Hacker
黑客
I tried to find info on the M-Hexanon 50mm f1.2 and the 60mm f1.2 and usually, the info is in dribs and drabs. Compared to the other jewels like the UC-Hexanon 35mm f2 or the 50mm f2, information is scarce. So I decided to start a thread on these lenses and ask for everyone's input. Feel free to keep adding pictures, info, data, history or whatever you have.
With prices rising and sighs about soaring prices, especially the 50mm Summilux ASPH and the Noctilux, I think the M-Hexanons present good value a viable alternative.
A thread on the LTM 60mm is here: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53042
First off, size comparison:
L-R: Leica Noctilux f1, Konica M-Hexanon 60mm f1.2, Konica M-Hexanon 50mm f1.2, Leica Summilux 50mm f1.2 ASPH.
For the Konica M-Hexanon 50mm f1.2mm lens (62mm filter, 0.9m minimun focusing distance), it comes in a set together with the Millennium Limited Edition camera body. 2001 sets were issued to correspond with the year in which it was launched. According to the Wiki entry:
2001 Limited Edition
"Konica produced a chrome-finish Hexar RF camera, targeted for the year 2001 (the new millennium) in a limited release of 2001 units, supplied in a boxed set including a new M-Hexanon 50mm f1.2 lens and HX-18 flash [1]. The lens was only manufactured for this set, so examples are unavailable except in conjunction with the limited-edition kit or the (apparently few) occasions where components of the kit have been separated. This means that most are held by collectors or those willing to pay "collectible" prices."
One reference to the 50mm is from Chasseur d'Image: "Compared to the Noctilux, the 1.2 wins and here noticably at every aperture, vigneting and distortion". However, I'm unable to verify the source (edition date). The diagram below is from an older design in LTM, not the modern M mount version.
The Konica M-Hexanon 60mm (58mm filter, 0.8m minimum focusing distance, 7 elements in 6 groups, 10 aperture blades) was introduced in 1999 at a selling price of US$1,600 for the Japanese domestic market, and 800 were produced. The design as follows:
Reference from Erwin Puts:
http://leica-users.org/v10/msg02766.html
"Through the Hexanon 1.2/60mm at full aperure flows less energy than through the Noctilux 1.0/50mm. In fact the Hexanon at 1,2 is equal to the Noctilux at f/1.4. When comparing the two lenses at their full aperture, one should be aware of the fact that it is a f/1.0 against f/1.4 game.
On test the Hexanon at full aperture produced medium to high overall contrast with excellent on axis performance. Very fine detail is clearly recorded, but tangentially oriented structured are recorded very softly. The overall effect of both orientations would be a softening of the contrast of fine detail. In the field chromatic aberrations can be detected as color fringes around the edges of outlines. Some curvature of field is also noticeable. The on axis performance extends over a circle with a diameter of about 8mm. Beyond this circle, image quality rapidly falls away, and in a small zone beyond the 8mm area, fine detail has good visibility with a low contrast. In the outer zones and far edges the outlines of bigger objects are quite fuzzy.
At a focus distance of 1 meter, this general behavior holds, but contrast drops over the whole image field. Some of the lens-elements of the Hexanon are large and have very thin edges. I could note some decentring. The report is based on the correct centring."
A page from the past in 1956:
With prices rising and sighs about soaring prices, especially the 50mm Summilux ASPH and the Noctilux, I think the M-Hexanons present good value a viable alternative.
A thread on the LTM 60mm is here: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53042
First off, size comparison:
L-R: Leica Noctilux f1, Konica M-Hexanon 60mm f1.2, Konica M-Hexanon 50mm f1.2, Leica Summilux 50mm f1.2 ASPH.
For the Konica M-Hexanon 50mm f1.2mm lens (62mm filter, 0.9m minimun focusing distance), it comes in a set together with the Millennium Limited Edition camera body. 2001 sets were issued to correspond with the year in which it was launched. According to the Wiki entry:
2001 Limited Edition
"Konica produced a chrome-finish Hexar RF camera, targeted for the year 2001 (the new millennium) in a limited release of 2001 units, supplied in a boxed set including a new M-Hexanon 50mm f1.2 lens and HX-18 flash [1]. The lens was only manufactured for this set, so examples are unavailable except in conjunction with the limited-edition kit or the (apparently few) occasions where components of the kit have been separated. This means that most are held by collectors or those willing to pay "collectible" prices."
One reference to the 50mm is from Chasseur d'Image: "Compared to the Noctilux, the 1.2 wins and here noticably at every aperture, vigneting and distortion". However, I'm unable to verify the source (edition date). The diagram below is from an older design in LTM, not the modern M mount version.
The Konica M-Hexanon 60mm (58mm filter, 0.8m minimum focusing distance, 7 elements in 6 groups, 10 aperture blades) was introduced in 1999 at a selling price of US$1,600 for the Japanese domestic market, and 800 were produced. The design as follows:
Reference from Erwin Puts:
http://leica-users.org/v10/msg02766.html
"Through the Hexanon 1.2/60mm at full aperure flows less energy than through the Noctilux 1.0/50mm. In fact the Hexanon at 1,2 is equal to the Noctilux at f/1.4. When comparing the two lenses at their full aperture, one should be aware of the fact that it is a f/1.0 against f/1.4 game.
On test the Hexanon at full aperture produced medium to high overall contrast with excellent on axis performance. Very fine detail is clearly recorded, but tangentially oriented structured are recorded very softly. The overall effect of both orientations would be a softening of the contrast of fine detail. In the field chromatic aberrations can be detected as color fringes around the edges of outlines. Some curvature of field is also noticeable. The on axis performance extends over a circle with a diameter of about 8mm. Beyond this circle, image quality rapidly falls away, and in a small zone beyond the 8mm area, fine detail has good visibility with a low contrast. In the outer zones and far edges the outlines of bigger objects are quite fuzzy.
At a focus distance of 1 meter, this general behavior holds, but contrast drops over the whole image field. Some of the lens-elements of the Hexanon are large and have very thin edges. I could note some decentring. The report is based on the correct centring."
A page from the past in 1956:
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Hacker
黑客
60mm samples wide open:
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Hacker
黑客
50mm samples wide open:
Hacker
黑客
Konica Fast Lenses: M-Hexanon 50mm f1.2 and 60mm f1.2
Forgot to mention that the 60mm is LTM, so it can be coded. I coded it as a Noctilux and it appears to help in some vignetting. For the 50mm, it is M-mount, and despite me not coding it, I cannot detect any vignetting in my photos.
Forgot to mention that the 60mm is LTM, so it can be coded. I coded it as a Noctilux and it appears to help in some vignetting. For the 50mm, it is M-mount, and despite me not coding it, I cannot detect any vignetting in my photos.
ChrisN
Striving
I can't add any information about the lenses, but can I say those are lovely sample images, and you have a lovely family. Keep posting!
Hacker
黑客
Konica Fast Lenses: M-Hexanon 50mm f1.2 and 60mm f1.2
60mm OOF shots.
60mm OOF shots.
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infrequent
Well-known
two words...pure awesome!
Roger Vadim
Well-known
Wow, I want the 60mm!! Great shots, lovely kids.
GAS attack...
-Michael
GAS attack...
-Michael
Krosya
Konicaze
Love the pics - great lens performance! I gotta start saving up for one of those rare Hexanons!
hlockwood
Well-known
Am I correct therefore, that these shots were taken with an M8? (Great shots, great kids, btw.)
Harry
ampguy
Veteran
Great photos, from both the 50 and 60. These lenses seem excellent.
Konica also made a 1.2 (50 I think) for their Autoreflex SLR line, does anyone know if these SLR lenses match their M/LTM ones, other than mount?
Konica also made a 1.2 (50 I think) for their Autoreflex SLR line, does anyone know if these SLR lenses match their M/LTM ones, other than mount?
Hacker
黑客
Yes, taken with the M8. Context of my comments are all based on that.
Hacker
黑客
I often see that the SLR line does not compare to the RF line (all camera makers), even if the lenses are of the same design.
Hacker
黑客
At f5.6, the M-Hexanon 60mm is sharp like most lenses, with a medium-high contrast:
awilder
Alan Wilder
I just received my new 50/1.2 M Hexanon. The instruction manual with block diagram shows the configuration to be similar to most modern 50/1.2 lenses, i.e. similar to the 50/1 Noctilux or 50/1.2 Nikkor with a 7/5 design. Also mentioned was the use of high index low dispersion glass to improve correction. As noted at the start of this thread, the block diagram is the LTM version of the Hexanon 50/1.2, not the M version.
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kram
Well-known
Great thread. As you mentioned very little info is on the web about the konica's f1.2s.
jalLee2001
jallee55
Buying these lenses
Buying these lenses
Where is the best place to pick up these lenes. Most of the places that I normally check dont carry them
Buying these lenses
Where is the best place to pick up these lenes. Most of the places that I normally check dont carry them
awilder
Alan Wilder
Only place to find them is on the used market like Ebay or classifieds on sites like RFF, photo.net, etc. These lenses were made on a limited basis and Konica is now out of the camera business. One day, I might give up my sample if I really need to raise the funds.
