Discussions about the new Konica Hexar RF are entirely welcome and appropriate here on this discussion board, mostly because it takes Leica M lenses, but also because it's a darned interesting camera!

You might want to check out an interesting review of the new Hexar at www.photoshot.com/articles/hexartest/hexartest.html.

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@alaska.net), April 20, 2000

Answers

It's an interesting review, and reasonably accurate. However, it's pretty obvious that they got a damaged 50mm lens, and the fact that they don't try to obtain a second one is an indicator that their review is not much more valid than any user. I have used the 50mm lens, originally I planned to sell it, but the results were so good that I changed my mind. And then there are no photographs demonstrating what they complain about. My guess is that the lack of statistical validity to their test prevents them from showing anything. Anyway, here is a counter example.

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), April 22, 2000.

Good points, Jeff, and thanks for posting your excellent example.

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@mail.com), April 22, 2000.

I was really excited to hear that Konica was coming out with an M-mount Hexar. But when I finally got the camera in my hands, I was very disapointed by one simple thing.

Why oh why didn't Konica put the silent advance from the orignal black hexar? What a stupid move. I would've sold my M6 for this camera (quite possibly), except for the high pitched whine that comes from the Hexar RF. VERY annoying! If I was going to use a camera that makes noise, I would just take my Nikon.

Other anoyences are a badly designed shutter speed wheel (not a horrible thing, but it could've been better). And a short rangefinder base (making accurate focusing of very fast lenses difficult).

But other that these gripes, it seems to be a very capable camera. Nice feel, good construction, bright viewfinder, nice wide finder (maybe could use a 25 without the external finder), and rangefinder "advencements" such as swing back loading. But all in all, I probably wouldn't get one at this point. The Voigtlanders look like a better deal.

-- Josh Root (rootj@att.net), May 03, 2000.

Although I would consider buying a hexar lens if one of the focal lengths fit my needs.

-- Josh Root (rootj@worldnet.att.net), May 03, 2000.

Why oh why didn't Konica put the silent advance from the orignal black hexar? What a stupid move. I would've sold my M6 for this camera (quite possibly), except for the high pitched whine that comes from the Hexar RF. VERY annoying! If I was going to use a camera that makes noise, I would just take my Nikon.

The reason is some sort of patent infringement that caused the silent mode to removed on the silver Hexar. Apparently it's not reconcilable. However, although I like the silent mode on the silver Hexar (which I have), I have to say that it's not nearly as annoying as all that on the Hexar RF, except maybe in a theater. I shoot on the street at close range without any problems.

Other anoyences are a badly designed shutter speed wheel (not a horrible thing, but it could've been better).

I agree the shutter speed wheel could have been better, but this is probably a personal issue, just like the Leica's loading makes me crazy. I've gotten used to the dial over the six or eight weeks I've had the camera.

And a short rangefinder base (making accurate focusing of very fast lenses difficult).

The rangefinder base is identical to the Leica. (The Bessa-R has a significantly shorter base, btw.) Image magnification is lower, which results in a somewhat lower effective rangefinder base. This is probably important for users of ultra-fast lenses (Tony, for instance), but not everyone needs them. I've been shooting at night with a Mamiya 7 until I got the Hexar RF, and that has much slower lenses.

As usual, camera choice is a personal thing - there isn't really any point to religion in this. It's about the photos in the end, and the best thing I can say about my own work is that almost no-one (except the techno-nuts on the net) ever asks about cameras or lenses, they ask about the photographs.

Smoke )2000 Jeff Spirer (Hexar RF, Leica 35/2)

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), May 04, 2000.

Speaking of ultra-fast lenses and effective rangefinder base, if I ever buy a new M6, it'll be for the .85x viewfinder for better focusing accuracy at f/1 !

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@mail.com), May 04, 2000.

I like the Hexar and appreciate that it is cheaper than a Leica, but I have to admit I really do not think that it takes the Leica on successfully. I agree with the review - if you want the auto wind on etc. then why not have autofocus too? Get the G2. If you don't then why not get the "original", a Leica. The body is not so cheap really that it makes a lot of sense to me to have this instead of a secondhand M6, assuming I have M-lenses already. Also I am also much less excited about the Hexanon lenses than the Voigtlander. I feel the Bessa-R is really much more interesting and significantly cheaper.

In short, I think the Hexar-RF will probably miss its audience- it is still an expensive camera by any one's estimation and at that price I would still buy Leica new or secondhand.

-- Robin Smith (rsmith@springer-ny.com), May 05, 2000.

