Konica Fast Lenses: M-Hexanon 50mm f1.2 and 60mm f1.2

[Krosya]

I remember when I got my 60 for around 2K 3 years ago. A month later, I saw one got for $1200 and just about died. Now, good luck finding one for the price fo those two combined (or at all, really). The 50's I see for sale often enough, just expensively.

I love them both, but I still use the 35/1.2 more than either, which says a lot for CV.

I agree - while I use Cv 35/1.2 more than 50/1.2 Hex, whenever I think I could sell the Hex - I realize that if I do - I'll never be able to get another one. But who knows - maybe I will part with it one of these days......I do a lot less photography now, so maybe, maybe....

 

[f16sunshine]

I have had mine mounted more often lately on an M5. There are a few rolls waiting to develop. All HP5+. Here is one from a wedding about a week ago that I'm happy with. I love the look from this 50mm. Would be stoked to try a 60mm sometime but, honestly would not ever pursue finding one.

Rodinal Stand 1:100

 

[flip]

I have had mine mounted more often lately on an M5. There are a few rolls waiting to develop. All HP5+. Here is one from a wedding about a week ago that I'm happy with. I love the look from this 50mm. Would be stoked to try a 60mm sometime but, honestly would not ever pursue finding one.

Rodinal Stand 1:100

That's really beautiful.

 

[fbf]

They can still be found if you look very hard but the price has been up/down for quite some time. I am not selling mine

 

[flip]

I love them both as well. I use them side by side on a pair of cameras, either M6's or M8.2's. They are different in ways other than focal length which is appealing to me, and both are very different going from film to cropped digital.

I agree. As the picture above shows, I think the 50/1.2 is a bit like a hex 50/2 on steroids. I don't know how to say it, but the 60 seems to pair well with the 35 uc but has other less obvious charms as well. It's as though these two lenses were a separate branch of the hex family from the m-hex lenses and the 50/2.4 uc.

FYI
Recent 50/1.2 Japanese auction price
■Konica HEXAR RF Limited用 ヘキサノン M-HEXANON 50mm F1.2 223,000 円
I think in dollars that's ~+20%.

The prices with Hexar in the states start to look better.

 

[ricnak]

One going through ebay now.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Konica-H...11755572?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item2c674e7334

 

[menos]

Wow, that sold FAAAAAST !!!

 

[ricnak]

Not bad. $7.5k and we only got to see a picture of the box!

 

[flip]

OMG... $7.5K (with shipping)

I'm going to have to reevaluate my camera insurance.

Holy moly.

 

[kloudags]

Konica Hexanon 60mm 1.2

Konica Hexanon 60mm 1.2

HI,

I'm very much interested to acquire one of these too rare lenses, and I've been looking around for a while.

So if anyone is willing to part from one, or if you have any tips on how and where to find one, please let me know.

Cheers.

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

Finally, I got mine... This lens is evil.


Flickr 上 KEVIN is listening Begin...... 的 Konica 60mm f1.2 in LTM limited edition

sample shoot.


Flickr 上 KEVIN is listening Begin...... 的 Konica 60mm f1.2 LTM + FUJI X-TRA 400

 

[JSU]

Finally, I got mine... This lens is evil.

It is pretty unique, congrats on your acquisition.

What adapter do you use?

When I first got mine, I tried at least 3 or 4 which did not allow my 60/1.2 to focus accurately with either of a pair of M8.2 bodies (which did well with all my other lenses). Finally I tried an old E. Leitz 5cm ring and bingo, correct focus was achieved throughout the entire range. The lens and adapter now work equally well on a M9-P.

With this adapter ring I did have to use a Dremel Tool to very carefully grind additional clearance on the adapter ring to allow the RF cam of the lens to contact the follower in the body all the way to the close focus limit (0.8m) of the lens.

Another thing I appreciate about the Hex 60/1.2 is how well it matches the 50mm mask of the M9-P from infinity to ~15'. When shooting closer I depend alot on image review of the digital camera for accurate framing.

