfectly matched with the Hexar RF but not necessarily so with a Leica M.

 

[pvdhaar]

I've used CV lenses long and short on my HexarRF and Hexanons on my Bessa. Wide open. Close range. Never had a focus issue..

Still I can imagine that f1.2 is pushing it.

I would even go as far as to suspect that the f1.2 Hexanons are matched to the individual body. There has to be some solid reason why they weren't sold separately from the bodies, and I'm not talking about the titanium finish here..

 

[Leicanthrope]

Thanks to everyone who responded, and for the welcome to the forum. I didn't post the question on Photonet, and wasn't aware of it, as I have seldom visited that site, though I may well now join it, if only to spare people the annoyance of reading similar or identical questions on both forums! I have now looked at the post in question, and the comparison shots (taken at f1.2, I assume) but these, and the above responses, have raised further questions with regard to the compatability of the lens with non-Hexar bodies. I was already aware of this issue, in general terms, from the article about the Hexar RF on Cameraquest, but am unsure as to how fixable this is, and whether having it realigned, or 'collimated' for a Leica body would then make it incompatible with the Hexar.

I don't currently own any Leica or M-mount cameras, and am not desperate for an ultra-fast lens, but saw the listing by the French dealer which is referred to on Photonet and thought it seemed a bargain, given that it is, as I am assured by the seller, brand new. The payment method is rather unfortunate, though, at least for those of us without cash...

 

[laptoprob]

Where are those test shots?

Rob.

 

[StuartR]

They are not really test shots, but I posted some images I made with the lens on photo.net. Sorry that I was too lazy to post them here. I figured you were the same person. Anyway, the difference should be very very small and not particularly noticeable in ordinary use. Dante Stella has written a very long and comprehensive article disputing that it is a problem at all. Something about the manufacturing tolerances being greater than the difference in lens to film distance. It is here: http://www.dantestella.com/technical/flange.html

In any case, DAG will adjust the rangefinder on your Hexar RF to focus for Leica lenses for 35 bucks and I can't imagine it would be more than 80 dollars to properly collimate a Hexar f/1.2 lens for use on Leica, so if you were really worried then it shouldn't make a difference. Anyway, here are some shots I made with an unadjusted Hexanon 50mm/1.2 on my leica MP. It seems to do fine. The first one is probably at 1.2 or 1.4, and the second is probably f/5.6: