What to do with my Hexar AF?

[RFH]

I've had and sold four of them (the first one I got for $20, yes twenty, at a flea market). Never regretted it. Trying to sell one right now, in fact. It's a great camera, but for a P&S it's way too big for me. The Ricoh GR1 is half the size and much more to my taste if I want to bring something really pocketable with the same features (more or less).

 

[muf]

I had one and sold it. Too big and I wasn't too impressed with the pics tbh. Maybe mine was faulty! I now use a Rollei AF35M and it blows the Hexar away. The meter on it is the best on any P&S i've used, and I've used a lot!!! This Rollei even beat the crap out of my Ricoh GR1v, so much so that I sold that too when I always swore I'd never part with it. Just got rid of my Minolta CLE with Summicron-C as well, due to the Rollei.

The Hexar for me was too heavy, too bulky and not a pleasure to use. Getting rid was very easy.

I've owned in the past a Minolta TC-1, Contax T2 and T3. Also had a Nikon 35TI and a Leica Minilux so I feel I can give an accurate assessment. But note that this is my view and like anything, opinion varies.

Paul

 

[a10101100]

Nice thread, I stumbled across while researching for one and so many diverse views.. I sold my Contax G2 kit, while not directly for this, find myself wanting to come back to AF.. so there goes.. I haven't tried yet but I sure hope mine jives with me! Well, then again I am more of a gear head than a photographer..

I'm lovin' my compacts though, the GR1 and the 35Ti, but this Hexar.. it seems intriguing.. 🙂 AF and stealth mode.. but we shall see..

 

[vrgard]

I had the same experience as the OP. And yes, I carefully researched it before buying it yet never quite gelled with it. I tend to have the same reaction to digital cameras. Finally sold it to another RFF member who absolutely loves them (he has more than one). Heck, there are differences of opinion about lenses of the same focal length by the same manufacturer. So I guess it shouldn't be too much of a surprise if we sometimes have different opinions on useability of a given camera. To each his/her own; find what works for you and focus on that (sorry for the bad pun).

-Randy

 

[a10101100]

Same here. The automaic modes on the G2 just didn't make the camera engaging. I guess the hexar may be similar. My G2 went and my M6 was purchased instead.

i went the same route too.. and some.. just got the hexar af and shot some rolls immediately - i couldn't wait! My lab takes a week though.. so i will HAVE to wait for the results..

 

[bdeyes]

I've had my Hexar AF since the early 80s, and would never sell it. In fact I am often looking for another one if the condition and price were right, just to have a backup. The lens is amazing, and given the compact size and stealthiness of its shutter, it is perfect for those small intimate gatherings. It looks like a simple point and shoot, but results in very high-quality images.

 

[semilog]

Any camera that you're not in love with, sell.

Keep it simple. Focus on doing good work with a camera that you love.

 

[palec]

The Hexar AF is a camera for photographers... Seriously, not all cameras are that exigent about the photographer knowing how to use it... It's not a point-and-shoot: it has a maximum shutter speed of 1/250

Btw. there are not many good point and shoot cameras that have shutter speed above 1/250 at usable apertures.