Konica LTM Konica 35/2 UC-Hexanon LTM

[mfunnell]

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

All of which is probably true. I think I spent more for this lens (from matsuiyastore who I think are wonderful) than I have on any other single piece of RF equipment (including my 75 'lux - OK, good deal). I may have been drinking at the time, but there's no buyer's remorse here. To my eye, what the UC Hex 35 is good at, it is really good at, and is just stunning. It's not my general-purpose 35 - but at f2 in the right circumstances I just plain love it.

...Mike

 

[alan davus]

Mike, I bought my Hex 35 UC from Matsuiyastore under similar circumstances. About 11.30pm, late at night after a few too many glasses of good South Australian red. But no regrets when I woke up sober the next day.

 

[peter_n]

Matsuiyastore are still selling these on eBay.

 

[venchka]

I wonder if/when they will run out?

 

[peter_n]

They will presumably run out at some point because there was limited production (supposedly). I don't think it will be a Cosina-type situation where a "limited production" run ended up being a bit more unlimited than was the understanding of the first buyers. Konica have after all gone out of the camera business. 😉

 

[tjh]

My UC Hexanon arrived just an hour ago from Japan, in just three days. I have never been so impressed with everything, from packing to quality of the lens and accessories, as with this lens. The lens is tiny and beautifully finished. There is a pouch for the lens and a separate pouch for the hood.

I have number 745/1000.

One point that I haven't seen anyone mention - The lens hood screws on very smoothly. When the hood is unscrewed, the rotation seems to hit a bump after about one turn. A bit more force and the hood unscrews smoothly the rest of the way. I repeated putting the hood on a dozen times and it seems clear that the bump is a design feature so that the hood doesn't fall off. I haven't looked at the lens or hood under magnification, but I can't tell how this "feature" of the hood works. I'm amazed!

I'll be taking the Hexanon out this weekend - Hopefully I'll have some photos to show the forum in a week or so. For now, I'm as excited as I ever have been over a lens or camera purchase.

 

[tjh]

I tried the Hexanon hood on a 43mm B+W filter. I feel the same bump when I unscrew the hood from the filter. However, there is no bump when I unscrew the filter from the lens. Conclusion: The bump is a property of the Hexanon hood.

If I examine the hood threads carefully, it seems that there is only a little more than one turn of threads.

The bump when unscrewing the hood feels different than just a tight fit or a poor threading job would. The bump is very distinct, more like the bump when going into close focusing on a screw mount Nikkor 50mm f/1.4.

 

[Gid]

I tried the Hexanon hood on a 43mm B+W filter. I feel the same bump when I unscrew the hood from the filter. However, there is no bump when I unscrew the filter from the lens. Conclusion: The bump is a property of the Hexanon hood.

If I examine the hood threads carefully, it seems that there is only a little more than one turn of threads.

The bump when unscrewing the hood feels different than just a tight fit or a poor threading job would. The bump is very distinct, more like the bump when going into close focusing on a screw mount Nikkor 50mm f/1.4.

There is just over a quarter turn free movement in the hood when its screwed on, so that you can adjust the cut out in the VF - you're not getting confused by this by any chance?

 

[tjh]

Thanks Gid .. I should have figured out why the hood rotates like it does. You are correct; there is a bit more than a quarter turn of movement before the bump when turning the hood so as to remove it.

And, now I understand how this mechanism works. I didn't spot it before - The thread on the hood rotates a little more than a quarter turn inside the rest of the hood.

The mystery is cleared up. Thanks for helping to remove my confusion.

 

[foto_fool]

I just received # 901/1000 (thanks Jim!) and plunked it on the R-D1 for a test drive.

@ f5.6

@ f4

@ f2 (obligatory boke shot - nice surprise!)

@ f2 (Sean & Nick at work in Harvest Moon kitchen).

This really is an extraordinary lens. Really looking forward to shooting some film with it.

- John

 

[raid]

Now I feel even better about buying Konica RF cameras, such as the III and the IIIM. They sport very sharp lenses.

 

[venchka]

Based on the above, "I have far to go before I am worthy, Master."

 

[alan davus]

Proud owner of 0686 here. Yes the vented hood is large but I love it and leave it on permanently. A 62mm snap on cap fits the hood albeit a little loosely but does the job. An absolute gem of a lens. My 3 other Hex's are a little jealous as the 35 gets most of the outings at the moment.

 

[tjh]

peter_n: I hadn't thought of the Voigtlander Pancake I hood for the Konica. Great idea.

But, what do you do for a cap? I assume that one of the Voigtlander push-on caps fits, but I'm not sure which one. Or can you get a plastic snap-cap to fit?

 

[mfunnell]

I use a generic Hoya vented lens hood and a generic 43mm snap-on cap (on the lens, not over the hood) with mine. But that's mostly because I don't want to scratch up the lacquer-on-metal originals through general usage. Doesn't stop me from using the lens rather generally, though.

...Mike

 

[BigSteveG]

so much interest in this lens is making me crazy for one. Already have the 90mm (it's pretty sweet,) and want a 50mm.

 

[peter_n]

They're still being sold on eBay...

 

[venchka]

Just for the record, the lens above is 1 3/32" (+ or -) from camera flange face to front of filter ring. The Canon chrome 35/2.8, 34mm filter size, is 15/16" long.

 

[existrandom]

thanks(!) to previous comments from RFF member; i got one from same japanese store at fleabay. their service, like others have commented, is excellent in every aspect; arrives in just a few days to Hong Kong with secure package and prompt emails...

i sold 40 summicron-c and Canon35/1.8 to help funding the rather expensive purchase, now i deem it worthwhile, at least i feel i am not loosing anything, and the lens is really a gem for a big boy's toy 🙂

i bought it to a taiwan trip and it works flawlessly on my M4 with a Cosina/Voigtlander adaptor; it stays on there 90% of the time

i too find the original hood biggish for my liking, although the cut-out is a geneis design... i am ordering a "43mm vented & tilted hood" from heavystarr, will report how it works. the seller says other customers reported that it works ok on 35mm lens, and the widest diameter of the hood is about 55mm, FYI

 

[2tcreative]

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

Just got in on this thread. How does this lens differ, if other than the mount, from the M-Hexanon 35/2? I have the M-Hexanon 50/2 and love it. Been looking for the m version of the 35/2 and haven't found it. Was about to buy the Zeiss ZM Biogon 35/2.

What kind of 'signature' does this lens have? Contrasty, good tonal range, etc.? Comparable lens?