Let's stir up on Konica Auto S lens

[btgc]

I've purchased ERC, and seller added KAS, probably long time eBay fee sucker. I'm happy with KAS2 but if KAS falls in my hands I will not throw it out of window. Manuals clearly say that S and S2 have different lenses, no misunderstandings here.

In a word, S model doesn't get appreciation model S2 has. I have seen posts "shot roll with KAS HEXAR lens and nothing stands out"....but wait, pics show S with HEXANON lens. Mhm. Typo ? No, there are S with HEXAR on name plate and there are S with KONISHIROKU HEXANON on name plate, both 1:1.9

So I wonder if this is marketing update to look nicer or real differences, like HEXAR and HEXANON lenses for SLR are different makes (at least I got it that way) ?

 

[former member]

The Konica S2 was the post popular model, many more of them are around. Kind of like you see "used my Canonet QL17 GIII" rather than Canonet QL17L. The GIII sells for a lot more because of the name recognition.

 

[btgc]

hm, though QL17 ang GIII QL17 have virtually same lens - 6el/4gr f1.7...so it's more change in naming plus changes unrelated to optical abilities.

 

[fotobiblios]

Konica Rfdrs of the 1960s

S with 48f2, 48f1.8 or 45f2.8
SII with 48f1.8
SIII with 47f1.9
all metered manual

AutoS 47f1.9 (45f2.8??)
AutoS2 45f1.8
AutoS1.6 45f1.6

also EEmatic series all with 40or42f2.8

all Hexanon

many of the above were OEMd for Wards USA and Revue/PhotoQuelle Germany and the lenses often called Hexar

Then came the C35, first of the Japanese metered compact rfdrs in 1967/8.

All the faster lenses are v good, but has anyone compared?
The f2.8s are all Tessar/Elmar/Hexar type of which Konica made v many f3.5/2.8 in the 40s/50s

Danny

 

[btgc]

many of the above were OEMd for Wards USA and Revue/PhotoQuelle Germany and the lenses often called Hexar

Danny, interesting note - that HEXAR lens were spotted on camera sold by Wards.
UPD: another HEXAR i've seen were on Revue clone.

Some sources mention that "Hexar" were used by Konica to mark lenses made by third parties, so maybe similarly they reserved "Haxanon" for own use and put "Hexar" on same cameras, sold under different names ?

With Revue Auto S22 (S2 in fact) they blackened KONICA HEXANON (but it's readable) and on another batches just left HEXANON (in white). Wards, both AM550 and AM551 (S and S2 respectively) had lens labelled HEXAR.

So I doubt Konica made special lens for Wards, most probably they all sold same camera with different names and nameplates. No mystery, duh ?

 

[fotobiblios]

I forgot the Konica Electron (built-in sensor for auto flash) and the Auto SE Electronic (spring auto-wind) - both these had the excellent 38f1.8 but were somewhat unreliable.

Then came all the C35 variants 1967-1985 before the miriad autofocus (a Konica first with C35AF) compacts then the Hexar AF before finally the Hexar RF, Konica's first interchangeable lens 35mm RFDR -- why the 52 year wait for interchangeable lenses?

I believe all the f2,f1.9,f1.8,f1.6 lenses were excellent but which was the best?

Konica rangefinders were also excellent, in some cases including moving parallax/frame size correction for closeup.

The main bug is poor dust/moisture sealing and sometimes less than rigid lens mount, but to be fair these were the best optics for the money so something had to give.

 

[accozzaglia]

Hi there. This is my first post to RFF, which follows the heels of buying my first rangefinder, the Konica Auto S2. This one is in seemingly exceptional condition, purchased from a repair guy who works on Leicas and a tons of other stuff (in his words, "working on a Leica repair is like having dessert"; my reply: "I'll get a Leica when the lottery comes to me").

But I'm really excited about having this. This has the f/1.8 lens and the hood, as well as the original case. It's in amazing shape and has already impressed me with its focussing and stark quietness relative to my usual beast (a Pentax 645). It might seem big to some, but the Auto S2 is much lighter and tinier than what I'm accustomed to, and I'm looking forward to processing some of these initial rolls.

Anyway, hello! 🙂

 

[btgc]

Welcome aboard!

 

[accozzaglia]

Konica Auto S2: first try

Konica Auto S2: first try

I wasn't going for style, just a test roll for substance. Perhaps it's the film stock (cheap store-brand ISO200 C-41 film, probably Fuji Superia) or the rangefinder focussing calibration, but largely speaking, I was a bit surprised by how soft the focus was.

