Hexar responsiveness

naren

naren

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I took my Hexar out to shoot for the first time in daylight this weekend, shooting at a street fair. Previously I'd felt when shooting in very dim conditions with flash, this rig was very sluggish. Sadly I found it to behave the same way in bright sunlight. Even when shutting off the AF I felt like I was shooting with a digital point and shoot- by the time it fired the shot was gone. Whoever posted on my thread about shooting the Hexar with flash said that it's actually a very responsive camera and I must have just not noticed that the picture was taken already... certainly not the case at this point. I wonder if I have a malfunctioning body, and I wanted to ask other peoples' impression of the shutter lag on this camera. Also if you share my feeling and have some experience with the Hexar RF, I'd like to hear your opinion on that camera. It was going to be my next camera, but not if it is like my Hexar AF. It's quite disappointing. Thanks.
 
I had a Hexar AF for a year, and found it incredibly responsive. Then, I started to get the dodgy shutter button problem that several people have reported, and it felt like shutter lag. Perhaps this is what you're experiencing?
 
I only Have the Hexar RF but have tried an AF.
I don't recall noticeable shutter lag on the AF, but physically RF is nothing like the AF. I believe the RF shares some components with the Contax G1 & G2 but I'm not aware of it sharing any with the Hexar AF as they are completely different constructions. .

Overall I think the RF is a superb rangefinder and despite having other cameras, I have no intention of ever selling mine. I recommend it highly.
 
There's a comprehensive DIY Pictorial on cleaning the shutter button on the Silvergrain wiki. It's a piece of cake, I have done this myself for at least ten cameras. The problem never returned, the cameras were about a decade to fifteen years old, so button should be good for another decade or so. The shutter button is a tactile two-way button, it does not suffer from wear, just dirt.

This goes for the AF only, I have never serviced an RF button, not even sure whether construction is similar.
 
i've been using the Hexar AF today, on aperture priority, with autofocus, in a dimly lit coffee shop, on rainy streets and looking at the city after the moon came up over the river (hand held at f2.0).

Responsiveness is a very subjective thing. I regularly use a Canon G9 and D200 and - occasionally - a Leica M4. The G9 at times struck me as a little slow in responding when I hit the shutter button - no doubt something to do with acquiring focus.

But that has not occurred to me today - or at any other time - when using the Hexar AF.
 
while responsiveness can be subjective, the hexar AF IS responsive.
certainly no problem at the level of missing a shot because of it.

I wander: maybe the first contact (half pressure on the release), the one that should aquire focus and exposure doesn't work?
In that case, you could have the camera aquiring focus when you want the picture done, resulting in a looooong lag.
I would take Johan's advice if this is the case.
 
CLE-RF said:
There's a comprehensive DIY Pictorial on cleaning the shutter button on the Silvergrain wiki. It's a piece of cake, I have done this myself for at least ten cameras. The problem never returned, the cameras were about a decade to fifteen years old, so button should be good for another decade or so. The shutter button is a tactile two-way button, it does not suffer from wear, just dirt.
Click to expand...

I found some photos of the Hexar on that site with the top plate off, and the front screws revealed by peeling back the covering... nothing else. No instructions on fixing the problem or even a visual really. It seems the "silvergrain wiki" is also no longer running as it once was perhaps? I never went to the site before but now it is under "silvergrain labs". No luck there either, so if you can pass along the info that would be wonderful. Thanks.
 
Were you talking about the Hexar RF or AF? Your note wasn't clear, though I infer you meant the RF.

Whichever one you meant, I can say that either one is quite responsive. The RF requires a little more finger pressure to trip the shutter than a Leica M, but there's no discernible shutter lag. (And with either the RF or AF you can squeeze off another shot immediately since you don't wind the film yourself.)
 
I own two Hexar AFs. I love these cameras and I think they are the best for street photography. My black AF is having difficulty with the shutter button so I plan to take it to Crysler camera repair on 34th St next month. My Silver AF is in good shape. I wouldn't dare try a fix the AF on my own since I'm not adept at fixing anything.
 
Ming The Merciless said:
I own two Hexar AFs. I love these cameras and I think they are the best for street photography. My black AF is having difficulty with the shutter button so I plan to take it to Crysler camera repair on 34th St next month. My Silver AF is in good shape. I wouldn't dare try a fix the AF on my own since I'm not adept at fixing anything.
Click to expand...


Yeah, it is clear to me now that I have the dirty shutter button problem. I looked at the online DIY fix and I don't feel too good about it so I've pondered whether I will just sit on this thing for a while until I have the money and send it to a repair shop. Have you had good experiences previously with "Crysler" repair shop? It does say in the DIY instructions, "This should not be the first camera you work on". It also also says it should take about 1 hr, and with a mile high "to do list" and no shortage of film cameras I don't know when I will end up fixing this thing. It's a shame because I know it is a real nice camera and the way the flash system operates is very unique, and I think it would benefit my work. OTF TTL works very well too, but what if everyone is wearing black? Exp. compensation is possible but it is slow... that's the benefit of Hexar's GN system. It's also better than the auto thrystor flash on my 2nd body because I think an off center subject when shooting wide angles can really throw off the exposure in that case.
 
I've never used Crysler but it isn't too far from where I live so I'll give them a look see. The other alternative, which I have used is Panorama Camera repair a mom and pop outfit.
 
See above, Vijay: "There's a comprehensive DIY Pictorial on cleaning the shutter button on the Silvergrain wiki."
 
If you're in the EU and pay shipping both ways, I'll fix it for you. It's a ten minute job. No additional costs AFAIC, but you can add a little something to the total shipping costs if it makes you feel better. Unfortunately I cannot accept cameras from outside the EU due to customs fees and customs delays of up to a full month (courtesy of TNT Post Netherlands, thank you)

I can provide references on both RFF and eBay, should you need them.
 
Thanks Payasam. I've been on that page many times, going back and forth as to whether I can do that myself. I've never opened a camera, let alone fixed one.


Thanks Johan. If I lived in the EU, I would definitely take you up on your generous offer. I live in the U.S.
 
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