Hexar AF

gilpen123

gilpen123

Gil
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Hi I have an opportunity to buy a Hexar AF black with data back. My only concern is the 1/250 shutter speed. I shoot mainly ASA 400 B&W for 135 film RF and would like understand how you guys handle the relatively slow speed in bright light using ISO 400 films. I think my only option is to use a 2 stop ND filter and adjust my ISO manually to compensate. Do you find the speed limiting in your use? Thanks!
 
I, until recently, owned a Yashica Electro CC. Great camera, same issue - 1/250 max shutter speed... and also liked using 400 ASA film. ND filters... really it's all you can do. Not too big an issue, works well. That's a great camera by all accounts - get it. You can also underexpose a stop, set to 200... Some would argue, including myself, that some films look better underexposed a stop outdoors when there's amply light (but not indoors, when print film looks like hell underexposed...)
 
I would argue that the character of the hexar lens really shows when you use it wide open. To me that means that I use it indoors in clubs and bars.
If you have to stop down beyond f/4 you might as well use any decent 35mm lens. I'm sure you have a camera already 😉
 
Not to worry. I haven't needed an ND filter yet.

I use this camera too, and I have found that for fast shooting conditions with lots of light and a fast film, I prefer the camera's P mode.

The neat thing about this camera's P mode is that it offers you relatively good exposure latitude because the camera will continue to change to a higher numerical aperture value even after it has reached the 1/250s shutter speed when there's too much light.

If there's still too much light, you might as well do a mid-roll change and continue shooting using a slower film. This is easily possible because the camera features a very precise autoloading mechanism and highly practical mid-roll rewind function that gives you the option to open the camera back after rewinding, but before the camera winds the film leader into the canister.

When loading a film that I previously exposed up to frame number X, I usually advance the camera to frame number X+1. This works every time, and most of the time, I have exactly 1 unexposed frame on my negatives.

If you make it a habit to place the film leader precisely at the red mark that is visible in the camera's film chamber, you might even avoid double exposures if you continue at frame number X!
 
Great I read some comments on the P mode as well which I believe can help. Slow B&W 135 films are not readily available here (Philippines). I saw at Camera Quest a side by side picture of M6 and Hexar, it's almost the same size and Hexar is thicker. The advantage though is it's AF, which can be useful in street and candid photography.
 
Btw, is $650 for a mint black with data back and HX-14 flash reasonable? I've seen the silver ones go for $400 and am thinking if it's worth it. I understand the black version are the early ones and has real stealth mode and that the data back versions are quite rare.
 
Impressive shot using the Hexar AF. I see you're using the silver which is the later version.

douwe said:
I would argue that the character of the hexar lens really shows when you use it wide open. To me that means that I use it indoors in clubs and bars.
If you have to stop down beyond f/4 you might as well use any decent 35mm lens. I'm sure you have a camera already 😉
Click to expand...
 
This is the actual camera

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Seems to be really mint. In my experience 650 USD would not be unusually high for that. Just make sure everything works also, especially the shutter release. And that the VF is still bright and contrasty.

OTOH you can probably find fully functional Silver Hexar AF's with 300 USDs if the looks are not that important. As you probably know already the silent mode can be activated on Silver models as well.
 
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If you do want one, and I can imagine why, don't buy a mint black one for $650,- If you use the camera, it will no longer be mint and you lose a lot of cash. A used silver one is just as good, costs half the money and you won't have to be super careful with your camera.
Being careful means you are inhibited and don't make the shots you could make if you didn't care about your hardware.
I bought mine for EUR 250 with flash. It's the databack version, and I fixed the erratic shutter release myself. No big deal.🙂
 
gilpen123 said:
Hi I have an opportunity to buy a Hexar AF black with data back. My only concern is the 1/250 shutter speed. I shoot mainly ASA 400 B&W for 135 film RF and would like understand how you guys handle the relatively slow speed in bright light using ISO 400 films. I think my only option is to use a 2 stop ND filter and adjust my ISO manually to compensate. Do you find the speed limiting in your use? Thanks!
Click to expand...

Hi!

Unless you are shooting exclusively in low-light situations you should use probably stick to using slower-speed film with this camera.

I now only shoot ISO/ASA 100 with my Hexar AF and if I desire wide-open shots in bright sunlight I will screw on a 6 stop ND filter or stack two lesser-strength ones.

I am not sure how useful a data back is. Does it imprint a date on the image or outside of the image frame?

If you cannot purchase slow film in your country you can always bulk-order it online. Packs of 10 to 20 rolls are available all over the internet.

When operating this camera it is crucial that you quickly learn to never place fingers in front of the sensor (it is located right next to the lens). I recommend you practice holding the camera a such a way that you deliberately place your smallest three fingers as far away from the sensor as possible.
 
The data back is ugly, bulky, and stupid so I avoid them. The silver ones are plenty quiet already and sometimes a better value, but I wouldn't pay over $400 USd for one either way. The only real problem with them is that the shutter release can get dirty and function sporadically -- it requires some careful home repair or an inexpensive clean and adjust (direction online, do a search). Otherwise they are great cameras, my main compliant is that they are too quiet and while their AF is excellent, it is hard to ever know for sure what they are focused on (although they rarely miss!).

The 1/250th speed outdoors w ISO 400 film is a problem in theory but I find I don't usually want to shoot wide open in hard light. It is an ideal camera for low to moderate light.
 
ChrisPlatt said:
When I got my Hexar AF I immediately bought a neutral density filter.
So far using ISO 100 film exclusively I haven't needed to use it once.

Chris
Click to expand...

For ISO 100 I don't need a ND filter. With ISO 400 I remember very few situations where there was a need for a ND filter. I don't have one but overall no problem. I only use ISO 100 (colour) at the moment.

Despite some limitations it's a great camera. Right now it's the only film camera I kept.
 
My local camera shop (which happens to be a very very good one) carries a black Hexar AF for 1900 kr. (which is a little less than 400 dollars). I know it's in Denmark but they ship internationally have a years guaranty and a 30 day exchange period.
here's a link to the shop: http://www.photografica.com/
As usual no affilitation, just a happy customer.
By the way you will have to email them or call them about the camera, since they are very slow to update their website, so you cannot find it there.
Happy Hunting. It's a very very fine camera.
 
I love the camera and have never found it a limitation. TO be honest, I simply shut down the aperture outside in bright light.

The program move in the Hexar is excellent; it allows you to set a prepared aperture, but the camera will close it down if necessary. I wish my Panasonic GF1 was capavble of something similar . (It's posible it is, but buried vaguely within the manual).
 
I can certainly vouch for photografica, also no business affiliation here, just a very happy customer.

It's one of the must visit shops if you're in Copenhagen, I bought a very mint, new like used Hexar RF outfits from them, no sales tax for 2nd hand stuff in Denmark and it comes with the shop warranty!

Their service has nothing but excellent their collections of rangefinders in their shop is almost museum like, definitely a highly recommended shop (and I've been to a lot of shops around the world)
 
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