Hexar AF

[ChrisP]

Alright 2 things,
First can anyone talk me out of a Hexar AF? Is there any reason why you wouldn't get one?

Second if I do end up picking one up is there any Hexar AF CLA master? There's Sherry Krauter for everything Leica, Eric Hendicson for everything Pentax, and Hexar AF CLA gods?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[flip]

No.
No. If I was worried about #3 and 4.
No.
No. Perhaps a Japanese tech.

That was easy.

 

[Spyro]

No. Maybe size but still no bigger than RF + pancake
No.
No.
Not that I know of, there's a diy on the net somewhere for a common fault, dust under the shutter button.

 

[andersju]

Alright 2 things,
First can anyone talk me out of a Hexar AF? Is there any reason why you wouldn't get one?

Second if I do end up picking one up is there any Hexar AF CLA master? There's Sherry Krauter for everything Leica, Eric Hendicson for everything Pentax, and Hexar AF CLA gods?

Thanks,
Chris

1) No. I got my second one a couple of months ago. Not that there's anything wrong with my first one, I just like it so much I wanted a backup. 🙂

2) Yes, in Japan. The old Konica repair shop (different owner these days; I believe it's owned by Kenko now) is still servicing the Hexar AF and RF. I had my Hexar AF serviced in Japan last summer (erratic shutter release; they also adjusted AF and did some cleaning) thanks to Japan Exposures. No problems at all.

 

[Richard G]

No.
No.
Yes: http://www.webercamera.com/repairs.html

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Alright 2 things,
First can anyone talk me out of a Hexar AF? Is there any reason why you wouldn't get one?

Second if I do end up picking one up is there any Hexar AF CLA master? There's Sherry Krauter for everything Leica, Eric Hendicson for everything Pentax, and Hexar AF CLA gods?

Thanks,
Chris

I understand you oh so very well... I felt just like you for many months, especially worried about the shutter/focus issue...

Finally I decided I had to take the risk and get one: one I could return if I preferred to, and fortunately a very nice forum member (thank you, fernandez_diez!) sent me his Hexar AF saying "don't send money yet, just test it, and then tell me if you like it..."

When I received the camera, it took me two minutes to see how nice it is and works, and literally after two minutes I was calling him to tell him I was keeping it.

I don't know if the silver ones (being newer) are less prone to the shutter/focus problem, but I felt confident about getting a silver one even though I use black cameras only, but this Hexar AF in silver is very beautiful to me. I won't be babying it too much: I'll enjoy it without caring at all, and if one day I drop it or it has any big problem, what the hell, I'll buy another one. To me this is a very important and powerful tool no other camera can replace. This one in my wrist, and a manual one for sun on my shoulder or pocket, is as good as this gets.

Cheers,

Juan

 

[bolohead]

+1 for Weber Camera.

 

[asparis]

Wow. Difficult questions, because they involve unknown factors.
I have both a Hexar AF and a Hexar RF. I think both of them are the best "rangefinder type" cameras I've owned, and I'd love to keep both.
However. In working condition, both have significant value. If either of them breaks they are near worthless, due to the shenanigans and non support of Konica-Minolta-whatever.
I honestly don't know whether to sell them now, and use the money for something practical, or just keep and enjoy them until they break and sell them for parts.
"It's a quandary."
Sorry if this doesn't help.....

 

[szekiat]

yes. cos film's more expensive then digital memory now (quite literally)

 

[dogbunny]

The camera is a great experience. I personally blame it for my inability to get beyond film and move towards digital.

 

[Mablo]

I've had a black Hexar AF for a couple of weeks now. I'm kicking myself for not having bought one earlier. This is a camera that gives me a chance to concentrate a bit more on the image and a bit less on technicalities. Just what I needed.

 

[janosh]

Switching mostly to DSLR I sold a pair of Canon P and various lenses, kept my Hexar AF. Mistake. Canon's viewfinder is famously cluttered, but Hexar's big bold framelines sometimes blank out and the autofocus, although reliable, is less intuitive, therefore slower, than manual focus. Hexar's autofocus requires thought, Canon/Leica et al don't...where this is most obvious is when something important is low in the foreground and the camera wants to focus in the middle....you can over-ride that, but you have to think about it.