Hexar Black AF needs circuit board

[Robert Ades]

The circuit board on my Hexar Black appears to have failed. The power will not stay on.

Would anyone happen to know where I can find the part? I've searched throughout the US and no one seems to have it.

Thank you,
Robert

 

[seany65]

Hello Robert, and welcome to the forum.

I can't help, but let's hope someone can soon.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Try Nippon Photo Clinic in NYC if you haven't already. Otherwise, try to find a junker Hexar and salvage the part.
Above all others the black Hexar is the one camera I wish I never sold. I had Leica stars in my eyes and used the money to buy my first M2.
If you can't find the right part, sell the dead camera to someone here. I want to stick that lens in a mechanical helical to shoot on my M4. (Although it would be more time and cost effective for me to just buy another Hexar.)

Good luck!
Phil Forrest

 

[Robert Ades]

All, thanks for your responses, but please help keep this thread on topic. I did reach out to Nippon Photo Clinic btw, with no luck.

Is there anyone in Europe or Asia that might have Konica parts?

 

[nasmformyzombie]

I can't vouch for him personally, but I've been hearing about a Konica repair guy named Greg Weber for many years. He repairs only Konica photo equipment. His web site is here:

http://webercamera.com/

 

[zuikologist]

Johan Niels may be able to help.

http://www.johanniels.com/index.php...7-konica-hexar-af-the-ultimate-compact-camera

 

[Oren Grad]

I can't vouch for him personally, but I've been hearing about a Konica repair guy named Greg Weber for many years. He repairs only Konica photo equipment. His web site is here:

http://webercamera.com/

Greg is indeed the Konica guy, but he wasn't able to repair my Hexar AF (original black version) for lack of parts. Robert's might need something different from mine; just be aware that in general parts for the Hexar AF have been a problem for a while now.

Kenko-Tokina seems to still maintain a repair service for old Konica-Minolta products in Japan, but the web page includes a warning that parts may no longer be available for some products:

http://www.kenko-tokina.co.jp/konicaminolta/index.html

Perhaps Bellamy Hunt can advise on availability of parts or repairs in Japan:

http://www.japancamerahunter.com/services/camera-repairs/

 

[k__43]

My wife's Hexar seems completely dead too (i.e. it says nothing at all). What a shame, she used it rarely but made great shots with it.

What do you mean with "The power will not stay on" ? Is the display lighting up and then goes off again? Seems like a failure of a passive part. If I had yours and be able to get to the circuit board I'd just swap everything that looks like a tantal/elco cap

that said I'd love to see the schematics of that camera but I had no luck finding one.


K

 

[lonemantis]

If you're good with a soldering iron, this is the most in-depth guide I've seen to fixing a bad Hexar PCB: https://jabcam.wordpress.com/2016/08/24/topic-resurrecting-konica-hexar-af-from-the-dead/

Sadly most dead Hexars stay dead after Kenko-Tokina ran out of parts in 2015. You could also buy another and keep yours for parts. Good luck!

 

[Robert Ades]

By not powering on, I mean the camera is completely dead -- as though the battery were removed. I've replaced the batter twice -- no dice. On a few occasions, the camera would power up for a few minutes then die out. Harry of Camera Max Repair of Glendale, CA (who I highly recommend) says the main circuit board has gone bad. He doesn't have the part and can't locate it.

My wife's Hexar seems completely dead too (i.e. it says nothing at all). What a shame, she used it rarely but made great shots with it.

What do you mean with "The power will not stay on" ? Is the display lighting up and then goes off again? Seems like a failure of a passive part. If I had yours and be able to get to the circuit board I'd just swap everything that looks like a tantal/elco cap

that said I'd love to see the schematics of that camera but I had no luck finding one.


K

 

[Robert Ades]

I emailed Bellamy this morning. Meanwhile, do you happen to have an email address for http://www.kenko-tokina.co.jp/konicaminolta/index.html? The site's in Japanese and I cannot find it using Google Translate.

Greg is indeed the Konica guy, but he wasn't able to repair my Hexar AF (original black version) for lack of parts. Robert's might need something different from mine; just be aware that in general parts for the Hexar AF have been a problem for a while now.

Kenko-Tokina seems to still maintain a repair service for old Konica-Minolta products in Japan, but the web page includes a warning that parts may no longer be available for some products:

http://www.kenko-tokina.co.jp/konicaminolta/index.html

Perhaps Bellamy Hunt can advise on availability of parts or repairs in Japan:

http://www.japancamerahunter.com/services/camera-repairs/

 

[Robert Ades]

Sent him a note.

Johan Niels may be able to help.

http://www.johanniels.com/index.php...7-konica-hexar-af-the-ultimate-compact-camera

 

[Robert Ades]

He was the first person I contacted, and unfortunately doesn't have any more.

I can't vouch for him personally, but I've been hearing about a Konica repair guy named Greg Weber for many years. He repairs only Konica photo equipment. His web site is here:

http://webercamera.com/

 

[k__43]

If you're good with a soldering iron, this is the most in-depth guide I've seen to fixing a bad Hexar PCB: https://jabcam.wordpress.com/2016/08/24/topic-resurrecting-konica-hexar-af-from-the-dead/

Sadly most dead Hexars stay dead after Kenko-Tokina ran out of parts in 2015. You could also buy another and keep yours for parts. Good luck!

That is actually very cool information there. I just checked - mine has a different problem. The motor driver ICs get their voltage.
I wonder if the problem with mine is similar tho.

 

[Robert Ades]

Are there any possible parts sources outside the US? I think I've pretty well exhausted the ones that are here.

 

[Oren Grad]

Meanwhile, do you happen to have an email address for http://www.kenko-tokina.co.jp/konicaminolta/index.html? The site's in Japanese and I cannot find it using Google Translate.

They show only a toll-free telephone number for use within Japan. That was the reason to try Bellamy Hunt.

The Kenko Global site has a contact page:

http://www.kenkoglobal.com/support/contact.html

FWIW, they say look at the FAQ before inquiring, and FAQ #6 is:

Q6: Can you directly support about returns and repairs from oversea?
A6: So sorry, we can't directly support. Please contact our distributors or shops you bought.

But lonemantis' post upthread about Kenko-Tokina running out of parts sadly noted.

 

[Robert Ades]

Is there anybody in Europe, the UK, Australia or the Far East that might carry parts?

 

[nasmformyzombie]

I may be stating the obvious, but the Hexar has been out of production for about fifteen years. It was not a big seller. Konica Minolta ceased support on its cameras on December 31, 2010---nearly six years ago.

Here's a link to an attempt at a DIY repair of a Hexar AF.

https://www.scribd.com/document/55911480/Konica-Hexar-Silver-Grain-Labs

The writer of this blog, Bellamy at Japan Camera Hunter, mentions Hexar AF repairs being available in Japan in 2011, but by 2015 no longer so. Today he offers a conversion to M mount for the Hexar lens.

http://www.japancamerahunter.com/2011/09/the-konica-hexar-af-the-quietest-camera-in-the-world/