saving my pennies [Archive] - Rangefinderforum.com

back alley

07-29-2005, 22:58

so i thought/hoped that i had another chance on a trade for a konica hexar af and today i found out that it was not gonna happen.

i was very disappointed.

it kinda surprised me that i was as disappointed as i was. i have wanted to play with one for awhile but it hasn't been a priority or else it would have happened by now.
i was gonna trade a canon bottom loader/feeder and a lens, which makes me think i should just sell that kit and buy an af.
but i might regret that and have not yet decided to go that route.

so, i'm gonna save my pennies and just buy an af.

soon, i hope, soon...

joe

rover

07-30-2005, 03:39

You are building quite a collection of cameras. Let me play devil's advocate. Why not sell the bottom feeder? It is so deep on your depth chart is it really needed?

back alley

07-30-2005, 05:46

depth chart?

i might sell one or both.
i can always find another if i really 'need' to.

or keep them and buy the hexar in the fall.

joe (the master of indecision, lately)

Allen Gilman

07-30-2005, 09:54

scuse me for my ignorance guys...what's a bottom feeder??

Joe, you'll love a Hexar AF if you ever get ahold of one - specially if you're into street shooting. Good info (when you need it) here:

http://www.photo.net/photo/hexar.html

and

http://www.35mm.v.pl/k_hexar.pdf

rover

07-30-2005, 10:06

Probably better described as a Knob Winder Allen. Leica LTM camera or Canon prior to the V series. In this case, Joe's Canon III.

back alley

07-30-2005, 10:09

or ivsb.

if i sell, it would be the canon lll with 28/3.5 and finder or the ivsb with 50/1.9.

a bottom loader is like a leica, no swing back, need to remove the bottom plate to load film.

thanks for the links allen.

joe

Allen Gilman

07-30-2005, 10:17

Ah okay got it - thanks guys.

Good luck on getting the Hexar.

Brian Sweeney

07-30-2005, 10:28

Joe,
You having an Autofocus, automatic, power-wind camera with a fixed lens , -a camera so far from the Canon P- seems alien to me. When will you use it over the Canon P's?

back alley

07-30-2005, 10:33

i'm thinking as an everyday, in my daybag camera, next to the digital canon g2.

joe

SolaresLarrave

07-30-2005, 10:42

joe, have you handled it?

I did only once... and ended up a bit disappointed. After seeing a lot of pics of the camera, I expected it to be small (or as small as the Canonet). It turned out to be a plasticky giant (at least to me), so I'm glad I never bought one, even though the temptation was really strong back in those days.

Now, if you have played with one, the paragraph above is only my personal opinion.

Don't worry, you're not the only one saving pennies here. I'm lusting after an Elmarit 28/f2.8 myself... And will have to wait for about 3 months before I can seriously shop for one. :(

back alley

07-30-2005, 10:51

i handled one when they came out, long ago.

i'm ok with it's size, remember the p with an mgrip is no flyweight or puny machine either.

i am curious about the 35mm lens for one and i'm really not anti much when it comes to shooting, so auto whatever is cool with me.

the p will always be my main shooter.

joe

Brian Sweeney

07-30-2005, 11:07

I looked on Ebay for Hexar AF's and was surprised that they were going in the $500 and above range. I guess they really have a following. Myself, I have the S2 and S3, plus the FT-1 with its 57mm F1.4, 28mm F1.8, and 135mm F3.5. Good, well made cameras.

The S2 has one of the sharpest lenses that I've seen on a fixed-lens RF and goes for less than 10% of the Hexar. Not too many Pennies...

Allen Gilman

07-30-2005, 11:31

"I looked on Ebay for Hexar AF's and was surprised that they were going in the $500 and above range."

Yeah, they are kind of like the Ricoh GR-1vs. Unique in their own way and discontinued. The Hexar's got a sharp 35mm lens, manual, with some interesting functions (can even autofocus with IR film - I don't know any other cam that can do that).

SolaresLarrave

07-30-2005, 12:25

Lately they've gone up in price.

You're right, Joe. For a daily, this one is a good camera. I just happen to like mine smaller.

Good luck! And, of course, if I encounter one, I'll let you know.

Pherdinand

07-31-2005, 04:06

Unbelievable, but in Europe, or at least in the Netherlands, they are far below 500$.

Really, what's its advantage (besides autofocus) compared to the S2 or similars?

back alley

07-31-2005, 07:38

the 35 mm lens is 'legendary'

Pherdinand

07-31-2005, 07:49

:( joe, it's your fault: I started to play with the thought and looked for the hexar af. I have found one (silver) for sale in user condition, for a reasonable price, at 1hr travel distance from me... Sent mail to the seller...
:bang:

Hopefully i will not like it, if i get it :)

back alley

07-31-2005, 08:02

should you absolutely despise it, i will gladly trade you a canon bottom loader/feeder with a lovely canon lens for that unsavory pile of plastic and glass.

;)joe

Brian Sweeney

07-31-2005, 08:07

> (can even autofocus with IR film - I don't know any other cam that can do that)

Does the camera have a setting for Infrared film to shift the focus automatically, or is the color correction on the lens so good that a shift is not required. APOchromatic lenses and super-achromats do not need to be refocussed for Infrared. Some of the Kodak Aero-Ektars were good enough for this. The color rendition and sharpness of these lenses really stand out.

blakley

07-31-2005, 08:08

Here's a depth chart. (http://www.nfl.com/teams/depthcharts/DAL)

Brian Sweeney

07-31-2005, 08:11

The Dallas Cowboys have a depth-of-field chart for the Konica Hexar AF? Do all these guys use them? Must be a great camera, no wonder the price went up!

back alley

07-31-2005, 08:19

that's what i was thinking...

Pherdinand

07-31-2005, 08:19

Brian, as I have read it today, the hexar af can be "upgraded" (just as with silent mode and other features) to have an option to focus in IR. It is just shifting the focus scale, thus it is not the lens correction but the focusing.

Pherdinand

07-31-2005, 08:23

Joe - thanks for the offer:) it's a nice warm feeling to know that I can count on your help, lol

I've also thought of a canon, by the way. But not a bottom loader. I absolutely refuse to go for a bottom loader camera no matter what are its qualities. I have tried a bottom loader FED and it was a PITA; no thanks:eek:

back alley

07-31-2005, 08:35

it is an acquired taste for sure.

but i was surprised to discover that i don't mind it at all.
maybe it's my laid back style of shooting or because i usually bring a p along also so i'm never without an easier load camera with film in it.

it forces me to sit down to load film - time for smelling the roses...

jjoe

SolaresLarrave

07-31-2005, 09:06

There's an advantage in bottom-feeding (aka slow loading): you have to stop and take stock. It forces you to get back and work with your hands, in a nearly artisan manner, to clip the film into the receiving spool, fit it in the camera, advance it carefully and...

Let's get shootin'! :)

BTW, I like my M3's loading. I'll never have it fitted with the quick-load method, which only brought anxiety and frustration to me until a Leica rep taught me how to load film in my M6TTL.

Pherdi... try shooting with one of those Canons one day...