Where Are the Hexanon Lenses?

[Terence T]

*edit*

Francisco, thanks, that'd be helpful. There aren't any on the bay but prices will be sky high if one does appear. They do come up from time to time but I'm not ready to fork out the typical $1600 for it!

 

[laptoprob]

That 21-35 is as rare as vapourware.
There is a kit on Marktplaats.nl again, up for sale at 1250 euro. Maybe he will sell cheaper. Kit contains three lenses, 28, 50 and 90 (the 135 was the wrong mentioned). No direct links anymore on Marktplaats yet. Search under hexar and you will find it.

cheers, Rob.

 

[pvdhaar]

The 21-35 is a true zoom unlike the tri elmar.

Wow, is that really so? I found that hard to believe, what with all the frameline selector thingamajigs. So I looked it up on the web and saw that although it may be possible to set it to an intermediate spot, it's actually listed as a dual lens, which clicks in at 21mm and 35mm.

We'll have to leave true zooms to SLR's for a while I'm afraid..

 

[RayPA]

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

Well they just plain look great, and yours is no exception, espcially with the hood.

The one thing I don't like about the 50mm is that it has one of those built-in sliding lens hoods. 🙂

I've come to like it, at first I didn't.

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... I've attached a pic of mine ... 🙂

Stop that! The 28 is the one I want, and I have a silver Leica, too! 😉
😛

 

[Terence T]

Aw shucks... I still want it. 🙂

 

[StuartR]

Just for everyone's general perusal. I used to have a Konica 35/2 and sold it in favor of a 35 summilux ASPH. At normal apertures though, it is almost impossible to tell the difference. This was f/8, and the leica is on the right. The difference in the two is so small that it would not be visible unless it was printed 40x50 and you were standing right next to it. At that point, the leica would have a tiny bit more detail. The leica lens also appears to have a very slightly warmer color balance.

I am too lazy to make 100% crops and upload them, but trust me, they are practically identical. The differences only start showing up when you are shooting at f/2 and below (which the hexanon cannot do, of course). At f/2, the summilux asph is the better lens.

 

[rover]

Strangely at peace for the moment with his RF kit, rover reads this thread without the slightest twinge or ache to start bidding on the two Hexanons mentioned currently on ebay.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Chuckling dangerously with a mouthful of coffee, puts the mug away wondering if Rover, who's trying to steer him into a 75mm lens, will really resist the temptation of clicking on that tempting "Bid Now" button for any of the Hexanon lenses aforementioned.

Clever, Rover...

 

[dexdog]

Where are the Hexanon lenses?

Where are the Hexanon lenses?

Watch it guys...those last two posts are starting to sound like entries to the Bulwer-Litton writing contest.

 

[Sputnick]

Wow, is that really so? I found that hard to believe, what with all the frameline selector thingamajigs. So I looked it up on the web and saw that although it may be possible to set it to an intermediate spot, it's actually listed as a dual lens, which clicks in at 21mm and 35mm.

We'll have to leave true zooms to SLR's for a while I'm afraid..

It is indeed a dual and not a zoom. I've never tried setting mine to an intermediate spot but somehow I doubt it would work. Might give it a go next time I have a few frames to waste though.

 

[hth]

That 21-35 is as rare as vapourware.

No, the 135 is rare as vapourware, the 21-35 is around. 😉

/Håkan

 

[rover]

Chuckling dangerously with a mouthful of coffee, puts the mug away wondering if Rover, who's trying to steer him into a 75mm lens, will really resist the temptation of clicking on that tempting "Bid Now" button for any of the Hexanon lenses aforementioned.

Clever, Rover...

No ulterior motive, I filled my 90 and 28mm needs with CV lenses, a decision made based on the bang for my buck theory and I am strangely satisfied. I guess I do have those 75mm framelines in the M6 which feel neglected, but right now I don't know if I am really looking for another 50mm lens either. Strange. 2006 is not far away. I will have to put together a shopping list for 2006, but I think I will just go and burn some film for now.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I do have a very precise goal for next year: burn film in Puerto Rico (if my conference paper is accepted). Also, I'd like to replace my 2nd version Summicron for the lighter 3rd version.

But that can wait.

Time to go back to work...

By the way, dex, ever read "The Last Days of Pompeii"? Not that poorly written, though...

 

[dexdog]

Where are the Hexanon lenses?

