Konica LTM Konica 35/2 UC-Hexanon LTM

[espressogeek]

I was surprised by the double lines too. I will try to get some oof point light sources. I wonder when you stop down if the double lines clear up a bit? Here is another one or two from today. I meant to get more but my RD-1 went poop. I hope its just the battery.
These were at F4.
Full

Crop

I added the vignetting on this one. There was zero vignetting in the original frame.

It definitly gets very sharp very quick. I like it. I'm still not sure if I like it better than the zeiss. I need to explore the OOF rendering a bit more with some comparisons.

 

[awilder]

Espressogeek, I really like that last shot. OOF appears perfect giving the sharp buds a nice 'pop'. Looking forward to more comparisons to the ZI at apertures like f/4. I doubt by f/5.6 any difference can be seen to the ZI.

 

[Platinum RF]

More than 1000 copies were made, I ahve see number >1000/1000. good little lens

 

[espressogeek]

Here are some shots at close to infinity if not. The first full frame and 100 percent crop are f2. The second are f4 and the last pair are f8.

And a bokeh shot around f2.8 or something. I think the bokeh cleans up nicely on this lens and is a real winner when stopped down some. This is not uncommon for many great lenses with the red dot too!

 

[awilder]

Great test shots. I couldn't resist the chance and bought one from another RFF member. I found this information interesting on the Hexar AF's 35/2 Hexanon here: http://wiki.silvergrain.org/wiki/index.php?title=Konica_Hexar#Hexanon_35mm_f.2F2.0. The lens is basically the same as the UC version except the UC version has a slightly improved coating (Ultra-Coat?). The lens' unique bokeh is apparently related to undercorrection of spherical aberration (SA) which is supposed to improve contrast wide open. According to Konica's graph, SA is greatest at f/2.86 (?). Oddly, if one can believe their MTF graphs, performance is between V4 Summicron and the Summicron ASPH at f/2 and better than the ASPH at f/5.6. I'll post my test results when I get my version in a few days.

 

[espressogeek]

These are from the UC. The bokeh is odd below f2.8 or so. F4 and above it looks perfect IMHO. Wide open if you are not close you loose to much resolution but once at f2.8 its great and f4 stellar. I like it because of its compact size and lovely bokeh stopped down. If I was shooting f2 all the time i might be tempted to shoot the zeiss for resolutions sake.

 

[mfunnell]

I've been enjoying mine, and just getting used to it. I haven't done side-by-side tests, but so far my impressionistic view of the M-Hexanon 35 versus the UC-Hexanon is that the M is probably a little sharper wide-open and seems to stamp the OOF areas of the image with more authority, while the UC is just a tad softer at f2-2.8 and has OOF areas that seem more "gauzy" than the M and sometimes less harsh - but also less well defined. I'm not getting rid of either, just trying to get a feel for which would be better for which shots.

One that I've liked from the UC-Hexanon:




Taken at around f2.8ish (part of my uncertainty is that with the CV LTM-M adapter the aperture ring is slightly off the centre-line of the mounted lens, which makes it easy to be out by half or even a whole stop when I set it with my eye to the viewfinder).

...Mike

 

[espressogeek]

That is a really nice shot! I love the tones and composition. I like that subtle " gauzy " OOF look. It reminds me of the sonnar , canon 50/1.5 and other classic lenses.

 

[venchka]

My new lens

My new lens

This picture won't make anyone rush out and buy the 35mm UC-Hexanon lens. For me, this is a departure into the abstract. Guess focus. On a table. Guess composition. Through a window. Raining. Thanks for looking.

M5 | 35mm/F2.0 UC-Hexanon | 1:2.0, 0.9 meters | Agfa 400

 

[awilder]

Wayne, you must have the one defective lens out of a 1000, lots of comatic aberration in the raindrops hanging off the chair! Seriously though, it's a great shot and the lens is a spectacular performer as anyone can see. Great bokeh, color and contast wide open with minimal fall off despite guess focus no less! These are the kind of grab shots that make rangefinders so endearing to me.

 

[peter_n]

Very nice Wayne! From all of the results I've seen this is quite a lens. They are still selling new ones on eBay if anyone wants to pick one up. 🙂

 

[akptc]

This picture won't make anyone rush out and buy the 35mm UC-Hexanon lens. For me, this is a departure into the abstract. Guess focus. On a table. Guess composition. Through a window. Raining. Thanks for looking.

M5 | 35mm/F2.0 UC-Hexanon | 1:2.0, 0.9 meters | Agfa 400

I love this shot.

 

[venchka]

Keep the camera away from me!

Keep the camera away from me!

Thank y'all so much. I'll have to take more "guess" pictures! Hey, I've done worse with the viewfinder in the proper place! 😎

 

[awilder]

I'm curious about the colored lights in the upper left corner, they really add a special touch to the shot. Where they simply window reflections from the indoor lighting behind you and could they be visualized in the viewfinder?

 

[venchka]

Yes & No

Yes & No

I'm curious about the colored lights in the upper left corner, they really add a special touch to the shot. Where they simply window reflections from the indoor lighting behind you and could they be visualized in the viewfinder?

Correct. Those are reflections. From where I was sitting, behind and right of the camera, all I saw was a nearly monochrome scene beyond the rain splattered window. The reflections were quite unexpected. By the way, I really don't know what I might have seen through the viewfinder. I placed the camera on a low table, set min. focus, aligned the camera square to the glass & pushed the shutter button. A real "shot in the dark."

This is the wall behind and left of the camera and what the reflections are.

 

[NickTrop]

This is one of the few times I've seen a clear improvement in sample pictures posted from a 35mm lens on the web. Nice shots.

 

[venchka]

Canal Place, New Orleans, 08-05-2007

Canal Place, New Orleans, 08-05-2007

f = 8.0 | NHG II

 

[tjh]

I bought one too!

I bought one too!

I just bought one of the UC-hexanons. I learned about the availability of the lens from lurking on this forum. I haven't posted much on Rangefinderforum but I do read the helpful info that others post. In this case, the information about the Hexanon was very useful. Thanks, Tom

 

[peter_n]

Post some pics when you get it Tom! And welcome to RFF! 🙂

 

[alan davus]

Tom, you've joined a small, exclusive but enthusiastic club by purchasing the Hex 35 UC. Enjoy it.