Hexar AF "M" Mode Confusion

Kevin

Kevin

Rainbow Bridge
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Jun 5, 2005
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Hi Hexar AF users,

When I put the Hexar into "M" mode and press the up/down buttons to select the shutter speed, the top display panel shows the shutter I selected. No problem.

But when I depress the shutter button halfway with my new composition, the displayed shutter speed might be higher or lower than the speed I manually selected. Is that normal?

Which shutter speed will actually be used when I take the picture? The manually set one or the new bogus shutter speed shown while the holding down the shutter release halfway?

Thanks in advance,
Kevin
 
In M mode, the meter works as usual, but the speed settings are set - manually!
The meter only informs you what an average meter 19% value would require. This is one of the relatively mysterious things about the Hexar that made me sell mine.
 
From memory, I think think this allows you to survey variious parts of the scene, as the Camera switches to 4 degree spot metering in "M" mode. So it's ctually quite useful for assessing an entire scene, while not upsetting your original metering selection. The Hexar is certainly quirky, a joy to use, and has a great lens.

BTW, you can perfom a software "upgrade" to gain some of the hidden functions that appeared on specific model variations. It involves pressing lots of buttons on your camera. You can get all the details off the photo.net site which is linked on this homepage. Type in Hexar Review, and the info appears in the punter's comments after the review.
 
Kevin, the camera will use the speed you manually set, hence the name manual mode :p

The Hexar switches from average (P, A) to spot metering when turned to M, which is very convenient (speaking for myself threre, as laptoprob already pointed there's always one who dun't like green..) ;)
Holding the shutter button halfway pressed and simultaneously pressing either up/down button will set the currently measured speed btw.

I have a Hexar Silver (reprogrammed with silent mode and bracketed exposure) and being used to a meterless leica I was overwhelmed by all the functions at first and surprised at last to see I was actually using most of them regularly, (like the spot metering in M mode)...

Have fun and hold on to it!

Phil

edit // beat me by 1 minute there! dhuh..:D

This is how I got silentmode and bracketed exposure, text is from PN I think.
D[FA] will give you only the silentmode, while D[FE] is what I did (silentmode+ bracketed exposure)

Make sure your camera is powered off. Then:
1: Turn theaperture dial to F22
2: Turn the camera on and press SELECT. The display will show +/-0.0
3: Press SELECT again. The display will show [0]
4: Turn the camera off, then on. Do not press any buttons. Display shows [0]

5: Enter ROM wit the exposure compensation buttons:
Press right button 1 time
Press left button 2 times
Press right button 3 times
Press left button 4 times
Press right button 3 times
Press left button 2 times
Press right button 1 time
The camera will rattle and buzz and the display will show the flashing number '232'

6: Turn aperture dial from f22 to f13 (between f11 and f16). Display shows A[38] Use the left exposure compensation button to go to A[00]

7: Turn aperture dial to f16. The display shows D[FB]

8: Set display to D[FE] with the exposure compensation button.

9: Power off. The display shows f16

10: Press shutter release button for 2 secs. f16 disappears, camera switches off


To activate silent mode press MF while switching the camera on, L [0] shows if you got it right.
To activate bracketed exposure switch to M mode and press and hold select until the +-0.0 shows in the display. Bracket and press the shutter once - 3 pics will be made.
 
Last edited:
Hi Ralf, I started reading that pnet Hexar review this morning. 82 printed pages if I were to print it out. Lots of comments.

I think my Hexar version is pretty good. I do get a lot of false exposures (mostly over exposures) in P mode. I seldom use A and M modes but I will do more experimentation soon.

I really like to use this camera but getting the exposure consistenly right in P mode has been a challenge for me since I have had it. Which modes do you prefer?

Best,
Kevin
 
I bet one of the fingers on your right hand is partially covering the meter when you shoot. The meter on the Hexar is exceptionally good and there is no reason for over exposure. Underexposure maybe, if you are getting lots of sky in the scene, but not over exposure.
 
felipe said:
Holding the shutter button halfway pressed and simultaneously pressing either up/down button will set the currently measured speed btw.
Phil
Click to expand...

Hi Felipe,

That is a mad trick !!! I have been using P mode until now and am just getting into M mode. I will have to read that pnet review thoroughly I suppose.

