Konica Hexar RF...Any Good?

[Creagerj]

I was just wondering if anyone could tell me about the Hexar RF. Are they any good? Are they reliable and sturdy? What lenses will they and won't they take? I think it is am M mount camera isn't it? I've been thinking of buying a better RF and this one came to mind as something I could afford.

[ghost]

avoid early serial numbers. as usual, the factory hadn't ironed everything out. look for something #144xxxx or higher.

you sound like you've been reading the internet.

[ClaremontPhoto]

Try http://www.cameraquest.com/konicam.htm

I'm interested too.

[ghost]

this is not a camera you'd like if you can't get over the shutter sound of the leica m. practically, it makes no difference, but psychologically...

[StuartR]

It's a great camera. I used to use one alongside an MP for my work. It is solid, reliable and has more features than any other M mount camera (other than the M8...). I eventually sold it when I bought an M7. My issue was that the metering was different than my MP, not worse, just in a different metering pattern, and keeping track of things during shooting was messing me up. I also preferred a .85 finder to a .6 finder. Also, I did not like the finder display of shutter speed as much as I did on the M7. All this was personal preference and had nothing to do with the capability of the camera. All in all it is a great choice and what I would consider the best bang for your buck in rangefinders. It is a serious, modern, fully featured camera.

[venchka]

All the good features aside, know that repairs, and especially spare parts, may be difficult to impossible to find. Rumor has it that Sony (owner of the Konica-Minolta camera names now) has a repair station in Europe that handles the Hexar RF. That said, they are well built and may never NEED repair or spare parts. The Konica M-Hexanon lenses are first rate as well. The body prices I have seen lately are in the same ballpark as decent M5s & M6s. There have been a few bodies listed here at RFF in recent memory.

[venchka]

Correction. A Hexar RF jsut sold here for half the price of a good M5 or M6. Rats! Why don't I sell Bubba and buy a Hexar RF and keep the change?

[ampguy]

Easily the best M film camera ever made.

[StuartR]

Then why are you selling yours?

Seriously though, it is a superb camera, but having or having had an M3, MP, M6, M7 and Hexar RF, I would say that the M7 is the best of the bunch. In my opinion, the M7 is better built, has a better finder, a better meter, more accurate AE and TTL flash (also HSS flash). That said, the Hexar RF has a motor drive (useful for many...I never needed it...), 1/4000th top speed and a self timer. It is dead without batteries, and the M7 has 1/60th and 1/125th. Of course, the Hexar RF is louder, and it my experience it is easier to knock the rangefinder out of alignment. Of course, there is also the repair issue.

But again, all that said, the Hexar RF is GREAT! It is cheap (I believe I sold mine in great shape for 650, and I bought it for about the same), reliable and well made. The M7 is just a better camera in my opinion...it also costs more than double, so there you go.

[RayPA]

Originally Posted by ghost

this is not a camera you'd like if you can't get over the shutter sound of the leica m. practically, it makes no difference, but psychologically...

Is it the same sound as the Bessa's? I've been curious about this camera for a long time, but I'm one of those who is psychologically addicted to the sound of a Leica shutter.

.

[Flyfisher Tom]

It's a great camera ... Beniliam might have one for sale, try contacting him, he is a good man.

[Flyfisher Tom]

that's fellow RFF member Beniliam

[ampguy]

I never sell anything but the best!

I'm not using film, otherwise I'd keep it.

Originally Posted by StuartR

Then why are you selling yours?

Seriously though, it is a superb camera, but having or having had an M3, MP, M6, M7 and Hexar RF, I would say that the M7 is the best of the bunch. In my opinion, the M7 is better built, has a better finder, a better meter, more accurate AE and TTL flash (also HSS flash). That said, the Hexar RF has a motor drive (useful for many...I never needed it...), 1/4000th top speed and a self timer. It is dead without batteries, and the M7 has 1/60th and 1/125th. Of course, the Hexar RF is louder, and it my experience it is easier to knock the rangefinder out of alignment. Of course, there is also the repair issue.

