Where Are the Hexanon Lenses?

RayPA

RayPA

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I've been curious about the Konica M-Hexanon lenses since aquiring a 50/2 from a fellow RFFer. I really like the lens, it's well made, and a good performer, but I rarely see any of the other lenses pop up here or on eBay (unless I'm just not searching correctly). I've been to the Konica Singapore Site and the company displays several lenses, along with the Hexar RF. That leads me to believe they are still being manufactured. So I surfed on over to the B&H site, but there were none there either. I haven't done an exhaustive, thorough search, but I was wondering if anybody has any information on these? Where are they?

🙂
🙂
 
Still, one would think that there would be lenses available on the secondary market. I guess, judging by the number of views this thread is getting, perhaps not. The lack of general interest may be a reflection or an indication as to why there aren't many of these available here, on the big auction site, or the online camera shops. Hmmm...

🙂
 
I have the Hexanon 50/2 as well and really like it. Its strange how they don't get much of a mention. I'd particularly like to see more results from their 35/2 and 90/2.8.

Perhaps the world wasn't quite ready for the Hexar RF when it arrived. Maybe a LTM would have ahd more success than an M mount ...

But I'll bet the world would be ready for one of the 3 rumored Digital Konica Minolta RFs, (one said to be full frame)! I'd like to remember where I read this rumor too!
 
jmilkins said:
Perhaps the world wasn't quite ready for the Hexar RF when it arrived...
Click to expand...

That could be. The 50/2 is a nice lens, it really makes you wonder what the others are like. I've had a email search on the bay and I don't think I've gotten a hit once. I may have to readjust the parameters. 🙂

🙂
 
the lenses have an excellent reputation but the leica folks complained that they didn't fit properly on the leica body, something about distance and focus problems, so they never took off as they might have.
the camera and lenses were not big sellers in their own right.

so, not many sold but great lenses = a bunch of people who are holding on to their hexanons.

francisco has one and peter n has one, i think a few others here also.

joe
 
So they list them under Konica in KEH? 😱 !! No wonder I never found them! :bang:

Ray... for a while there was talk about Konica having discontinued shipping the Hexar RF camera to the US. Then, word (or rumor) came of its demise. I've seen those lenses crop, from time to time, in different stores and on eBay. They are very well made and good performers. As Joe mentioned, I have the Hexanon 35/2, and it's a joy to use.

Only one problem: the flange-film distance was later corrected, and most of the Konica lenses in the market are fine with Leicas. However, their only incompatibility lies in the focusing throw: these lenses have a bit of a short one, meaning that you'll never quite manage to focus to infinity. However, even at night and wide open, the expectable amount of sharpness is there. I haven't scanned my tungsten film photos, but when I manage to do it I'll probably find that my night shots of a building are not OOF (the slide didn't quite show it in the lightbox).

Other than that... I've taken (and will continue taking) this lens everywhere. And, to top it all, it really looks "kewl"... 😉

Two examples below: girl (hipshot) with dog, and a digital snapshot of a Leica with the Hexanon 35/2.
 
I called KEH (a few months ago) and asked if the (previously mentioned by captainslack) lens would mount to a Leica-M and they said "No". I assume it is either described incorrectly or it's some sort of hybrid/mutt lens.
 
RayPA said:
That one did come up in my search, but that's the only one I've seen so far. It is steep.
Click to expand...
The 28mm/f2.8 was the most expensive of the Hexanon-M lenses when they were new, so they are the most expensive used as well. If you search the lens archive over in the Leica forum at PN, you will read threads discussing the eBay price of this lens up to $800. Given that KEH rates conservatively and this sample is an EX+, I would say that $569 is a very good price. The one I bought from laptoprob (Rob Spoon) on this forum recently I would rate on KEH's scale as EX and it was cheaper than the KEH price which is about right. I've attached a pic of mine that isn't too sharp - sorry about that - but you can see the size of it relative to the camera.

Like all Hexanon-M lenses it is extremely well built and the glass in mine seems great. Joe explained well the various reasons for the low profile, some lenses didn't focus properly on Leicas, the Hexar camera didn't sell well, Konica had a disastrous marketing campaign with the Hexar RF, and they were made in small numbers. Two years ago these lenses were all over the place, now that people have realized that they are excellent quality they are very difficult to find.

This 28mm is my third Hexanon-M. First I had the 90mm/f2 but sold it and bought the much lighter "thin" Tele-Elmarit. The Hexanon was a better lens than the TE IMO. Then I had a 35mm/f2 - the same one Francisco has - but it has a tab and I sent it back - I can't use tabbed lenses. The first two were just as well built and with the same excellent optics as the 28mm. And all of them focused accurately at closest focusing distance and at infinity.

 
peter_n said:
\ Then I had a 35mm/f2 - the same one Francisco has - but it has a tab and I sent it back - I can't use tabbed lenses.
Click to expand...

wah, tab issue. I think the problem of 35mm/2 is the size, too big comapre to Konica 35/2 UC or Leica's
 
hexanon lenses

hexanon lenses

There are currently a 28mm and 50mm listed today on eBay. The 28mm is item 7541457446, and the 50mm follows it on the same page.
 
They just came up for sale a couple of hours ago. It'll be interesting to see how much the 28mm goes for. The 28 takes 46mm filters BTW. The one thing I don't like about the 50mm is that it has one of those built-in sliding lens hoods. The 90mm has one too.

 
I've been looking for the holy grail of the Hexanons... the 21-35 for the longest time. Drop me a note if you see one of these overpriced lenses up for sale. It'd be much appreciated!
 
They are in my closet when I am not using them.. 🙂

Apart from the 50/2 and 35/2, I have all different M-Hexanons I know exist. I got the LTM UC-Hexanon 35/2 instead because it is smaller and is supposed to be similar to the lens on the Hexar AF, which I like a lot.

I have not found anything to complain about and I mount them mostly on a Leica M2, sometimes on a Bessa T and a Hexar RF.

The most expensive one was the 21-35 by the way. I do not know what the price for the 50/1.2 was, as it was not officially sold separately.

/Håkan
 
Little Prince said:
What is this 21-35? Is it like a tri-elmar or something?
Click to expand...

Yes, it is a 21/3.5 and a 35/4 in one lens. A bit on the large side, but extremely well built. The feel is even better than the other/ordinary M-Hexanon lenses.

/Håkan
 
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