Thanks,
Kevin
 
Ralf said:
I bet one of the fingers on your right hand is partially covering the meter when you shoot. The meter on the Hexar is exceptionally good and there is no reason for over exposure. Underexposure maybe, if you are getting lots of sky in the scene, but not over exposure.
Click to expand...

Well I figured out the meter was not behind the lens months after I bought the camera. I put on a ND filter and the exposure readings were the same.

Just where the heck is the meter? Behind the dark tinted window, just to the right of the Konica logo ? That would explain everything. Big hands, small camera.

Kevin
 
Okay, a pnet user wrote a review comment years ago:

-- Glen Johnson, April 15, 1997

One peculiarity about the Hexar I learned the hard way: The metering window is located next to the lens on a small raised oval with the self-timer LED. My right middle finger seems to set itself right on top of the metering window, causing overexposure; be careful. Otherwise, no complaints; viewfinder outstanding.
 
The other "feature" I found interesting,and quite liked, was the little V shanped notch that appears on each of your negs. (You can see the notch in the camera when you open the back). When you are going throughh your negs or uncut chromes, you can tell straight away which camera was used!! Quirky.

The most annoying aspects of the camera (for me) were leaving the lens cap on, and forgetting to adjust exposure for filters. I also found the controls (buttons) to be not to my liking. I prefer dials, and switches.
 
Kevin said:
Well I figured out the meter was not behind the lens months after I bought the camera. I put on a ND filter and the exposure readings were the same.

Just where the heck is the meter? Behind the dark tinted window, just to the right of the Konica logo ? That would explain everything. Big hands, small camera.

Kevin
Click to expand...

The Hexar's exposure meter is left of the lens if you look at it. There are 2 small, round "windows". The red one shows self-timer activity, the clear one is the meter.
The dark tinted window to the right of the Konica logo covers the AF sensor.
 
I instinctively hold the Hexar like a Leica-M and a finger always ends up close to or draped over the meter. So what to do? How should you hold this camera?
 
Kevin said:
I instinctively hold the Hexar like a Leica-M and a finger always ends up close to or draped over the meter. So what to do? How should you hold this camera?
Click to expand...
Option 1: Chop off finger.. :D

Option 2: Pay attention to what the Hexar does. It is very consistent in its behaviour, and after a while you get an intuitive feel for what it's supposed to do. For instance, when I hear the aperture opening up in P-mode, I know it gets less light than required for my pre-set lowest shutter speed, and I check whether I've not covered the metering window. In A-mode, the +/- LEDS are a guide. When the shutter drops below my pre-set lowest shutter speed, the - LED starts to blink; also a pointer to check whether I'm doing things right..
 
Ralf said:
The other "feature" I found interesting,and quite liked, was the little V shanped notch that appears on each of your negs. (You can see the notch in the camera when you open the back). When you are going throughh your negs or uncut chromes, you can tell straight away which camera was used!! Quirky.

The most annoying aspects of the camera (for me) were leaving the lens cap on, and forgetting to adjust exposure for filters. I also found the controls (buttons) to be not to my liking. I prefer dials, and switches.
Click to expand...

The Hexar RF has a little notch too (at least mine does). It's not V shaped, it's round. Like you said, it helps me know which camera I used.
 
Thanks for all your help. I now hold this camera in a completely different way and the exposures are much much better. In fact, my new way of holding the hexar makes me look like a beginner with a disposable camera (which I think has advantages for me mentally).

My right hand: Thumb on the bottom plate, index finger on the shutter, other fingers curled in or stretched up into the air. For candid street shots it is probably much better than before. It looks so touristy!!!

Kevin
 
Kevin said:
Hi Ralf, I started reading that pnet Hexar review this morning. 82 printed pages if I were to print it out. Lots of comments.

I think my Hexar version is pretty good. I do get a lot of false exposures (mostly over exposures) in P mode. I seldom use A and M modes but I will do more experimentation soon.

I really like to use this camera but getting the exposure consistenly right in P mode has been a challenge for me since I have had it. Which modes do you prefer?

Best,
Kevin
Click to expand...


