Oh man...bought an Ebay Hexar RF...

[reala_fan]

Oh man...bought an Ebay Hexar RF...and wowie-zowie, the RF alignment is WAY WAY off!!

Looks like it's so far off that any hint of alignment is a 'ghost" image, not the real RF image.

Camera was said to be mint, with one scar (took a bump) on the lower right hand side (lens mount facing you) near where you open the back.

But close inspection reveals the viewfinder glass (inside) has a crack, also on the lower right side. The crack is just barely visible inside the finder, but I fear that it will worsen over time, and render this one unusable.

Also if I shake the camera, sounds like something is possibly loose in the finder compartment? Not wildly loose and banging around, but I do hear somthing moving about slightly.

Think it's worth having someone try and align the finder? Or a lost cause?

Makes me sad...sure was hopiing for a good example 😡

 

[elshaneo]

I would have return the Hexar RF to the seller and ask for my money back. Otherwise I would dispute it with Paypal mentioning that the seller was dishonest and lied about the condition of the camera...

 

[raid]

Raise Hell at ebay. Send the seller a "friendly email", suggesting a full return of funds to you. Remind the seller of feedback.

 

[retnull]

What a pity. It's such a great camera when in working condition.

 

[35mmdelux]

get refund now!!! thru ebay or paypal, whatever. I hate stinking liars.

couple years ago a well known LF shooter sold me a Hexar RF thru bay and the shutter knob was busted. Took 6-7 emails before he responded claiming ignorance. I was direct and to the point as I could be, given the circumstances. He finally relented and paid half the $150 (US) repair cost the lousy...

Had I know he was a frequent poster on largeformatphotography.com I would have plastered my claim for full refund. Don't let these sobs get away with it.

 

[reala_fan]

Well, I did speak to the seller, he is willing to pay to have it fixed!

I spoke to Greg Weber (who I have known for many years as a Konica SLR user) and he said:

1> The cracked Glass - he had never seen one 'get worse' probably not to worry about it.

2> The 'way off' RF - he said it may or may not be fixable. Said a collar inside could be broken, in which case, it's a paperweight. Has to see it to know. If it can be fixed, the cost would be between $100.00 and $150.00 - I only paid $350.00...

Greg also said the first 800 bodies had a defective RF mechanism and they all would NOT stay aligned. That they redesigned the RF after that. Said they assembled the bodies from the entire run of avail parts, so you cannot tell by the S/N which ones were the first 800!!

He also said that he was to recieve ALL the RF parts from Konica in Japan (or K-M) before Sony took over, and that the boxes were never shipped to him. Said bodies. lenses and all the spare parts went to a landfill in Japan!!

So now, parts are a rare commodity indeed.

 

[reala_fan]

I know, right!!!! I'll Help!!!

 

[reala_fan]

This expirence with the 'terrible Hexar RF' has certainly made me appreciate what I have in the R3a!!

50mm framelines so small in the Hexar, so wonderfully large in the R3a.

R3a's RF patch so much larger and easier to see as well 🙂

 

[Paul T.]

I had a hexar that went off and had to wait 6 months until Greg found the parts from a camera with a defective logic board.

If it were me I would simply get a refund and wait for a camera that had not been abused. Make sure you send it back with tracking, if that's you choice. The key phrase to remember for PayPal purposes is 'significantly not as described'. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[Paul T.]

A mint, fully functional Hexar may go for $8-900. IMHO: Not worth it...

THat camera is severely overshadowed by the Zeiss Ikon today; I got my Hexar for $750, but a ZI for $100 more looks like a much better deal, especially considering the far superior viewfinder.

 

[drewbarb]

Last spring, I bought a Hexar RF kit on eBay for a great price. It arrived looking great, with good alignment, and feeling just right- and of course the lens was excellent. But when I shot some test film, the motor wind revealed itself to be seriously messed up; the camera would wind for several seconds, reset the counter, and then shoot one frame, maybe two, and do the same thing. I shot three rolls of various types of film, and the most exposed frames I got on any one 36 exposure roll was around 7 frames shot, with long stretches of un-exposed film between them.

Luckily, the seller was very cool about the whole thing. I paid using paypal, so I felt pretty safe- but of course I contacted the seller right away and let him know about the problem. We had a good email exchange which resulted in my returning the camera (with one of the rolls to show my findings) and the seller sent a full refund, including the shipping costs. I was disappointed with the camera, since I was hoping for a good user, but I still considered it a positive eBay experience, since the seller was cool about the whole thing. But it did put me off the Hexar RF. I know it can be a great camera, but I'll stick to my older M's- at least until I find a great deal on a Zeiss Ikon to add to my kit.

 

[35mmdelux]

the hexar rf has its stregths but as far as the shutter knob is concerned its weak point; easy to break. other than this I really liked it.

 

[Tuolumne]

Mint. Yeah, right. This is just one of the reasons I have stopped buying on eBay. They ALWAYS offer to have it fixed. Look - mint is MINT. Tell him to shove it.

/T

 

[reala_fan]

The seller of this camera is a very high volume seller and offers stuff he is buying from Estates. Judging by the mass volume, and the great variety of items offered - I think this is true.

He has said he will pay to have it fixed (if it can be fixed) or he will take it back and refund 100%.

I do feel like this one is probably not repairable and will probably go for a full refund.

But I do think the seller was ignorant of how rangefinders work, and judged his description based on the fact that the meter works, motor works, viewfinder FRAMES are fine, and it looks like it had little use.

I don't think he was an out and out liar and tried to decieve.

I wish I could get a nice Hexar RF but based on what Greg Weber said, that there NO PARTS at all, I think I will avoid this camera in the future.


Cheers to all, here.


-=[ Bruce ]=-

 

[infrequent]

i am glad that some many folks are staying away from the hexars. looking forward to a good deal soonish. thank you gents.

 

[reala_fan]

Hey, I just sent the Ebay seller an email offering to "keep it" for $110.00 or I can send it back, get a full refund and he can send it to Greg Weber - who really wants it, for $100.00 as a parts donor.

Figured I could use it with a 25mm snapshot skopar. Or get one of those shoe mount rangefinders' and transfer the distance to the lens...

 

[reala_fan]

Seller has agreed to $110.00 (will refund the rest) for the "viewfinder patch afflicted" Hexar.

Anyone have a 25mm Snapshot Skopar, to use with 'er..???