Hexar RF still being serviced?

Bill: Good idea. Let us know how that turns out. I've been fortunate not to have this happen with either of my Hexen. (I did have a weird related problem with a flash-equipped Hexar that had a small film-advance hiccup, and turned out to be related to dirty flash contacts; I cleaned the contacts up, and the problem disappeared.

One thing I just thought of: both my Hexar bodies have been in more-or-less constant use since I bought them new in 2002. The longest they've been idle at any given time is a month.

Doug: fingers crossed here as well. We need at least one place that gets the hang of fixing the things. I love mine way too much to get rid of 'em.


- Barrett
 
The switch location is visible... with the back of the camera open, look along the light baffle channel on the bottom, about 1/3 of the width of the camera in from the left. You will see a small opening in the channel, with a switch post about 1mm in diameter protruding... this is the switch that senses if the back is closed. It is wired directly to a pin on the camera microprocessor. It cannot be removed by simply removing the bottom -- based on the service manual, it takes almost full disassembly to remove it. You can see it, though, if you take off the bottom.

While the camera is acting up, I plan to record what it's doing and post it on YouTube, so folks like Doug won't have to go through what they did (at least with regard to explaining the issue).

Bill
 
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Thanks, gents, for the good wishes.

The behavior of mine has changed over time. At first it was pretty much normal except that a few times each roll it would act like the back had been opened mid-roll, after an exposure; reset the counter to zero and advance about 2.5 frames. Recently it's different; upon pressing the shutter button it will NOT take a picture but instead it will reset the counter to zero and advance about 2.5 frames, and it takes a second press on the button to take the shot. Between these times I've had a mixture of both behaviors.

I just ran a roll of film... the RF vertical alignment is now correct, the camera ran fine for the first 5-6 exposures but then displayed this later type of film handling problem again and again through the roll. Most disappointing. I'll take the roll in for processing and contact Precision once more. 🙁

BTW, Precision did NOT shoot the roll of film I enclosed with the camera this last trip, for them to use in real-world testing.
 
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Issy said:
I took a quick look through the service manual and camera schematic last night and found that the rear door switch is noted as "normally open", which implies that closing the camera back closes the switch, which I am guessing, if there is any corrosion on the contacts, will open contact sporadically and tell the camera the back was opened.

Before I send mine anywhere, I am going to try some heavy duty electronics switch and corrosion cleaner. Will post here when I have results.
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Bill, thanks for raising the issue of the back switch, I think we're onto something here.

When I got my roll of film back from processing, it became clear that Precision had run the roll, then rewound it so that the leader was still out, fooling me. It was double-exposed up to frame #17 or so, and their exposures were all in sequence with no gaps, while mine on the same roll exhibited the same irregular gaps as before. I think it's now pretty clear the camera is working normally for them but not for me. What's going on?

I had earlier described my problem as resembling what might happen if the camera sensed the back had opened and closed. That should have caused Precision to examine that back switch with great suspicion. But due to Bill's comment I thought of an experiment.

I sacrificed a long-outdated 36-exp roll in the Hexar RF this morning, running through the whole roll while carefully holding the camera only by the top and bottom plates. Without pressure on the back it worked perfectly. I sacrificed another old roll while deliberately squeezing the back especially lower center and got my typical bad operation.

Pretty good clue the problem is related to the back switch, huh.
 
I have not yet used my Hexar, and I may actually put it up for sale before it is usd by me.
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Raid,
I'm not sure I understand that statement.
If you did not check it out w/o at least running a roll through it when it arrived and then, will sell it with no knowledge if it works correctly or not, what can you say about it?
It just doesn't sound like you.
 
lewis44 said:
Raid,
I'm not sure I understand that statement.
If you did not check it out w/o at least running a roll through it when it arrived and then, will sell it with no knowledge if it works correctly or not, what can you say about it?
It just doesn't sound like you.
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Lewis,
I don't see any errors at all in the camera when I use it without film, This is what I meant.
What came to mind was the fact that I am getting "convinced" that selling the camera is a good idea.

I will use the camera anyways as I need to see what it is doing. I trust the seller, but I better check it out before putting it up for sale.
I paid only $250 plus shipping, so maybe I should take the risk.
 
Raid,
The reason I said what I said and am also following this thread is that I bought a Hexar Rf ran a roll through it and thought it was fine. I got the Hexar to use a 28 & 35, so I shot the film with these two lenses @ f5.6, f8 @f11.
Well guess what, Looked fine, but when I put my 50 Summilux on I found the camera had a back focus issue. I tried all the lenses and it was the same.
I sent the camera to Precision Camera and am on my 3rd go around with them.
They don't get the concept that a back focus issue may be more than a minor adjustment to the vertical and horizontal screws.
The last time I got it back they told me that the camera was fine and it must be my lens as I was sending them photos of the focus chart using the Summilux.
This time, when I sent it back, I used a CV 35 f1.2, the Summilux and my 90mm Hexanon (Great lens, by the way)
All backfocused.
I do have to say the people at Precision are nice enough folks to talk to and sound like they understand what you are saying, but somehow it never gets fixed.
This go round, they promise to also check the mount to film plan distance and before sending it back, test with film and send me a copy of an in focus shot with a lens wide open.
We'll see.
 
Lewis,
I would send the camera to another repair person if the fault is mechanical in nature. Maybe the Hexar is like a Bessa L but with a VF; a body for wide angle lenses with AE.
 
I would send the camera to another repair person if the fault is mechanical in nature.
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Problem is, they are the only game in town if you need parts for the camera.
As I understand it, they are wired in with Sony, who got all of the remaining Konica parts.
Greg Weber can't get any and he's about the best for the Hexar.
All of this is a damn shame because it's a great camera and for the most part, what I would have liked the M7 to be except of the viewfinder.
My preference would have been a 0.72 or 0.85 option but for wide angle, this camera is wonderful.
 
I heard most of the parts got landfilled when Konica called it quits.
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May have, but Precision stated on the second visit of my camera that they ordered parts and there was about 2-3 week delay. I've heard that Sony/Konica Japan has them, so I figured that's where they came from.

Like I said, not many straight answers, but nice to talk to. I just wish their work was up to the same standards as Customer Service.
 
sepiareverb said:
I heard most of the parts got landfilled when Konica called it quits.
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AFAIK in Japan companies have to commit to a number of years of ongoing support and repair for a camera, even if the product or the manufacturer is no longer in business. Of course if there are many repairs and parts run out they cannot be forced to make these parts again. For example, Kyocera still repairs most aspects of the Contaxes.
 
JapanExposures said:
AFAIK in Japan companies have to commit to a number of years of ongoing support and repair for a camera, even if the product or the manufacturer is no longer in business.
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It may have been all the parts here in the US that went. Greg Weber told me about this when I was dealing with Precision. He would be my only choice for repair should I ever get another Hexar.
 
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