Konica Hexar RF

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Iansky

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At the risk of being stoned from certain quarters, I must admit to having recently purchased a Konica Hexar Rf with 50mm f2 lens and having used Leicas for many years asa working Photo journalist, I must admit to being very very impressed.

The camera has everything that I would have desired on an M7 and the build quality and finish is on par with the M6 I used to have,

I have been very impressed with it so far, and have just sent it for a service ( meter check and rangefinder calibration if needed).

Have to wait and see how it performs on return (being serviced in Germany so should be high quality work).

I have read a few reviews and it came out with an incredib;e rating for performance, build, reliability and ease of use. You can of course use M glass if you desire on this camera!

Anyone else use one of these?
 
I use one. I have one M6 and one Hexar RF.
I put some of my impressions here.

I really like the camera. Nothing to envy others great RF. Im left shoter so in many situations Im faster...
About the Hexanon. I cant compare between the Summicron, but have an excellent quallity, design... I love the Hexanon. Have a smooth bokeh, like the Elmar that always carry my M6.
Its a great couple. Nice complement for every who loves takes photos.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22489&highlight=beniliam+hexar
 
No stones from this quarter.

I use a Hexar RF as my low magnification M body (instead of a 0.58 M6 TTL I sold off). It is indeed a nice, very high-quality, machine w/many advantages over the M7. My only significant complaint is that the secondary image in the RF patch "wanders" a bit if you move your eye too much when looking through the VF (more of a problem for me since I wear glasses). This isn't a huge problem since I normally use the Hexar w/a 28mm or 35mm for street shooting, etc., but it is annoying when I want to do critical focusing. Other than that I have only minor quibbles, most of which add up to "I wish it were just a little bit more like its cousin, the Kyocera Contax G2" (e.g., switch-activated exposure lock, simple numerical readout for shutter speeds rather than the scale on the left). I've never experienced any of the reported problems w/lens compatability & can use it to successfully focus the Noctilux @ f/1 (not that it's my preferred body for doing that sort of thing).

Iansky said:
At the risk of being stoned from certain quarters, I must admit to having recently purchased a Konica Hexar Rf with 50mm f2 lens and having used Leicas for many years asa working Photo journalist, I must admit to being very very impressed.

The camera has everything that I would have desired on an M7 and the build quality and finish is on par with the M6 I used to have,

I have been very impressed with it so far, and have just sent it for a service ( meter check and rangefinder calibration if needed).

Have to wait and see how it performs on return (being serviced in Germany so should be high quality work).

I have read a few reviews and it came out with an incredib;e rating for performance, build, reliability and ease of use. You can of course use M glass if you desire on this camera!

Anyone else use one of these?
Click to expand...
 
Watch out for the frosted window (for the framelines), they are not really as well glued on as on a Leica in my (little) experience.

It is my (current) favourite camera, well built and very productive thanks to the motor drive and AE/AEL and it runs for a very long time on the little batteries. Sometimes I prefer a Leica though for the more quiet shutter and battery independent relaxed feeling, or a Mamiya 7 for the larger negs.

/Håkan
 
I'm glad to hear that everyone is so happy with their RFs. I wish that I could say the same about mine. I bought it used about 6 months ago and found that it never focused correctly, but unfortunately I couldn't return it. It seemed to focus correctly at further distances, but up close things diverged; it was almost as if the rangefinder wasn't moving in a linear way. A local tech couldn't fix it and DAG (Don Goldberg) the Leica guru couldn't fix it. Now it's on its way to Ken Ruth of Bald Mountain who seems very experienced with the Hexar. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I did really like the feel and function of the Hexar - it's a great complement to a mechanical RF like the M6. The rangefinder and viewfinder are the weak points in the design, it seems. The rangefinder is fragile (not just based on my own experience), and eye-point is very sensitive in the viewfinder: if your eye is not in the right place, the LED disappear the the RF patch fades.
 
I bought mine used two years ago. It was my first RF camera and I have recently bought a second body. By far my best camera purchase ever after my Bronica RF645. I have four Hexanon lenses and they are also very well made. A high quality setup for a reasonable price.

I am happy.

Lou
 
I got the kit with the 50 and the flash in late 2000 and have added the 90, 28 and recently the 35 Hexanons. This is a great camera and the lenses are as good as anyone's. Just absolutely top quality in every respect, which makes its discontinuance (and the seeming indifference to it on the part of Konica during its production) all the more disappointing.

If I could only have one rangefinder camera this would be it -- it's so darn easy and quick to use, and capable (e.g. very accurate meter, and speeds to 1/4000).

I don't understand furcafe's comment about there being no switch-activated AE lock -- turn the master power switch to "AEL" and the camera locks exposure when the shutter button is depressed halway. Maybe I misunderstood his comment.
 