. I agree with the review - if you want the auto wind on etc. then why not have autofocus too?

Because autofocus and autowind are fundamentally different. Autowind doesn't change what winding does. There is no real "control" aspect with autowind. I don't choose to wind or not wind film, I have to do it to get to the next frame.

Focus is something I am extremely particular about. I often focus in less than obvious places, and it is important to have focus there. I have an autofocus (non-SLR) camera, and I find that at least 15% of the time, it focuses where I didn't want it.

On the other hand, no autowind camera I have used has ever wound to the wrong place.

If you don't then why not get the "original", a Leica. If I cared about buying the "original," I would buy a Ford. I didn't, because I could care less about "original," I care about the photographs. To me, "original" is equivalent to "religion."

Also I am also much less excited about the Hexanon lenses than the Voigtlander.

Why? Have you tried them? I have, at least the Hexanon 50 and the Voigtlander 15. The Konica lens is far better made. Other than that, I can't compare, since the focal lengths are so different.

I feel the Bessa-R is really much more interesting and significantly cheaper.

Cheaper, yes. But it a) doesn't take M lenses; b) is really restricted to slower lenses than Voigtlander is producing; and c) is a really cheesy body. This last one is probably the most important - having handled both, the Hexar RF has as much quality as can be put into a camera body, and the Bessa-R feels like it could be crushed easily with one hand. Photographing a lot in less-than-safe environments, I would much rather use a camera that can take a beating.

Bar, )2000 Jeff Spirer, Hexar RF, Leica 35/2

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), May 05, 2000.

Jeff Spirer's April 22 shot shows exactly the '3-D' effect I've enjoyed on my original Hexar with its 35/2. Despite the busy background, the subjects stands out so clearly. I'm amazed that it could be conveyed as a scanned image on the web.

Very nice.

The new RF offerings are exciting- makes it difficult to figure what to invest in tho'.

-- Tse-Sung Wu (tsesung@greenmfg.me.berkeley.edu), May 09, 2000.

" Autowind doesn't change what winding does. There is no real "control" aspect with autowind. I don't choose to wind or not wind film, I have to do it to get to the next frame."

The point (to me at least) is that, besides silent winding, with a Leica you also have control over WHEN you do the winding - when you press the shutter on a Hexar RF you get the film winding noise after the shutter release whether you like it or not. The same goes for film rewinding. Canon thought about this when they made the Eos RT (fixed pellicle mirror) several years ago, and added a custom function which let you delay the film winding until you released the shutter button after the exposure. As long as the Konica designers couldn't put a silent winder into the Hexar RF they should at least have thought of something like this. The Hexar RF seems to me to miss the point, not by much, but still by enough decibels for me to get a second-hand M6 instead. Ironically, as it was the news about the Hexar RF which gave me the impulse to go shopping for a rf this time. I have thouht about it for years but thought Leica too expensive, but after carefully testing it against the Hexar RF and Contax G2, a second-hand M6 seems the best choice. Even though the prices are silly and there are a lot to be desired about the camera, it's still the most inconspicuos and silent rf around - and that's the main reason I see for getting one apart from the optics, which I believe are overrated anyway. I noticed a change for the better when I traded my Olympus OM gear for Canon Eos and L optics, but seriously doubt if anyone can tell the difference between good Canon optics and Leica in a blind test.

But I may end up getting a 90 mm Hexanon; not the focal lens I use most of the time but at Konica's price I may still decide I can afford one. The photodo.com site even rates the Hexanon lenses over the comparable Leica's. As for the other focal lengths I have found Leica's lenses with tab's to be much easier to focus and will prefer Leica's own for this reason. But I feel pretty sure that both brands will deliver pictures that more than fulfils any serious picturemakers needs. After all, most rf pictures are taken under less than favourable conditions where the ability to hold the camera steady when exposing have greater impact on image sharpness than the quality of the optics. The Hexar RF was a nice try; in my opinion close but no cigar.

-- Morten Brakestad (morten.brakestad@c2i.net), June 27, 2000.

The same goes for film rewinding

The same does not go for rewinding. Konica quite intentionally provided the ability to delay rewinding. It's on the Hexar (AF) also.

There's one way in which autowind can provide a real benefit when street shooting - when shooting from the hip (or over the head), autowind is much less obvious than winding. I've been able to reel off three or four shots without my eye to the camera and without moving.

Love, Hexar, 50mm, Tri-X, copyright 2000 Jeff Spirer

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), June 27, 2000.