Where are the Hexanon lenses?

Read it- I've never even heard of it. Will do a Google search in an attempt to see what I am missing. Thanks for the lead.

 

[dexdog]

From Project Gutenburg online edition, The Last Days of Pompeii, by Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton.


'HO, Diomed, well met! Do you sup with Glaucus to-night?' said a young man
of small stature, who wore his tunic in those loose and effeminate folds
which proved him to be a gentleman and a coxcomb.

'Alas, no! dear Clodius; he has not invited me,' replied Diomed, a man of
portly frame and of middle age. 'By Pollux, a scurvy trick! for they say
his suppers are the best in Pompeii'.

'Pretty well--though there is never enough of wine for me. It is not the
old Greek blood that flows in his veins, for he pretends that wine makes him
dull the next morning.'

'There may be another reason for that thrift,' said Diomed, raising his
brows. 'With all his conceit and extravagance he is not so rich, I fancy,
as he affects to be, and perhaps loves to save his amphorae better than his
wit.'



Granted this is only the first couple of sentences of a substantial book, but it is already mind-boggling-ly turgid, by Pollux. Sorry, couldn't resist. I should probably just shut up and restrict my remarks to cameras.

 

[KoNickon]

I have always wondered myself about the lack of M-Hexanons available out there. (I have the RF, and the 28, 50 and 90.) I am sure that not too many were made, but also I think it's because those who have them, are hanging onto them! I have been extremely happy with these, and really see no reason to get a comparable Leica lens. I've been "making do" with the Voigtlander 35/1.7 since I can't find a 35/2 Hexanon, and have no complaints, but I would love the Hexanon at some point.

I got both the 90/2.8 and 28/2.8 on eBay two or three years ago; I think I paid something like $425 and $625, respectively. Maybe those prices are a bit high, but I'm not complaining.

As for the Hexar RF, I'm not going to part with it by choice either. I can't get over how well made it is, or how quick handling. I keep thinking I'd like to get an M3 to complement it, but actually, had they made a .85 Hexar that would have been a better choice. Having a really accurate in-camera meter and "normal" film loading (with autowind) makes for a truly useful camera.

I really do hope Konica Minolta is working up a digital version of it; Stephen Gandy had said a few weeks ago he understood a full frame prototype was under consideration. (Maybe this is old news to RFF.) How cool would that be??

 

[StuartR]

The .6 viewfinder was actually one of my biggest complaints with the Hexar RF. Especially since it does not have the same crispness in the viewfinder patch that there is in the MP and M7. I was also not such a huge fan of the AE lock...it was difficult to judge if you were pressing hard enough to have it engage (but not to release the shutter!). A great camera though, and it did a great job for me in Iceland when I was there. I would be interested in seeing a digital version. Hopefully they could pull off full frame without major issues. I am sure Leica would do full frame if they felt that they could do it without compromises, but they don't seem to be able to...

As for the Hexanons, they are great lenses, but they are not particularly fast. Same goes for the new Zeiss lenses. If you are after a very fast lens, your only options are still Leica and Voigtlander (or the old Nikons and Canons). And I think that there are a lot more of them to be found in Japan. I don't believe they are still in production, but I still saw a bunch of them in Japan last year. I am moving back there fairly soon, so I will see if they are still around.

 

[Jason_K]

I got the 50/1.2 lens with the Hexar RF LE and am quite pleased with it. It's a sweet lens.

I purchased the Voightlander 28/1.9 to suit my wide needs and have been happy enough with that to supress any urge to by the Hexanon 28/2.8.

I'd still like to get my hands on a 35/2 Hexanon but am never in a position to buy when I actually see them.

 

[peter_n]

OK - 'fess up - who bought it? The 28mm at KEH has gone off the list so someone must have bought it last night.

So who got it? 😀

 

[RayPA]

It's gone!? I think we spoke too loudly, or maybe someone's insistence on the reasonable price tag, and attached photo of the same lens mounted on their gorgeous two-toned M6, influenced a certain innocent inquisitor, who was only wondering where all the Hex's were hiding, causing the inquisitor to breakdown, dip into his savings (er...deferred spending), and acquire yet another uneeded (but highly desired) photo-related item. Originally, it was not to be, but, alas, it came to be. Another Hex off the market, another lens in the bag. Arrgh!

Photos forthcoming. 😉