shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
I have always liked Konica cameras. Besides my addiction to Olympus, old Konica cameras are my second favorites.
Especially their Hexanon lenses. I think they are one of the few Japanese lenses that can go head-to-head (or toe-to-toe if your'e a bat) with the Zeiss' and the Leitz'.
On the RF side, I like the Konica C35 the best. But I have always wondered if Konica managed put their best glasses on the SLR side.
Well, I got my chance. Enter the Konica TC.
This one has a Hexanon 50/1.4 mounted on it. There is a certain look from the lens that attracted me to it even before I actually put a film through the camera. Somehow I know it's a good lens.
Then I got around to test this camera, when the negatives were back from the lab, my wife happened to scan the roll for me. She noticed that, there's a weird jagginess quality on the photos when she previewed the roll on the scanner program.
I looked at the image and it puzzled me also, for a while, until it donned on me that I've seen that quality before.
The jagginess is there when you preview a picture that is very, *very* sharp.
As they said, dissapointment is the gap between reality and expectation. So I didn't put my hopes up, and waited until my wife finished scanning the roll.
Then I saw the picture in high-resolution...
...yes, it's even sharper in BIG.
Suddenly, I *need* more Konica glasses ... :bang:
Especially their Hexanon lenses. I think they are one of the few Japanese lenses that can go head-to-head (or toe-to-toe if your'e a bat) with the Zeiss' and the Leitz'.
On the RF side, I like the Konica C35 the best. But I have always wondered if Konica managed put their best glasses on the SLR side.
Well, I got my chance. Enter the Konica TC.
This one has a Hexanon 50/1.4 mounted on it. There is a certain look from the lens that attracted me to it even before I actually put a film through the camera. Somehow I know it's a good lens.
Then I got around to test this camera, when the negatives were back from the lab, my wife happened to scan the roll for me. She noticed that, there's a weird jagginess quality on the photos when she previewed the roll on the scanner program.
I looked at the image and it puzzled me also, for a while, until it donned on me that I've seen that quality before.
The jagginess is there when you preview a picture that is very, *very* sharp.
As they said, dissapointment is the gap between reality and expectation. So I didn't put my hopes up, and waited until my wife finished scanning the roll.
Then I saw the picture in high-resolution...
...yes, it's even sharper in BIG.
Suddenly, I *need* more Konica glasses ... :bang:
tominabox1
Established
HURRY! Take a new picture of your camera that doesnt make the lens look like it got hit with a hammer!!!
Wowzers yes that is sharp.
Wowzers yes that is sharp.
ywenz
Veteran
fine looking camera indeed but the sample image shows nothing extraordinary.. My cellphone pic looks pretty sharp at that size as well. Post a larger version please.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
ywenz said:
That's why I provided a link to a BIG version of the image, but knowing *your* standard, that probably can't beat your cellphone either. Sorry to dissapoint you
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
tominabox1 said:HURRY! Take a new picture of your camera that doesnt make the lens look like it got hit with a hammer!!!
Wowzers yes that is sharp.
LOL! that's exactly what I said when I first saw it, oh well, the umbrella does its job well.
gavinlg
Veteran
Thats a nice looking camera isn't it. I think we share much in common shadowfox, I love olympus and have a very soft spot for konica as well. I seriously lust after a uc hexanon 35 in m mount every day.
The picture sure is sharp - looks great. Please please please post some more, have you got any with a bit of bokeh? Maybe some wide opens or portraits or something.
Also hows that camera handling?
The picture sure is sharp - looks great. Please please please post some more, have you got any with a bit of bokeh? Maybe some wide opens or portraits or something.
Also hows that camera handling?
ferider
Veteran
Two thoughts:
- "this guy needs to try some Hexar RF lenses"
- "His OM-3 is prettier !"
Thanks for posting ...
Roland.
- "this guy needs to try some Hexar RF lenses
"- "His OM-3 is prettier !"
Thanks for posting ...
Roland.
oftheherd
Veteran
The last two times I was in Korea, one of our interpreters talked to me some about his father, who had been a professional photographer in Korea. His father used nothing but Konica, and told him most other professional photographers preferred them also. At first I was surprised. I knew westerners who used Nikon, Canon, Topcon ... what was this Konica thing. I started checking around and found Konica was another of the camera lines that just never got the reputation it deserved. Enjoy that camera and all the Hexinon lenses you can get your hands on.
