im starting to be very interested by these little cameras, the Leica's are great but way too exp and it seems like the next best thing is the Konica Hexar RF.
in some places its mentioned as a Leica lens mount and in others as a konica lens mount
anyone here using or used this system and can shed some light?
thanks
Be sure and read the very last part of the link above concerning M lens compatibility. Apparently, some people have issues, some don't. With KEH, there is a return policy at least.
To understand the Hexar you must read Dante Stella.
The basic thing that put me off it is that there are not many replacement parts around, if you have a serious fault (not unlikely with all these electronics) the camera is a write off, and its not exactly a cheap camera. That, and also my fetish for pushing film myself
It is designed as a M mount camera, but the focus detection system is the same design with a difference starting depth. You must get either the lens or the body focus modified or your never going to get critical (or even close) focus.
patrickphoto wrote:
You must get either the lens or the body focus modified or your never going to get critical (or even close) focus.
From what Dante writes and this thread on Photo.net from a lot of Hexar RF users, sounds like there are actually no issues at all from the majority of users regarding compatibility with M lenses. Did you have a problem with one yourself out of curiosity?
When I owned film cameras, which was a bit ago, I had a M6TTL, original M6, a hecka BEAT UP m2 and a hexar. I bought the Hexar new, and until I paid 125 bucks to have the flange adjusted, I would get eyes sleightly out of focus at closer than 4 or 5 feet when shooting wide open. This was when the RF was stating they were in critical focus. With Hexar lenses on RF I had no problem with same distance same style images.
besides Ereza, i can say the last I sold was a leica, not a RF, and I didn't enjoy the RF nearly as much. Repairs and adjustments are harder to come by, and more common with RF.
Depending on the lens, wide open would be 4.5 (usually fine, 15mm hides issues pretty well), 2.8, 2.0, 1.4, and 1.0 noct. Of course the noct was the worst when close up, although, as you may know with this lens, mis focus issues are higher as it is SOO shallow.
Isn't the Hexar RF suffering from some shutter lag?
I have used one but it was many many moons ago, and with Rokkor lenses only. Focus was dead on with those lenses, grip was great but I seem to remember it suffering from shutter lag.
I owned one a few years ago and it worked flawlessly with Leica M lenses. It is a great value when compared to a Leica M7 and has a solid build. When I sold the camera I kept the 50mm f/2 Hexanon which I still use today on a Leica M2 and M8.
I also still own one. I liked the 0.6 viewfinder, as I'm using mostly wide angle lenses. Great camera, did not have any focus issues (which I believe was a blown up issue by some Leica-fans that where not too pleased that there was another non leica-camer a before the M7 with auto-exposure and 1/4000s vs only 1/1000s of the Leica Ms
The shutter lag is a issue in the same category as far as I'm concerned; Apparently it's a few milliseconds slow than a Leica M, and this was published in the Leica community as a big problem. However, It's still faster than any SLR, and no one ever complained about SLRs having to much shutter lag).
However, IF you get a problem with it (I got one, there was a err 011(?) on the display, and the shutter refused to fire) almost no-one can fix it.
My problem occurred in the Konica - Minolta merge period.
This was not convenient, as Minolta did not care at all about that camera. The 'repair' lasted so long, that in the mean time Minolta quit cameras. Now there seems to be no one to send it to.
Strangely enough, my HexarRF started working again. For some basic problem fixes like RF adjustment, (which I should do whenever I find time) there's info available on the web.
I have one and and it is an amazing camera. From a purely practical, picture taking perspective, it may be the best film rangefinder made: if only for being able to take multiple pictures without having to manually advance film and break the shot. The lens compatibility complaints are overstated in most cases.
It's biggest downside is the shutter/film advance noise. While not loud, it's higher pitched and more noticeable than you may like.
The hexar is totally a great camera, but lacks any personality that might make it fun to use. Anything with an advance lever will be more fun/entertaining to use.
I had one for a short while, after i got bored with it.
The "next best thing" to a Leica M is the Zeiss Ikon.... or either an Olympus OM2N or Nikon FE2/FM2(n)/FM3A kit.
volition wrote:
I have one and and it is an amazing camera. From a purely practical, picture taking perspective, it may be the best film rangefinder made: if only for being able to take multiple pictures without having to manually advance film and break the shot. The lens compatibility complaints are overstated in most cases.
It's biggest downside is the shutter/film advance noise. While not loud, it's higher pitched and more noticeable than you may like.
I agree with you. The Hexar RF is a more advanced camera than any Leica M ( I said advanced, not better build). Yes, the shutter is noisier than a M7, Not a loud noise just a whirling sound, a bit annoying for some people. I don't mind it really. .
In my opinion, only one aspect of the Hexar RF is clearly inferior to a Leica-M: the rangefinder. I don't mean the accuracy or focusing problems with Leica lenses, but the reliability. Mine got misaligned suddenly one day ( the camera didn't fell or get bumped at all). After it was serviced and realigned, some weeks later the rangefinder is a bit off again ( both infinity and vertical alignment ).
Some people claim that they never had trouble with the rangefinder of their Hexars, so maybe it's a question of luck, but I've owned several Leica Ms and never had issues with their rangefinders.
The Hexar RF has a slightly different default calibration for focus than Leica-standard, which caused problems if the body was at one end of its calibration range and the lens at the other. Most body/lens combos focus just fine. But be aware that like any other M, you may end up with a lens that needs to be calibrated to the body or vice versa, RF's can be finicky beasts.
It remains the most advanced M body, with integrated winder and 1/4000 shutter. Nice bodies btw, I quite like the ones I've tried and I may well add one to the collection soon.
Repair is a serious issue, especially given the RF system is on the fragile side by M mount standards. Parts are mostly unavailable, especially for the RF which has one common part failure that's only repairable by cannibalization now.
I'd recommend getting an R2a or R3a instead as a first film RF. Not much more money with a Warranty than a Hexar RF is used.
