Switching from Leica M2 to Hexar RF

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jnclde

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So, I have been thinking of making the switch for the past couple of days. So, last year I purchased a de-chromed repainted 1962 black paint M2 and have loved it for the past couple of months, but the honeymoon phase may be over(?)
AB003-2 by Jean Claude Araque, on Flickr

I recently purchased a Fujifilm Klasse S for a compact and I absolutely adore it. The reason for the purchase was that it has a 38mm FL, which is very close to my most used lens on the M2 - 40mm M-Rokkor f2.The handling and AF is great (coming from manual focusing) and the optics are what drew me in. It made me realize that there is so much more to cameras than the peak of 1950s camera design. (Leica M2/3)
AA001-3 by Jean Claude Araque, on Flickr

The original idea was to use the M2 with a recently acquired canon 50mm f1.8 ltm, but more and more I am realizing that the combo is far too heavy for what it gives me. And honestly the only thing that slows me down is evaluating exposure. I'm very quick when it comes to focusing. So the idea grew on me, that I probably do not need a Leica M2 to pursue the imagery I have in mind.

I was considering to sell my 1962 Black re-painted Leica M2, the canon 50mm f1.8 and possibly my 90mm tele-elmarit (since the Hexar RF has a x.6 mag) and it won't be much use, and ultimately use the money for the Hexar RF and a sweet high-end 50mm of my dreams to combo it with the Klasse S. Base length aside, I've read multiple stuff regarding the Hexar online, but what do you guys think of it's VF? Do I need to buy a magnifier for the VF in the Hexar or would I do just fine? The 35mm frame lines in the Hexar would be perfect for my 40mm though. Also, how durable are they? AND lastly if I really want a M2 again I could just purchase a chrome one down the line and not be over the top by having a 'stealth' black paint from the beginning. Eventually I could send that one out to get repainted by Kanto, etc.

Please share your thoughts and experiences!
 
The Hexar RF is arguably the best film rangefinder ever made. It's built like a tank, auto film advance is very easy to live with and the option of having 1/4000 shutter speed in your armory is a big plus. While the viewfinder is not quite up to the standard of an M or an Ikon it's more than good enough. On the negative side I suspect they will be very hard to get parts for in the future.
 
I really enjoyed the two Hexars I owned. But reading about lack of parts to repair a camera made me rethink ownership. Sold both. If it weren't for the lack of parts I would have stayed with the Hexars. AE and auto film advance and the 1/4000 shutter speed. They feel great in the hand.

I'm stuck with a M6 for now. DAG has assured me there will parts, but might not be independent techs over time.
 
nikonosguy said:
there was a hexar rf for 400 usd in the classifieds last week --- I'd say possibly get an m6 -- hexars are now abandonware
Click to expand...

I found one on eBay unused for around ~$900 and another one in mint for around ~$700

M6 was another option on my mind, but I wanted a bit more features.
 
That's why I mainly asked about durability, I'm terrified to have dead weight for a camera due to a lack of parts. Maybe an option down the line would be to buy a beater Hexar for it's internals?
 
While the Hexars may be starting to run out of parts I suspect that in the not too distant future 3-D printing technology will rescue a lot of these types of cameras from oblivion.
 
The Hexar RF is a great camera. Compared to the Leica you lose the 135mm and keep everything else. You get awesome metering and excellent framing.

The Hexar gives great metering, faster speed and variable metering.

I don't think there's anything the Leica does better with. The Hexar does what the M3 does, times 2.
 
The parts replacement: you can buy a second one for less than a Leica cleanup. You'd have to be pretty unlucky. I suppose it will happen eventually. Buy 2?
 
Scrambler said:
The Hexar RF is a great camera. Compared to the Leica you lose the 135mm and keep everything else. You get awesome metering and excellent framing.

The Hexar gives great metering, faster speed and variable metering.

I don't think there's anything the Leica does better with. The Hexar does what the M3 does, times 2.
Click to expand...

Literally the all the reasons why I want to switch. I'm going to try to head to NY tomorrow to try to visit some camera shop and see if any of them have bodies I can check out.
 
jnclde said:
I found one on eBay unused for around ~$900 and another one in mint for around ~$700

M6 was another option on my mind, but I wanted a bit more features.
Click to expand...


Way too much money. I see them often selling for $400-$450 in really good condition.
$900 buys you the best M camera ever - the M5 - or at that point if you want AE you'd have easily enough from the sale of your gear to get a really nice used M7. A camera that is still in production and will still have parts made for it for decades. (maybe..)

