Ikon ZM or Konica Hexar RF?

[cassel]

I'm thinking about getting a more modern RF camera that is not a Leica. I'm looking for back door loading and AE. I shoot mostly with a 50mm, an 85mm, and a 35mm lens (in that order). I'm leaning towards the ZM with it's .72 viewfinder and 85mm framelines, but I like the automation and price of the Hexar...your thoughts?

 

[maddoc]

The Hexar RF has a low magnification VF, good for wides but not so for longer focal lengths. This and the integrated motor-drive, which is really nice to have sometimes (like an XPAN in small).

 

[Keith]

I've had both cameras and the Ikon wins hands down IMO. The Hexar is a gem but as Gabor says its viewfinder is suited to the wider focal lengths and I suspect the Hexar will be harder to service or repair in the future.

 

[cassel]

I'm really into shooting my 85mm f1.5 lens these days... I suspect the Ikon would fit that lens better... Am I correct in assuming that a 28/90 screwmount adapter will bring up the 85mm framelines on the Ikon?

The Hexar is a PRETTY machine...especially the limited silver/titanium version!

 

[Keith]

I'm really into shooting my 85mm f1.5 lens these days... I suspect the Ikon would fit that lens better... Am I correct in assuming that a 28/90 screwmount adapter will bring up the 85mm framelines on the Ikon?

The Hexar is a PRETTY machine...especially the limited silver/titanium version!

The Ikon is a beautiful camera in silver IMO ... it oozes class.

It also has an extrordinarily long rangefinder base length which really makes it ideal for the 85mm focal length. And yes to your question about the adapter. 🙂

 

[jonmanjiro]

The Hexar is already harder to service. Kenko Tokina (the only official repairer of the Hexar RF in Japan) no longer has many parts, and won't sell what they have to anyone else (I've tried!). I've heard of people even sending in cameras for servicing minus the eyepiece just to get a replacement eyepiece installed.

My prefence is for the Zeiss Ikon, but in fully working condiion they are both great cameras!

 

[kshapero]

Love the ZI but don't rule out a CV Bessa R*A. You will get great results and have enough money left over for another lens.

 

[Scrambler]

I've never tried the Ikon so I will defer to Keith on the comparison.

I use a Hexar with an 85/2 and I don't have any concerns with the focusing though the 0.6 viewfinder does make the framelines fairly small. As a left-eyed shooter I find the auto-wind useful for rapid shooting.

 

[semilog]

VF in the Ikon may be the best ever. It's much better than on any Leica M, anyway. M3 included, IMO.

 

[Monochrom]

Hi, the hexar is a terrific camera, has exactly the same RF than leica, a little less magnification, but you can use every single leica lens on it, including the googled ones!
Fully automated...
But, it´s too heavy and noisy!!!

The ZI is by far superior, go for one you won´t be sorry!!!

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I like the Hexar better for the low and high end of the shutter speeds.
On aperture priority it will shoot stepless between 16 seconds and 1/4000 second. That allows me to walk around with an f/2 lens, loaded with Tri-X and still shoot almost wide open during the daytime. It also allows quite a bit of motion blur for night cityscapes that are always spot-on exposed with the same film.

I think the ZI is a nice camera and the viewfinder is fantastic but personally, I prefer the Hexar. Since it has the same RF baselength and exact same layout with regard to the lensmount, it can use the DR Summicron, 35mm goggled lenses (for M3) and the 135mm Elmarit. These options are all reasons I think the Hexar is the more flexible system to get into personally.

As you state you use a 50mm, 35mm and 85mm it may come down to if you want a motor drive and the extra shutter speed latitude of the Hexar or the extended RF baselength and the superb viewfinder of the Zeiss.

Phil Forrest

 

[umcelinho]

Because of the 95, I'd rule out the Hexar RF. It's better for shooting up to 50mm. Perfect viewfinder for a 35, though.

They have quite different shutter sounds... both are quite noisier than a Leica. the Hexar RF is more automatizated, the ZI being more mechanical (if that makes any sense). The Hexar RF sounds like what one would expect a camera do sound like, the ZI shutter sound might be perceived as something else making noise. Granted, I've shot with the Hexar RF inside a bus and didn't bring any attention, and got a shot that I like a lot in the process. I've met a guy a few days ago shooting a ZI also in a bus and it the shutter sound wasn't distracting. But I'd say both are on the same noise level, albeit being different.

1/4000 can be useful if you enjoy shooting at wider apertures, though an ND filter does the trick. The automated advance and rewind are cool features but I've found that they don't speed up the shooting process significantly vs manually advancing and rewinding film.

 

[kkdanamatt]

Check out the Minolta CLE. Yes, I know all the pluses and minuses....but check it out anyway.

 

[Scrambler]

Check out the Minolta CLE. Yes, I know all the pluses and minuses....but check it out anyway.

I own a CLE, but for an 85/1.5 I just wouldn't go there. I think the 85/2 that I have requires more precision than the CLE is capable of. It has exactly the same VF magnification as the Hexar with a much shorter baseline for the RF. No 35mm frameline. No 50mm frameline. No 85mm either if it comes to that. And if the Hexar is poorly supported, there are no words for how poor CLE support is.

Apart from the nifty size, the CLE does nothing the Ikon doesn't, the Ikon is newer, meters the manual mode and has arguably the best VF/RF available. At least the Hexar offers features the Ikon doesn't, like faster shutter and wind/rewind automation.

 

[Gary Sandhu]

Go modern and get a hexar - I'm happy with it. Build quality is superb -- and it's cool to think that the top and bottom and maybe some other parts are titanium. I've heard that the nikon magnifiers can be used

 

[cassel]

Go modern and get a hexar - I'm happy with it. Build quality is superb -- and it's cool to think that the top and bottom and maybe some other parts are titanium. I've heard that the nikon magnifiers can be used

Interesting! Thanks for all the input/discussion. The Hexar is interesting but I think the viewfinder of the Ikon may be the deciding factor...I'll let you know what I decide.

 

[gavinlg]

Definitely the zeiss personally. Finder is much nicer, ergos are a little nicer, and you get a newer, simpler and more serviceable camera.

 

[lawrence]

I bought a Hexar but it had a fault with the frame counter so I sent it back. During my brief encounter with this camera I got the impression that it was nicely thought out but the finder was a bit strange. Unlike the 0.58 version of the M6TTL finder, which is great, it seemed to have a slightly distorted look. Also, having owned a Hexar AF that occasionally failed to expose the film my confidence in the Konica offerings is not good. Got a ZI and it's wonderful.

 

[FrankS]

Due to solely to viewfinder magnification:
I'd go with ZI because of the longer lenses the OP intends to shoot with.
That being said, my Hexar rf with 28mm lens is a killer combo!

 

[aizan]

while the hexar rf is heavier and generally feels better made than the zeiss ikon, the precariousness of getting it repaired should be a major factor in your decision. the zeiss ikon's viewfinder is also more appropriate for your lens kit.