I'm trying Kodachrome right now, so we'll see how that goes.

 

[btgc]

Weren't that S on Auto mode? Or what aperture were set/used - do you remember?

This is what puzzles me in speed priority mode - while Av can create motion blur, Tv can make image looking like this if one don't focuses carefully...say, you have focused hyperfocally, then step three steps away from brightly lit street and voila - DOF changes radically.

 

[Platinum RF]

S/S2 lens are very sharp, compariable to SLR lens. You may need to check the RF

 

[accozzaglia]

Weren't that S on Auto mode? Or what aperture were set/used - do you remember?

This is what puzzles me in speed priority mode - while Av can create motion blur, Tv can make image looking like this if one don't focuses carefully...say, you have focused hyperfocally, then step three steps away from brightly lit street and voila - DOF changes radically.

It's a very good question, and I've been trying to remember what I was using to shoot that point in the day. I tend to only shoot manual with my SLRs, unless I want to focus on the moment, and then I'll go into aperture priority mode. The Auto S2 doesn't have aperture priority, just shutter priority (hence the "auto").

I did try using the auto feature on a couple of shots on that roll, mainly to check for functionality. The shot I posted may or may not have been one of those. I tend to think not, because I spent some time and effort positioning myself (and trying to stay unnoticed so the shot would remain candid) for this one.

But this softness is prevalent on the whole roll, regardless whether I used all-manual, the shutter priority mode, with a polarizer, or without one. If you'd like, I could add a couple of other scans for comparison.


Added: the following link is from the same day. If I recall correctly, I was shooting either at f/8 or f/11 and either 1/15th or 1/30th a second in manual mode for this shot (and a few others from the exact same spot). A polarizer was used:

http://flickr.com/photos/aged_accozzaglia/2817681122/sizes/l/

 

[DeeCee3]

Check the RF

Check the RF

I have years of experience with an AutoS-2 and don't ever remember seeing one "slightly off" like your shot looks. My guess would be a rangefinder error or, perhaps, pilot error in missing the point of focus ever-so-slightly. I'd suggest taking it back to the Leica repairman you mentioned you bought it from and asking him to calibrate the RF.

dc

 

[accozzaglia]

dc, you may be right on the RF being improperly calibrated. It might be "pilot error", but two things humbly make me doubt it: 1) several of the test shots were shot at f/11, which yields a wide depth-of-field, even were the rangefinder focus for, say 4m, could have been off by a half-metre due to RF calibration problems. 2) My focussing acumen with other cameras doesn't seem compromised like this (even when I don't have a diopter setting in place for my prescription lenses).

The glass on the Hexanon lens looks pristine (as does the multi-coating), and at a small stop-down, I'd think that it would be sharp on some plane within that wide depth-of-field setting.

Is it remotely possible that the problem might be the film plane itself is slightly off, perhaps the pressure plate? Might that be a reason for the symptom?

 

[accozzaglia]

Bump:

I plan to print this thread and bring in a few samples to the repair guy who sold this camera, probably early in the week. Before I do, I want to make sure that the film pressure plate is definitely not a possible reason why focussing appears soft. Does anyone know anything about this?

This is about process of elimination, so if it isn't that, is there any chance it was merely the quality of the cheap photo lab processing? Every bit of help here is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[btgc]

My move would be buying a roll of fresh film, loading and exposing it at different settings (including shots from tripod or similar fixed position), carefully taking notes.

Develop film in shop you trust, look at scans and moment of truth will appear. First film could be messed up. If "proper" roll will turn out same, then it's time to visit seller.

Other ideas?

 

[accozzaglia]

Thanks btgc. I'll try it with a usual (for me, at least) E-6 roll once the Kodachrome roll is done and take it to my usual place (rather than the pharmacy photo lab), and I'll keep everyone posted.

 

[raid]

I have the following Konica RF cameras:

Auto S
Auto S2
Auto S3

Konica I
Konica II
Konica III
Konica IIIM

C35 [not sure if functional]

The Konica Auto S was repaired twice! Each time, the film advance lever jams. I gave up on it.

The lenses are just great on all the Konica RF cameras.

 

[DeeCee3]

Film Plane Problem?

Film Plane Problem?

It never occurred to me that the pressure plate in your camera might not be holding the film securely enough but as I look at the shot you posted, the more I wonder if you might be right. I didn't even consider that as a possibility when I responded to your initial post but it surely makes more sense than my blaming it on focusing error!

I'll look forward to your updates.

dc3

 

[retro]

Maybe it was mentioned but there is an Auto S 1.6 also.