Roscoe
Established
I'd like to say I'd offer mine... but happily, it will probably never leave its well earned spot on my collection shelf. 
caasols
Member
It's a great camera with a wondereful lens.. a bit noisy, but you have the silent more for that.
I have a Hexa Silver Edition in excelent condition (almost near mint)... since my eyes surgeries, and having a hard time manual focusing, it has been my fellow companion on the streets!
I have a Hexa Silver Edition in excelent condition (almost near mint)... since my eyes surgeries, and having a hard time manual focusing, it has been my fellow companion on the streets!
Alex Krasotkin
Well-known
Hexar is a Rangefinders' King. If I have only one camera, it will be Hexar!
print44
Well-known
you know though the more I've thought about it the more the Canon lens option appeals:
1 it'll work with all my Leica bodies LTM and M plus digital if I'm ever able to afford one!
2 It's faster than the hexar's and I prefer the 50mm format when photographing on the street.
3 the hexar no matter whether I get a good one or a dud will always have the sense that it's one circuit board failure away from complete uselessness - hard to fault a lens in that department.
1 it'll work with all my Leica bodies LTM and M plus digital if I'm ever able to afford one!
2 It's faster than the hexar's and I prefer the 50mm format when photographing on the street.
3 the hexar no matter whether I get a good one or a dud will always have the sense that it's one circuit board failure away from complete uselessness - hard to fault a lens in that department.
Ming The Merciless
Established
I have both the black version and the silver one. Using these gems has changed my photography. The battery life is tremendous (about three or four years per). They are quiet, compact and have a quality lens. They are simply great for street photography. I got mine at around $300.00 or $350.00 a number of years ago and right after I got them the prices seemed to have spiked. The AF is amazingly fast.
bensyverson
Well-known
I don't agree at all. I have plenty of mechanical cameras and shutters that have either stopped working or only half work (slow speeds off, no fast speeds). And I have electronic cameras that are just as old but working fine. The Yashica 35CC jumps to mind. My DSLR from 2005 has been absolutely tortured during its 7 years with me, but it's doing fine.
The bottom line is that any camera can malfunction, so you shouldn't choose a camera based on that fact. I don't buy that the Hexar malfunctions more frequently than other cameras. Look at how often Leica users have to do a CLA. How often does that CLA or repair cost more than a Hexar?
print44
Well-known
Thomas- I think you're making some good points and your final analysis seems to be the conclusion I too have reached. I did take a couple of half decent pictures with the Hexar- the silhouette of my daughter practicing the piano in my 'various' album on rff. But I too think the af is as fallible as manual focussing in stealthy situations. If I wasn't happy with the stuff I can get from my mf lenses then I guess there'd be real draw towards af, but that's not the case.
I bought a really cheap xa2 & a canon af35ml to get a comparison- neither do their job as pleasingly as the hexar- though obviously the xa2 is very pocketable.
I think I'm trying to find a camera which makes me a better street shooter, when really what I should be doing is getting a bit closer and using my eyes! .
I bought a really cheap xa2 & a canon af35ml to get a comparison- neither do their job as pleasingly as the hexar- though obviously the xa2 is very pocketable.
I think I'm trying to find a camera which makes me a better street shooter, when really what I should be doing is getting a bit closer and using my eyes! .
flip
良かったね！
I've a titanium loaded with Efke 820. The size keeps me from using it more often, I think. Still, irreplaceable in its niche.
flip
良かったね！
Just got back from a jaunt around Kyushu. I only took my AF and an OM-1 with 90/2 and Peleng fisheye - I figured this would make me use the stuff I use less often. Some AF shots on Fuji 400 @800/Rodinal:
Near the JR Kagoshima (cropped)
I rather regret not shooting at 400 or 600 - I might have had more smooth-toned shots.
Silence is good, when you want this sort of picture (despite folks changing 15 feet away on the right). There's a reason the digitals are required to make noise.
Udon + mentaiko + katsuobushi + raw egg + butter is pretty damn good (apologies for the hashi)
Had some issues with focus on occasion - as at this "free" (100yen) onsen.
It was good for me to take the camera as it was forced to re-learn that it is not a point and shoot and that I should get the ND filters. My most common mistakes amounted to me misapplying A mode and not being more careful with my focus in low light / moderate-depth situations, through glass, and in fog. That said, when I thought ahead, I was able to snag some shots which I would never attempt with another camera (onsen shots above) because I could be quiet.
Some AF shots on Fuji 400 @800/Rodinal:Near the JR Kagoshima (cropped)
I rather regret not shooting at 400 or 600 - I might have had more smooth-toned shots.
Silence is good, when you want this sort of picture (despite folks changing 15 feet away on the right). There's a reason the digitals are required to make noise.
Udon + mentaiko + katsuobushi + raw egg + butter is pretty damn good (apologies for the hashi)
Had some issues with focus on occasion - as at this "free" (100yen) onsen.
It was good for me to take the camera as it was forced to re-learn that it is not a point and shoot and that I should get the ND filters. My most common mistakes amounted to me misapplying A mode and not being more careful with my focus in low light / moderate-depth situations, through glass, and in fog. That said, when I thought ahead, I was able to snag some shots which I would never attempt with another camera (onsen shots above) because I could be quiet.