Does anyone have any experience of using M lenses with the Hexar RF? I've read comments that they might not be totally compatible (focussing problems?)

And how does the Hexar compare with the M series - the M7 in particular?

-- Paul Hart (paulhart@blueyonder.co.uk), May 24, 2002

Answers

Estimado colega. Llevo varios dias buscando informacion sobre los objetivos Voigtlander, concretamente sobre el 21mm, 25mm, 35mm 1.7 Ultron. Hace poco me compre la telemetrica konica Hexar rf. Estoy muy contento con ella y me gustaria tener varios objetivos.Me gustan los angulares pero, le tengo un poco de miedo a las distorsiones que provocan. Podrias aconsejarme que hacer?. Cual de estos dos objetivos me compro, el Color Skopar 21mm f/4 o el Snashot Skopar 25mm f/4?. Me decanto seguro sobre el Ultron 35mm f/1.7 que pienso tenerlo como objetivo standar pero, no lo tendo claro con el 21 y el 25. ¿Podrias aconsejarme?. Un cordial saludo Francisco Moran. Barcelona - Spain

-- francisco Moran (f.moran@wanadoo.es), May 24, 2002.

I agree with Francisco Moran, whatever he said.

-- Steve B. (steveb@hotmail.com), May 24, 2002.

Try the browsing archives, there have been @ least 2 threads on this issue in the past month.

-- Chris Chen (furcafe@NOSPAMcris.com), May 24, 2002.

Francisco,

Yo tengo el Ultron 35mm con mi Hexar, y me gusto mucho, pero es muy grande para un 35mm. Si podre hacerlo otravez me compra el 35mm classico f/2.5 que es mas pequeno. Para los 25mm y 21mm, sabes que el 25mm no tiene el "rangefinder coupling", no se en espanol, pero para foco neccessitas conjetura. Si puedo comprar uno de estos, yo prefiero el 21mm. Apologías para me espanol, hace mucho tiempo que yo escrito.

-- Nícolas (nicholas_rab@hotmail.com), May 24, 2002.

Paul - scroll down to the bottom of the intro page for this Leica site and look through the archived lists "Leica M" and "Leica vs....." There's at least a year's worth of old comments, test results some within the past month) etc..

The very short answer is the jury is still out on whether there is a real (and if real, significant) compatability problem.

I went through 3 RFs and gave up - but NOT because of "compatability" problems. I just couldn't get the RFs low-magnification finder to focus consistently with ANY 90mm lens (including Konica's). The secondary RF image just wobbles around, depending on eye position, so I could never tell, when the images were aligned, whether it was because the lens was actually focused correctly, or simply because of where my eye was behind the finder. Lots of soft pictures WITH THE LONG LENS.

But I never had trouble with 21/28/35 lenses.

Finder problems aside: The Hexar RF has auto-load, auto-wind, autorewind, flash sync speed 1/125, top shutter speed 1/4000, no TTL flash. The M7 has manual load, manual wind/rewind, syncs at 1/50 (except with special HSS Metz flash that syncs up to 1/1000), top speed 1/1000, TTL flash metering. The M6 is like the M7, except no autoexposure and no HSS flash sync (1/50th only).

The Hexar's electronic shutter/metering results in a slight lag/delay/ pause when shooting fast (as with most electronic cameras) but no more than with a good SLR. The Leica Ms (including the M7, according to early reviews) fire very very quickly - great for catching transient gestures/expressions.

The Hexar is only available with .60 viewfinder, great for wideangle work - The Leica M6/7 are available with .72 finder (standard) and also .58 (wide) and .85 (high-mag) finders.

The Leicas are of exceptional 'build quality'.

The Konica is very good - at least on a par with top-end Nikon/Canon/ Contax SLRs. Metal body shell, tightly fitted controls, etc.

I've gone back to Ms because fast shutter response and better focusing with a 90 are more important to me than the auto-goodies. But that's a personal kind of choice.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), May 24, 2002.

Here's one translation: :-)

Dear colleague. I take to several days looking for information on the Voigtlander objectives, concretely on 21mm, 25mm, 35mm 1,7 Ultron. Recently it buys the konica telemetrica Hexar RF I am very contented with her and I gustaria to have several objetivos.Me like the angular ones but, I have a little to him fear to the distortions that cause. Podrias to advise to me that to do. As of these two objectives I buy myself, the Skopar Color 21mm f/4 or the Snashot Skopar 25mm f/4. I praise/pour off safe on the Ultron 35mm f/1.7 that I think to have it like objective to standar but, not tendo clear with the 21 and the 25. Podrias to advise to me. A warm greeting Francisco Dwells. Barcelona - Spain -- Francisco Dwells (f.moran@wanadoo.es), May 24, 2002.

-- Muhammad Chishty (applemac97@aol.com), May 24, 2002.

