HU: dual Hexanon 21/35 - 990 EUR

[yoyo22]

No connection to the seller. I think it's quite cheap.

http://cgi.ebay.de/Konica-M-Hexanon-21-35-mm-F3-3-4-Dual-Lens-Leica-M-Mint_W0QQitemZ110179745329

 

[rpsawin]

This is an ok lens but not as good a performer as the other hexanon lenses. Also, it's a bit slow.

Bob

 

[Uwe_Nds]

Gone already.

Best regards,
Uwe

 

[Krosya]

Does anyone have any photos to post taken with this lens?
Bob, do you have this lens? If so, can you tell a bit more about it and why it's not as good as other Hexanons - I mean in what ways other than being a slower lens. Not as sharp? Poor contrast? etc. Please comment if you have a first hand experience with it.
Thank you.

 

[raid]

I wouldn't mind testing this lens, and comparing it with the Tri lens by Leica.

 

[rpsawin]

I do have this lens and to my eye it is not as sharp or contrasty as the other Hexanons ( 28, 50 & 90 ) that I have. Maybe that is to be expected as prime lenses usually out perform zooms or combination lenses. I have read similar comments about the old Tri-Elmar.

I am not saying it's a lousy lens...not at all. It's a fine lens and performs well, just not as well as the other Hexs. I'll try to dig out some examples shot at both 21mm and 35mm later next week.

Bob

 

[Dante_Stella]

I do have this lens and to my eye it is not as sharp or contrasty as the other Hexanons ( 28, 50 & 90 ) that I have. Maybe that is to be expected as prime lenses usually out perform zooms or combination lenses. I have read similar comments about the old Tri-Elmar.

I am not saying it's a lousy lens...not at all. It's a fine lens and performs well, just not as well as the other Hexs. I'll try to dig out some examples shot at both 21mm and 35mm later next week.

Bob

Was it factory collimated or recollimated for an M8?

 

[rpsawin]

Was it factory collimated or recollimated for an M8?

Dante,

I'm going to say it's factory as it has only been used on my analog cameras and I have done nothing to the lens. I'm curious about the recollimated reference...could you expound a bit?

Bob

 

[Krosya]

I do have this lens and to my eye it is not as sharp or contrasty as the other Hexanons ( 28, 50 & 90 ) that I have. Maybe that is to be expected as prime lenses usually out perform zooms or combination lenses. I have read similar comments about the old Tri-Elmar.

I am not saying it's a lousy lens...not at all. It's a fine lens and performs well, just not as well as the other Hexs. I'll try to dig out some examples shot at both 21mm and 35mm later next week.

Bob

Bob,
If you could do that - it would be great! I'd love to see some photos from this lens. I tried to find some before on the net and didn't come up with much, so will be waiting for your post with pics.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Dante_Stella]

Erwin Puts measured his example of the lens at 0.07mm from Leica spec - which means that it would really be pushing the limits of M-KM compatibility. A 21mm f/3.4 lens lens in particular would be very sensitive to collimation, especially wide open and at a distance. So it may be a lens where Konica and Leica compatibility could diverge.

Since getting an M8, with its mercilessly flat and shallow imaging plane, I have started taking it for granted that every lens (including my Leica ones) needs recollimation to a zero deviance from Leica back focus. Recollimation, I think, is the reason why Leica wants everyone to do the 6-bit coding. For most lenses, it's meaningless. But coding and a necessary recollimation of the lens is an easy way to cover over 50 years of lenses that may or may not be within the tighter tolerances that the M8 wants. Don't want those legendary lenses to look bad.

As an aside, Konica's white papers on the 21-35mm lens indicate that when the lens is stopped down a lot, like to f/11, the 10lp/mm MTF is still 90%, but only at distances around 1.5m. At infinity and 0.8m, you are at about 30% This might explain why people report that there is "less contrast."

As a further aside, KM lenses are unusually hot in terms of contrast.

Dante,

I'm going to say it's factory as it has only been used on my analog cameras and I have done nothing to the lens. I'm curious about the recollimated reference...could you expound a bit?

Bob

 

[RayPA]

...

As a further aside, KM lenses are unusually hot in terms of contrast.

I've always believed this to be so, but the "contrast" doesn't appear to be an overall-type of contrast (i.e., an overall contrasty lens like the CS 35/2.5, for example). It almost seems to be localized to the darker end of the tonal range. I lack the technical language to describe it, but it appears to be almost a murkiness.

🙂