BillBingham2
Registered User
I remember the A3 and T3 being fine cameras. The glass was ok, but no broad enough in options for most. Their fixed lens RF cameras, while somewhat strange in some aspects have great glass.
Thanks for sharing and enjoy!
B2 (;->
Thanks for sharing and enjoy!
B2 (;->
BSchall
Established
I, too, am a Konica Fan. I have a Autoreflex A (mint condition from my father-in-law) and a FC-1. That gives me a totally manual body and an electronic body. Lenses include the 28mm, 40mm, 52mm, 100mm, 135mm, and 200mm. The 40mm f1.8 is one of the sharpest lenses ever tested by Popular Photography when it first came out (and it was actually made by Tokina). The 24mm is equal to the much prized 24mm AI Nikkor. Enjoy the Konica. Except for the 24mm and 85mm f1.8, the lenses are bargains.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
fdigital said:
Gavin, didn't know you like Konicas as well.
The bokeh from this lens is equally nice. I will post more when I get a chance to run a second roll on this.
The camera itself has two very positive point, the leatherette is very nice, soft and supple, feels a bit like suede. It is not much bigger than an OM, and I think it's good looking.
... and two negatives, dim viewfinder especially for evening shots, and the sound of the shutter is like a slap in your face. Yes, it's that loud
Overall, I like this one especially given the quality of the glass.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
ferider said:Two thoughts:
- "this guy needs to try some Hexar RF lenses
- "His OM-3 is prettier !"
Thanks for posting ...
Roland.
Roland, all you need to do is sent your Hexar to me for some quality educational time.
Seriously, I am very curious of the Hexar, but I have to wait for the budget.
john_van_v
Well-known
Konica, Hexanon, and OpenEOS
Konica, Hexanon, and OpenEOS
How can that be? I have had nothing but bad from the two T's, Tokina and Tamron.
I have jumped into Hexanon as well. My first body was a T4, and it had a barely functioning meter. My second one is a TC, and it is off in favor of modern batteries--dead on w/ alkaline button batteries. I have hearing aid batteries for my OM-1, but didn't need to use them.
Down side is that there is minimal information inside the viewfinder; this is an automatic camera with over-ride. The needle moves very slowly (in the TC), and you have to pull down the camera to adjust the speed or aperture, unlike my OM-1 or FM. Those I can adjust still looking through the viewfinder.
I think I will have to shoot with the AE setting, better known as EE, and then use the exposure lock to control the setting. That is awkward because I will have to move the camera away with each shot; sequences will be impossible to create.
My long lens for Konica the Series 1 70-210. It has problems as well; you have to pull the aperture ring forward to turn it, making shooting even more difficult. And it is heavy.
I experienced all this yesterday while shooting my newly adopted cat who was surviving as a super-friendly stray for a while and is quite wild.
I will be finishing up the roll with the 40mm, which is the reason I got into Konica, which actually seems to work well with the TC/T4 body. The Series 1 70-210 is a handful.
This brings me back to my "Open EOS," or OpenEOS, idea.
(Extending the free software ideas, such as with GNU/Linux, a camera can be built in the public domain, or more accurately, the protected public domain of open licensing, and the Linux or L4 operating systems can be adapted to run it in the same way Canon's DryOS works. Prior to DryOS, Canon I believe that used a Unix variant called VxWorks (check this), so Linux porting should be a snap; more below)
It looks as if we are hooked on APS sized sensors at this point, so the mounting on an EOS can be brought close to the sensor; the register size can be lower. That would allow adapter manufacturers to accomodate Hexanon, old Canon, and possibly old school rangefinder lenses. Heck, we could re-start the Soviet camera era!
Or we could just go rangefinder, such as with the Sigma full sensor point and shoot (which is oddly fixed-lens, and fixed at f4). And we can to back to film and manual shutter as well, but with electronic timing. Then moving the concept forward again, we can bring the fully manual shutter release to the digital SLR--all from the same chassis. Various mounting adapters would fill the gaps in this scenario.
I find the EOS "desktop" a disaster area; but I like Kodak's point and shoot controls on my modest c875. An OpenEOS would allow for any interface to be developed, and it could be developed quickly. I could accomodate any style and allow for fully new concepts; it could even allow for a standard desktop from which you could browse the web, and send email--with wifi of course. Think about it !!!