Here's the other message translated by BabelFish. :-)

Francisco, I have the Ultron 35mm with my Hexar, and I like much, but he is very great for 35mm. If podre to make it otravez buys 35mm to me classico f/2.5 that is but pequeno. For 25mm and 21mm, you know that 25mm does not have "to rangefinder coupling", not in espanol, but for center neccessitas it conjectures. If I can buy one of these, I prefer 21mm. Vindications for me espanol, long ago that written I. - - Nícolas (nicholas_rab@hotmail.com), May 24, 2002.

-- Muhammad Chishty (applemac97@aol.com), May 24, 2002.

Wow, that makes my spanish look even worse than it is!

-- Nick (nicholas_rab@hotmail.com), May 24, 2002.

How can I use a polarizater filter with my hexar rf?.Do you know same trick?.

-- Francisco Moran (f.moran@wanadoo.es), May 24, 2002.

Nikc,

Actually the translation is not good at all. Your spanish is much better than that.

-- Jorge Ortega (quebecnikon@aol.com), May 24, 2002.

My Hexar RF seems to focus right on the money. At least I can't see any problems after testing it everyway I can think of. However, I did contact Ken Ruth at Photography on Bald Mountain. 831-423-4465 (He was recommended by Bob Shell on another forum) Ken estimates that it will cost UNDER $100 for him to adjust the back focus, if needed, and re-adjust the range finder. For that price, I am going to ship my Hexar off to him after the holidays. I will be very surprised if I am able to see any difference, but it is worth $100 to me. Bought the kit with flash and 50mm. My total net cost for the body, flash, neck strap, display case, and shipping was $872 after selling the 50mm lens. Add another $100 for Ken to check and adjust if necessary. So, for $972 I feel that I got one hell of deal on an M8.

-- Bob (robljones@attbi.com), May 24, 2002.

Oh, yeah, a on-topic answer.

No problems focusing my Hexar. If there is a delay in the shutter, it is short enough that I cannot detect it. It probably is not the best choice if you are shooting 90's all the time (along with the .58 leica), but would be fine for the occasional shot. I have also never noticed any problems with 3rd party lenses on it. Would I rather have a M7? Absolutely, as long as I was not paying for it. Of course you can buy a complete RF kit (with 28mm, 50mm, & 90mm) for about $500 less than the M7 body alone.

-- Nick (nicholas_rab@hotmail.com), May 24, 2002.

Siento no poder explicarme mejor en ingles. Volvere a repetir mi pregunta. Siempre he utilizado filtros con mi nikon obteniendo exelentes colores saturados.Puedo hacer lo mismo con mi hexar rf?. Posiblemente los usuarios de este tipo de camaras telemetricas deben de tener algun truco. Leica dispone de un sistema pero es demasiado caro. Un saludo. Francisco Moran.

-- Francisco Moran (f.moran@wanadoo.es), May 24, 2002.

Francisco, creo que el systema de leica es el unico que existe para usando este tipo de filtro. Como mucho de las cosas Leica, es demasiado caro.

-- nick (nicholas_rab@hotmail.com), May 24, 2002.

of all the many many mant things that have been written on these pages about the hexar rf, fransisco's comments are by far the most informative and useful to me.

-- roger michel (michel@tcn.org), May 24, 2002.

Aprovecho el interes que existe, y la presencia de alguien que tiene mucha experiencia con la hexar rf para lanzar otra pregunta. tienen algunos de los objetivos de voigtlander mejor calidad en definicion y contraste que los objetivos diseñados para la hexar rf?. Hablo del hexagon 28 frente al ultron aspherico 28 1.9. y del hexafon 90mm frente al apo lanthar 90mm 2.5 Tengo entendido que con Voigtlander solo pagas la optica. Es esto cierto?. Es cierto que los objetivos de voigtlander, el 21mm y el 25mm reproducen una calidad parecida a los primeros leica?

-- Francisco Moran (f.moran@wanadoo.es), May 24, 2002.

Muchas gracias for all your responses to my pregunta about the Konica Hexar RF. Mi espanol es un poco rusty but es veinte anos since I did A level espanol y he olvidado mucho since then. Adios!

-- Paul Hart (paulhart@blueyonder.co.uk), May 24, 2002.

Francisco; yo agreee con la declaración de Andy. Leica trabaja mejor con largo 90mm lentillas. La agudeza buena consistant es difícil con no Leica cámaras. La amplia distancia de las ventanas del telémetro Leica da la agudeza buena. Kelly

-- Kelly Flanigan (zorki3c@netscape.net), May 24, 2002.

I have put compatibility notes at

http://www.dantestella.com/technical/hexarrf.html

Look near the bottom; there is a chart of combinations which have tested successfully (none have been unsuccessful, but I don't have reports on every single lens made -- yet).

I have not reported on the 35/1.7 Ultron and the 135/2.8 Tele-Elmarit, but I just received messages from people who have used those successfully.

-- Dante Stella (dante@dantestella.com), May 25, 2002.

Friends, Amigos!

I've had no problems with lenses up to 50mm. After that focusing is a bit tricky. Interestingly the goggle-eyed 135/2.8 works very well on the Hexar.

alex

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@pp.iij4u.or.jp), May 26, 2002.