I use my Hexcar AF almost always in Aperture priority (A) mode. P mode is great in some ways, but it will lead to over/underexposure if the camera runs out of choices - this is less likely to happen in A mode, particularly at the low shutter speed end of the scale. Also, in P mode, the camera operates slightly slower as the aperture may need changing, whereas in A mode, it stays put. The fastest working is in A mode with the focus preset. I often use 3 to 4 meters at f/8 on the street. Everything from about 2 t0 15 meters is in the DOF.

By the way, everything that people say about the Hexar AFs lens is true - I have the leica pre-ASPH 35mm summicron as well, and in a "non-scientific" perusal of images taken with both under similar real life conditions/film, I can't see any differences in sharpness. The bokeh of the leica lens MIGHT be ever ever so slightly more pleasing (smooth), but it's a tough call. However, the Hexars autofocus is so accurate, that I would say I get overall better results in terms of sharpness from it, than from the summicron. BUT BEWARE, the Hexars AF needs to be pointed at the right thing, I find it's view rather narrow, and sometimes get an out of focus shot due to focusing over the subjects shoulder, for example. That will never happen with a manual-focus rangefinder.
 
felipe said:
Kevin, the camera will use the speed you manually set, hence the name manual mode :p

The Hexar switches from average (P, A) to spot metering when turned to M, which is very convenient (speaking for myself threre, as laptoprob already pointed there's always one who dun't like green..) ;)
Holding the shutter button halfway pressed and simultaneously pressing either up/down button will set the currently measured speed btw.

I have a Hexar Silver (reprogrammed with silent mode and bracketed exposure) and being used to a meterless leica I was overwhelmed by all the functions at first and surprised at last to see I was actually using most of them regularly, (like the spot metering in M mode)...

Have fun and hold on to it!

Phil

edit // beat me by 1 minute there! dhuh..:D

This is how I got silentmode and bracketed exposure, text is from PN I think.
D[FA] will give you only the silentmode, while D[FE] is what I did (silentmode+ bracketed exposure)

Make sure your camera is powered off. Then:
1: Turn theaperture dial to F22
2: Turn the camera on and press SELECT. The display will show +/-0.0
3: Press SELECT again. The display will show [0]
4: Turn the camera off, then on. Do not press any buttons. Display shows [0]

5: Enter ROM wit the exposure compensation buttons:
Press right button 1 time
Press left button 2 times
Press right button 3 times
Press left button 4 times
Press right button 3 times
Press left button 2 times
Press right button 1 time
The camera will rattle and buzz and the display will show the flashing number '232'

6: Turn aperture dial from f22 to f13 (between f11 and f16). Display shows A[38] Use the left exposure compensation button to go to A[00]

7: Turn aperture dial to f16. The display shows D[FB]

8: Set display to D[FE] with the exposure compensation button.

9: Power off. The display shows f16

10: Press shutter release button for 2 secs. f16 disappears, camera switches off


To activate silent mode press MF while switching the camera on, L [0] shows if you got it right.
To activate bracketed exposure switch to M mode and press and hold select until the +-0.0 shows in the display. Bracket and press the shutter once - 3 pics will be made.
Click to expand...

Wow! I had no idea that it was possible to re-program a later Non-silent-mode Hexar so that it would run on silent mode. There is a local shop with a silver hexar new in the box at a really good price. The main reason I have not thought about getting one is that I wanted a hexar with "silent" AND Infrared focus correction. As far as I know the Rhodium Hexar was the only one with this and they are hard to find. I may have to rethink the Hexar Silver if it can be programmed to run in Silent mode.

Thanks for the information.

Kevin
 
Kevin (Theo-Prof), in addition to silent mode and bracketing, you can also re-program to enable the IR and (as someone mentioned in passing at the start of the thread) the function to automatically (well, with one touch of a button) set the shutter speed in manual mode to match the speed selected by the meter. That is a convenient feature, as you can just press the up and down buttons to override the meter as you wish.
 
ray_g,

Are there any threads/pages that list the various re-programmings available for the Hexars? I would like to see what can be done if I decide to buy this camera. As far as I know the Hexar Sivler I am thinking about already came programmed for IR and the one button manual shutter speed setting. What it lacked was the "silent" mode.

Kevin
 
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