Leica M3 vs Konica Hexar AF

[Richard G]

Fun to see this thread still going. I have decided, it shall be the M3. Because a good opportunity shouldn't be missed. 🙂

Tune in next week where I make a new thread and say that I bought a Contax G2 with 45mm f2 instead 😛

Thanks all, great forum.

Ha ha, nice one about choosing the Contax instead. Reminds me of the quote whose author I am uncertain of: The art of politics is to say that you will do one thing, while all the while intending to do another. And then, when you do act, you do neither the thing you said you would do, nor the thing you intended.

 

[ampguy]

Hi beemermark

Hi beemermark

This pretty much sums it up for my preference of the Hexar AF over the M3.

I've never owned an M3, because the fim loading is too slow, and I'm pretty sure that the M3 doesn't do 35 without special lenses and goggles or addl. VF or accessories. I could be wrong about this though.

The M6 with quick loading, 35mm support, built-in meter might be a better Leica model to compare with the Hexar AF.

I've had both and have used both extensively. The M3 is great for sitting by the fire with a glass of fine wine. Just feels so good. Add you can pretend you're a famous photo-journalist.

However, if you want to take really great photographs while walking around and not worry about fiddiling with a light meter, trying to rewind film with the goofy rewind crank and then trying to get new film loaded, buy the Konica. The lens is as good or better than the early Summicrons. Really quiet. Of course no one will mistake you for that famous photo-journalist.

 

[adamjohari]

weird. my buddy who knows nothing about cameras said that my Leica M3 looked like a toy. 😀 . anyways, i can't say which is better since i've never used the AF. but so far the M3 has been excellent for me. if you're a really good photographer of course you could use an instant camera and still take better pictures with it than say a noobie like myself using an M3. same as with bourne driving a mini cooper with finest compared to uncle bob who drives a beamer.

but really, the M3 coupled with skills can produce amazing images. it also keeps me warm at night.

 

[jsrockit]

You can't go wrong with either really. Do you want an old school mechanical camera or an old school automated camera?

However, in general, just beware of internet hype regarding either camera... you are likely to be disappointed if you do not do your own research.

 

[bobyswan]

I found the Hexar RF body movement to give less palpable than my M3 and M6. The Hexar trigger simulates a soft launch in M. Also, I think the 100 ms or less shutter delay allows some of the "finger wave" to shut down. For better control of release Shutte, I equipped my M-series bodies with big Tom Abrahammson soft release buttons. The large size provides a better control of release, especially at slow shutter speeds.

 

[Gary Sandhu]

M3.
I have both.
I miss less with the M3 because it's simpler to use.

 

[Mablo]

I am a new Hexar AF owner and I must confess I'm all over the moon with it. The learning curve is steep at first but not too demanding (even for a dummy like me). I can't believe that €300 or so can buy a camera of this caliber.

 

[Moriturii]

Well, a little update. I got a Leica M2 with a 50mm lens. This camera came with a 35mm f2.8 lens, summaron. I sold it for about 700 bucks and bought a Konica Hexar AF (which is my new "35mm lens") with yellow, red and uv filter, flash, in box, mint for half the price. Waste not want not.

 

[pb908]

in my past experience with hexar AF and leica (M2):
- there are times that I wish I bring hexar af (i can focus at 100% darkness, I can shoot 1/8s with no shake, I can focus QUICKER enough to get some decisive shot, I CAN SHOOT it while driving and get correct focus !!)
- at some point while using hexar, i miss manual focusing
- at some point while using hexar in daylight, I wish it has 1/4000s shutter
- hexar is "big" as big as leica M for me, but it is lighter. I had once open the top cover and I can say the top cover build with very thick metal (aluminum?) maybe around 2-3mm thickness. that impressed me a lot!
- the silver hexar AF is so SEXY (it is sexier than silver M6, imho)
- the spotmeter (in M mode) is really worth to have (I normally use spotmeter for MF, to analyse scene, so it's a plus to have it on HAF)
- the Optic (35mm f2), is a steal !!! trust me
now I already sell my hexar af to add some cash in my wallet, and i keep missing the lens on hexar AF !!!
- at the end, I'll grab (if I still have it) HAF for night/lowlight shoot with no doubt !!! and use other for daylight shot.

Now I have hexar RF, but it's like hit and miss for me, it has some point I want on hexar af, but at the same time I really miss the hexar AF lenses, it's quiet shutter (the focus can be a little bit noisy, but the shutter is deadly silent). too bad now the price is higher than before..

 

[Mister E]

M3 for sure.