Konica Hexar

[giellaleafapmu]

Dear Folks,

recently I have been offered a second hand Konica Hexar (the original black with a fixed f2.0 35mm lens).
At first I was not much interested because I always regarded it as a point and shot but after reading some reviews I started reconsidering. Is it really as good as someone seem to state on the net? Are there well-known weak points to look at before deciding to buy (the guy gave me the camera to test it for one or two weeks claiming that "After using it I shall want to buy it")? Finally, how much is it worth (conditions are very good)? He ask for 170,- US$ which to me seems a bit expensive for a fixed lens camera, expecially during the "digital era"...

Thank you in advance.

Giella lea Fapmu

 

[pesphoto]

Check out the prices fopr Hexars on Ebay. If the one your trying is a good one, Id grab it.

 

[FrankS]

A Hexar AF usually sells for $350 to $450, so $170 is a great price if the camera functions properly!

 

[giellaleafapmu]

Check out the prices fopr Hexars on Ebay. If the one your trying is a good one, Id grab it.

Thank you for the answer.

So maybe the guy was indeed right... I didn't try the camera too much so far..

I always check ebay to find out what prices arebut this time I could find none on most ebay sites.
Only one is going in Germany and it is at about 115 Euros three days before the end of the auction. Quite abit cheaper buy maybe the final price will be closed to what he asks and with no shipment to pay...

Giella lea Fapmu

 

[Kevin]

That Hexar AF is a great camera to have in your toolbox. The lens is superb and the autofocus is very quiet when in silent mode. Moreover, the P-mode is very flexible.

If the camera is in working condition I would grab it.

 

[wintoid]

It's an incredible and unusual camera. The big weak point is the maximum shutter speed. The big strong points are the amazing lens, excellent autofocus, superb viewfinder and general ergonomics (once you master the strange interface).

As Kevin says, the P-mode is great. I have no idea why other camera manufacturers don't make a P mode like this.

 

[KoNickon]

Wow -- $170 for a "stealth" Hexar is a great price (if indeed it's 100% working). The 1/250th top shutter speed is not a big deal -- use slow film with it. It's a very easy camera to handhold at slow shutter speeds. The trickiest thing about the camera is the number of non-obvious settings, and which button accesses which such setting. It does not have through the lens metering, so if you plan to use it with black and white filters you'll need to figure in the exposure compensation yourself. But I think the guy is right -- after using it for a while you'll decide you want to keep it!

 

[Finder]

The noise difference between the black and silver Hexars is not much. I have a friend with the black and I have the silver. Hard to hear the difference. A number of times I have have been asked if I actually took the picture because they did not hear the camera. Very nice lens. I use 400 speed film and have not had a problem with the shutter speed limitation.

Both are excellent cameras. The Nikon 35Ti, 28Ti, and Minolta TC-1 were also great point-in-shoot cameras made just as the Japanese bubble economy was bursting. I really liked the Nikon analog dials.

 

[Tom Diaz]

Finder, I suppose you know that a silver Hexar can be programmed by you, to add the "silent mode" feature?

Anyway, I concur that this is a fantastic camera. Mine is rapidly becoming my favorite when I can take only one and am street shooting.

In my view Konica Hexar should have a forum of its own, it's such a unique beast.

 

[jaap]

I've also owned a silver Hexar and it's a nice camera the lens on it is at least as good as the contax G 35mm planar in my opinion ! So $170 is really a bargain. Altough the camera has some drawbacks like no metal housing and in manual mode not the best ergonomics.

 

[Taipei-metro]

Dear Folks,

recently I have been offered a second hand Konica Hexar (the original black with a fixed f2.0 35mm lens).
At first I was not much interested because I always regarded it as a point and shot but after reading some reviews I started reconsidering. Is it really as good as someone seem to state on the net? Are there well-known weak points to look at before deciding to buy (the guy gave me the camera to test it for one or two weeks claiming that "After using it I shall want to buy it")? Finally, how much is it worth (conditions are very good)? He ask for 170,- US$ which to me seems a bit expensive for a fixed lens camera, expecially during the "digital era"...

Thank you in advance.

Giella lea Fapmu

$170 for a black Hexar? CHEAP! if, in good condition.
The max shutter speed; If it's a 35/2.8 (like that 35ti), speed may goes up to 1/500 sec... Back up w EOS cameras, lots of them are w 1/4000 sec max.
Lens is as good as Cron, this 7-element is a non-asph one. The only Japanese 35mm that can beat this lens is the one( 6-element) on Nikon 35ti, with all (or 2? anybody want to research?) ED glasses, but f course one less f-stop.
I have both camera, as back ups for my 2 EOS-7 and EOS-10S( not digital 10D, the 10S is a hidden one of the best EOS body).

$170 will only enough for some 1/2.5 in. sensor 4 MP digital, actually enough for 8x10 prints. You may find some Taiwan BenQ disguised as Pentax, HP, K-Minolta 5 MP for $179.
Shoot w the Hexar, made a DVD w the print film, now you have both world.
But of course, digital is the world trend, in this side of the world, digital print shops are like Gas stations( or churches if you preferred) in California, it's everywhere! Each and Every digital P & S in this world was made in these big 3 'Chapstic Countries', Japan, China(incl. Taiwan, HongKong) and Korea.
If you can find a brand name digital 5 MP for $170, buy it!

 

[Nick R.]

I think this review and the comments that follow pretty much sums up what there is to know about the hexar.

How good is it? I use mine as the 35mm lens for my Leica system.

($170 -if you don't buy it, I wouldn't mind having another one 🙂 )