Ken Ruth

Ken Ruth

Wow, I just spoke with Ken Ruth and he seems like a great tech. Unfortunately for me, and Hexar AF folks, he isn't setup to work on, or knowledgeable about the AF model.

It was enjoyable talking with Ken, and I won't hesitate to go to him for my more mechanical camera needs, esp. since he's semi-local.

sockeyed said:
I'm glad to hear that everyone is so happy with their RFs. I wish that I could say the same about mine. I bought it used about 6 months ago and found that it never focused correctly, but unfortunately I couldn't return it. It seemed to focus correctly at further distances, but up close things diverged; it was almost as if the rangefinder wasn't moving in a linear way. A local tech couldn't fix it and DAG (Don Goldberg) the Leica guru couldn't fix it. Now it's on its way to Ken Ruth of Bald Mountain who seems very experienced with the Hexar. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I did really like the feel and function of the Hexar - it's a great complement to a mechanical RF like the M6. The rangefinder and viewfinder are the weak points in the design, it seems. The rangefinder is fragile (not just based on my own experience), and eye-point is very sensitive in the viewfinder: if your eye is not in the right place, the LED disappear the the RF patch fades.
Click to expand...
 
My only advice with the camera was that if you do photos with low light, try to use Manual Mode or see what appear in the viewfinder with AE Mode. Sometimes there are substancial differences and you can lost one photo for one bad metering.
 
I wasn't talking about having AE lock, but how the AE lock works. On the Kyocera Contax G2, the camera can, in addition to 1/2-pressing the shutter release, lock exposure by flipping a switch or by using the thumb-activated focus button on the back. The switch is the most convenient for me, because if I switch to a vertical orientation to re-compose, I often use my thumb to trip the shutter, & w/the Hexar if you take your finger off the shutter release, you lose the exposure lock & have to "re-lock" it, which is a pain (again, for me). This is also a quibble that I have w/the Leica M7. The R-D1 has an exposure lock w/a thumb-activated button on the back, which is good, but not as convenient as a switch because you still have to keep the button pressed to lock exposure (it also doesn't have the option of using the 1/2-pressed shutter release to lock exposure).

KoNickon said:
I don't understand furcafe's comment about there being no switch-activated AE lock -- turn the master power switch to "AEL" and the camera locks exposure when the shutter button is depressed halway. Maybe I misunderstood his comment.
Click to expand...
 
I've always found the Hexar to be a very attractive camera. Built well, nice styling, some of hte best lenses on the planet.

And much more cost effective than a Leica.

Wandering RF patch is an issue. I deal with a slight wander in the RF645. Eye must be centered for perfect vertical alignment. Not too much horizontal wander.

I might choose the Hexar RF over any CV body for its incredible value.
 
I think the Hexar RF it is a wonderful camera and I use mine alot. I use it for street shooting and for some industrial/abstract shooting as well. All shooting using available light. Admittedly, the viewfinder is a bit dim compared to a Leica and I have occasionally had problems focusing under certain circumstances. This has been rare and overall the camera is a joy to use.

I shoot mostly B&W and have had excellent results. On occasion I have shot some chrome and have been dazzled with the results. The Hexanon lenses are great. I think they match the build and performance quality of Leica. I have the 21/35 Dual, 28, 50 & 90. I enjoy grabbing this kit and taking off for the day. I never get tired of shooting with this gear.

Bob
 
i want to know what's up with all of these ebay sellers trying to sell the m-hexanons for outrageous prices. :(
 
aizan said:
i want to know what's up with all of these ebay sellers trying to sell the m-hexanons for outrageous prices. :(
Click to expand...
The M-Hexanons are real fine lenses. Their build quality is in an entirely different league than the Voigtlanders. The 50/2 is unsurpassed in this regard even by the Summicron..

The Hexar RF itself is a different thing though. It's fine and it's solidly built, but it's an acquired taste to say the least. I could not really get used to the motorized advance and the 0.6x viewfinder, but I can see that others may value these characteristics differently.

In the end, I sold the HRF, but kept the Hexanon..
 
although i have not the Hexar RF; i like the m-hexanon 50 on my leica m very much, i stopped thinking about getting the 50 summicron anymore.

it has the rendition i love. i only wished it has a focusing tab of some sort; need a bit of getting used to, as all of my lenses have a focusing tab/infinity lock.... my fingers look for it but it's not there...

i always wanted to get the UC-hexanon 35 as well, the more compact one

cheers
 
Hexar said:
Compared with LEICA M, the rangefinder of RF is not so stable.
Click to expand...

Hmmm...what are you comparing? In what way is the RF not so stable? I use both a Hexar RF and Leica M's and I have not experienced any stability issues.

Bob
 
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