Konica, Hexanon, and OpenEOS
How can that be? I have had nothing but bad from the two T's, Tokina and Tamron.
I have jumped into Hexanon as well. My first body was a T4, and it had a barely functioning meter. My second one is a TC, and it is off in favor of modern batteries--dead on w/ alkaline button batteries. I have hearing aid batteries for my OM-1, but didn't need to use them.
Down side is that there is minimal information inside the viewfinder; this is an automatic camera with over-ride. The needle moves very slowly (in the TC), and you have to pull down the camera to adjust the speed or aperture, unlike my OM-1 or FM. Those I can adjust still looking through the viewfinder.
I think I will have to shoot with the AE setting, better known as EE, and then use the exposure lock to control the setting. That is awkward because I will have to move the camera away with each shot; sequences will be impossible to create.
My long lens for Konica the Series 1 70-210. It has problems as well; you have to pull the aperture ring forward to turn it, making shooting even more difficult. And it is heavy.
I experienced all this yesterday while shooting my newly adopted cat who was surviving as a super-friendly stray for a while and is quite wild.
I will be finishing up the roll with the 40mm, which is the reason I got into Konica, which actually seems to work well with the TC/T4 body. The Series 1 70-210 is a handful.
This brings me back to my "Open EOS," or OpenEOS, idea.
(Extending the free software ideas, such as with GNU/Linux, a camera can be built in the public domain, or more accurately, the protected public domain of open licensing, and the Linux or L4 operating systems can be adapted to run it in the same way Canon's DryOS works. Prior to DryOS, Canon I believe that used a Unix variant called VxWorks (check this), so Linux porting should be a snap; more below)
It looks as if we are hooked on APS sized sensors at this point, so the mounting on an EOS can be brought close to the sensor; the register size can be lower. That would allow adapter manufacturers to accomodate Hexanon, old Canon, and possibly old school rangefinder lenses. Heck, we could re-start the Soviet camera era!
Or we could just go rangefinder, such as with the Sigma full sensor point and shoot (which is oddly fixed-lens, and fixed at f4). And we can to back to film and manual shutter as well, but with electronic timing. Then moving the concept forward again, we can bring the fully manual shutter release to the digital SLR--all from the same chassis. Various mounting adapters would fill the gaps in this scenario.
I find the EOS "desktop" a disaster area; but I like Kodak's point and shoot controls on my modest c875. An OpenEOS would allow for any interface to be developed, and it could be developed quickly. I could accomodate any style and allow for fully new concepts; it could even allow for a standard desktop from which you could browse the web, and send email--with wifi of course. Think about it !!!
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jmooney
Guy with a camera
Is that the AE AR lens?
Dang that is sharp!!
Dang that is sharp!!
Igor.Burshteyn
Well-known
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
These threads are hilarious ... this one was started in 2007 and like a spot fire it suddenly bursts into flame again!
I also have a Konica Auto Reflex (half frame) with a 50mm Hexanon f1.4 and some of the results that lens has produced have been way beyond what I expected. It's reasonably sharp wide open and the OOF is beautiful ... close portraits in half frame mode at f1.4 have an ethereal quality.
I also have a Konica Auto Reflex (half frame) with a 50mm Hexanon f1.4 and some of the results that lens has produced have been way beyond what I expected. It's reasonably sharp wide open and the OOF is beautiful ... close portraits in half frame mode at f1.4 have an ethereal quality.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
Will, any major producer's 50mm @f8-f11 will be sharp
That may be, Igor, but I stand by my evaluation, this is another sample, wide open. I had to stack two filters in front of the lens because the photo was taken in broad-daylight. Hence the lower contrast.
Resizing the image and digital-ICE take some more of the sharpness, but really... when you can see some textures on a staple at this resolution, that's pretty dang sharp, no?
PS: I also love seeing old threads that comes alive again, especially when I still can backup what I said ... not always, of course
john_van_v
Well-known
I can't wait to develop the 40mm picts I haven't taken yet.
pesphoto
Veteran
I just picked off a 40mm 1.8 off ebay for a good price to go with my FS-1. I read that the 40mm actually came standard with the FS-1 and
IM a big fan of 40mm having used fixed lens RF with that focal length.
FrankS
Registered User
I got an FS-1 with a 40mm lens at a junk shop a few years ago for $20. It feels really solid and well built. I'll need to dig it out now and try it.