Some, not all, Konica RFs have had focusing issues w/ Leica lenses.

From cameraquest.com:

Some Hexar RF users report focusing problems with Leica M lenses, others do not. How could that happen?

The EXACT cause of this is a hot source of controversy on the net. Konica is not helping the situation. So far, I have received different answers from every Konica employee I have discussed the issue with. Konica USA offered to adjust the rangefinder of my camera, but admitted this would not be a complete solution. I am told Konica UK actually offers to correct Hexar RF bodies to Leica M specs, for a fee. Konica USA seems to give me a different answer every time I talk with them.

Some people swear nothing is wrong with the Hexar RF with Leica M lenses, because THEIR camera has had no problems. Others report focusing problems. Personally MY Hexar RF did NOT have correct back focus specs for Leica M lenses -- I had it repaired.

I believe the KEY to the controversy is the INCONSISTENCY -- some people have back focus problems, others swear THEY do not. How could that happen?

As suggested to me by a Konica insider, the answer may be the plus/minus tolerances used by Konica. In this scenario, depending upon how a particular camera body's set of parts tolerances add up, that particular camera MAY or MAY NOT exit the factory with back focus specs within Leica lens tolerances. I am not sure this is the solution, but I know of no other explanation which satisfactorily explains the inconsistent results reported by Konica Hexar RF shooters.

Some internet sites make a seemingly strong argument that there is NO Hexar RF back focus problem. Ask yourself a few questions before you buy into that line of thinking:

Hexar RF problems came into the public eye because SOME, not all, Hexar RF owners definitely were not getting sharp shots with the same lens on their RF, as they were from Leica bodies. If there was no problem with the RF, what was the cause of these focusing problems?

If there is no problem, why does Konica UK offer a repair service to adjust Hexar bodies to focus Leica M lenses?

If there is no problem, how did the Konica factory correct it on MY Hexar RF?

If there is no problem, why hasn't Konica publicly said the Hexar RF is fully 100% compatible with Leica M lenses? This controversy is obviously hurting Hexar RF sales. It would be to Konica's advantage to deny it and put the question to rest, IF there was no problem. Instead, Konica has publicly side stepped the issue, saying that the Hexar RF is compatible with the Konica "KM" mount. I interpret Konica's stance as another way of saying "We are not promising Leica M compatibility, because we don't want to pay for a camera recall."

Do you see any of the sites claiming there is no problem, offering to buy back or repair Hexar RF's bought on THEIR recommendation which turn out NOT to correctly focus Leica M lenses?

If you own a Hexar RF, or plan to buy one, I suggest taking it to a Leica repairman, and have them check the film plane and focusing accuracy, just to be sure -- ideally with both Konica and Leica mount lenses.

Quick and Dirty Hexar Back Focus RF test: With your RF mounted on a tripod, focus on INFINITY wide open with your WIDEST lenses. The Voigtlander 12 and 15 are especially useful to spot if your Hexar RF is not up to standard Leica M mount back focus specs. As a control point, shoot the same shots with a Leica M body you know to be in good shooting condition. Compare with a loupe. IF the results are identical, wonderful. IF you get different results with the same lens on different bodies, consider having the back focus of your Hexar RF checked by a repair tech.
 
The Hexar RF focusing issues were long ago debunked. Any RF can have a mis-aligned cam; if it is, send it to DAG, he's got all the high-end test gear to get it back in order.

So much angst here...Hexars are cheap. Buy two if you want spare parts...
 
Huss said:
Way too much money. I see them often selling for $400-$450 in really good condition.
$900 buys you the best M camera ever - the M5 - or at that point if you want AE you'd have easily enough from the sale of your gear to get a really nice used M7. A camera that is still in production and will still have parts made for it for decades. (maybe..)
Click to expand...

Thank you for the detailed explanation, I will highly consider it all. M7 may be a decent alternative as well, but that would cut my budget down and not be able to purchase a new 50mm. I wanted a V3 or V4 Summicron.

Dream team would be a Hexar RF with the Canon 50mm f0.95 dream lens after a while of saving. ha!
 
splitimageview said:
The Hexar RF focusing issues were long ago debunked. Any RF can have a mis-aligned cam; if it is, send it to DAG, he's got all the high-end test gear to get it back in order.

So much angst here...Hexars are cheap. Buy two if you want spare parts...
Click to expand...


I hope I don't cause issues.

I read Dante Stella's review of the body regarding the whole RF issue as well. http://www.dantestella.com/technical/hexarrf.html
 
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