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

Thank you! I use voigtlander LTM-M adapter, always the best. I never found any focus problem. By the way,I use this lens on Konica RF only so I think they are perfectly matched.

The difference in frame line really won't bother me when I using this lens. Actually I treat it as a 50mm lens. Haha.

 

[menos]

Wow Kevin! Congrats on catching this one ;-)
It's a beauty!

You know there is a Konica 21-35 Dual in the classifieds for a while ;-)
In my opinion, these three are the absolute pinnacle of Konica lenses, not just optically but feature wise and build quality wise do they absolutely rival Leica glass.

A friend of mine has a 60/1.2 and every time he offers to lend it to me or even just touch or try it, I politely refuse.
I know, what effect trying this very lens has on people - you MUST have one.

Steve, in my experience, what you found is likely variations in dimensions between the adapters.
For this very reason do I exclusively buy brand new Voigtlander adapters for my LTM lenses, that I use on digital bodies.
I found, that these are machined highly accurate and have had so far no viable variations. They are more reliable than getting unknown vintage Leitz adapters.

The Konica lenses are known, to have been calibrated to a minute different standard, than Todays digital Leica lenses to take film bowing into account.
It is fairly straight forward though to adjust them.

 

[JSU]

Dirk--

It was my assessment that the adapters I tried (it's been a while, I can't recall which ones I tried) were not perfectly on axis, that is, one side of the adapter was perhaps thicker than the opposite side.

Of all the lenses I own, the Hex 60/1.2 is likely the very last one I would ever sell, I know it couldn't be replaced.

--Steve

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

Wow Kevin! Congrats on catching this one ;-)
It's a beauty!

You know there is a Konica 21-35 Dual in the classifieds for a while ;-)
In my opinion, these three are the absolute pinnacle of Konica lenses, not just optically but feature wise and build quality wise do they absolutely rival Leica glass.

A friend of mine has a 60/1.2 and every time he offers to lend it to me or even just touch or try it, I politely refuse.
I know, what effect trying this very lens has on people - you MUST have one.

Steve, in my experience, what you found is likely variations in dimensions between the adapters.
For this very reason do I exclusively buy brand new Voigtlander adapters for my LTM lenses, that I use on digital bodies.
I found, that these are machined highly accurate and have had so far no viable variations. They are more reliable than getting unknown vintage Leitz adapters.

The Konica lenses are known, to have been calibrated to a minute different standard, than Todays digital Leica lenses to take film bowing into account.
It is fairly straight forward though to adjust them.

Haha. it take some time to bring this dream lens back home. And I couldn't agree more. Konica really leave some treasures for the rangefinder lovers. After Konica say goodbye to the camera world, their outstanding lenses become legendary.

 

[menos]

Yes Steve, the tricky part about those adapters really is not just the matching thickness of the flange, but the evenness and precise position and orientation of the L39 thread.

The best bet for this really is just using the Voigtlander adapters.

Kevin, it is really sad - every time I think about these fine Konica lenses it really makes me sad they are not produced anymore. They really had all the stuff to give Leica a run for the money - and see, how well Leica got the curve and is doing now.
It would be too nice to have also a Hexar RF monochrome digital and some fine Hexanon glass to match …


You guys really kill me with these 60/1.2 lenses - what about loads of sample shots to come ;-)
I am off Today and use my 21-35 and 85/1.5 Nikkor as my lens pair today - hoping to kill any 60mm GAS that might heat up - haha!

 

[Noctilux095]

Hello Dirk,

I totally agree with you on Konica RF lenses. I have been owing Konica ltm/m lenses for more than 10 years. It was sad to see Konica brand and products vanish in this digital age.

Here is my collection of Konica ltm/m lens caps since day 1. Still keeping all of them 😀

BTW, thanks again for sharing your experience and photo samples on Leica S2 in S2 forum. I am waiting for the incoming stock of S-adapter C and will update you on the status. Cheers!

 

[ricnak]

And I thought Leica gear was expensive - ***!

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/183068519393?ul_noapp=true