But again, all that said, the Hexar RF is GREAT! It is cheap (I believe I sold mine in great shape for 650, and I bought it for about the same), reliable and well made. The M7 is just a better camera in my opinion...it also costs more than double, so there you go.

[Gid]

The hexar RF is a very good camera. I sold mine to a fellow RFFer simply because I was also using an M6 and using the two together confused me - I was frequently shooting the M6 without checking the metering (AE on the Hexar). The top and bottom are titanium, it weighs about the same as an M and it is very well made. The 0.6 finder makes it a good bet for those who wear glasses and like wider angles. There is lots of talk about Leica lenses not being usable on the Hexar, but that is just bull**** - check out www.dantestella.com for the real story. The shutter noise is not quite as quiet as a Leica M, but the difference is more to do with pitch that amplitude and the fact that you get the motor sound immediately after the shutter release. If you shoot on continuous the shutter and motor sound as near as co-incide which actually results in less noise. You would never describe the Hexar as a noisy camera. It has everything the M7 has plus 1/4000 top shutter speed and a motor drive for about a third to a quarter of the price. Size wise it is a little bigger than an M without a motor drive, but smaller than an M with one. Overall, if you like AE it is just about the best bang for your money.

[AusDLK]

>this is not a camera you'd like if you can't get over the shutter
>sound of the leica m.

As someone who has taken grief over my rejection of the M8 primarily because of the sound of the shutter (don't get me started...), I have no objection to that made by the Hexar RF. Considering that both the shutter is cocked and the film advanced, the sound is a perfect match for its function.

I own a Hexar RF and think that it is a terrific camera. Solid, dependable, very Leica-like in many ways.

And there are times that the auto-film advance (something no other M camera can do) is a big plus.

If I wasn't so camera heavy right now, a second Hexar RF would be in my collection.

[RayPA]

Originally Posted by Gid

The hexar RF is a very good camera. I sold mine to a fellow RFFer simply because I was also using an M6 and using the two together confused me - I was frequently shooting the M6 without checking the metering (AE on the Hexar). The top and bottom are titanium, it weighs about the same as an M and it is very well made. The 0.6 finder makes it a good bet for those who wear glasses and like wider angles. There is lots of talk about Leica lenses not being usable on the Hexar, but that is just bull**** - check out www.dantestella.com for the real story. The shutter noise is not quite as quiet as a Leica M, but the difference is more to do with pitch that amplitude and the fact that you get the motor sound immediately after the shutter release. If you shoot on continuous the shutter and motor sound as near as co-incide which actually results in less noise. You would never describe the Hexar as a noisy camera. It has everything the M7 has plus 1/4000 top shutter speed and a motor drive for about a third to a quarter of the price. Size wise it is a little bigger than an M without a motor drive, but smaller than an M with one. Overall, if you like AE it is just about the best bang for your money.

Thanks Gid. That's a good description of the camera. karen Nakamura has a nice write-up on the Hexar, as well.

.

[ampguy]

the shutter is quieter than an M4P, but is of a different pitch, and then a longer sound as you get the motor wind sound after each shot, but my first reaction was, wow, almost as quiet as the hexar af.

Originally Posted by RayPA

Is it the same sound as the Bessa's? I've been curious about this camera for a long time, but I'm one of those who is psychologically addicted to the sound of a Leica shutter.

.

[Flyfisher Tom]

Gid is right ... check out Karen Nakamura's site about how users in Japan never experienced any incompatability issues, with either the bodies or the lenses.

The lenses are stellar by the way.

And if you really need more convincing, try looking at this gallery for some work done with the Hexar:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/phot...r=1528&cat=500

Of course David (Beniliam) is incredibly talented and has a phenomenal eye, but you get a sense of what the camera can do

[Flyfisher Tom]

Ray you beat me to the Karen Nakamura citation !

cheers

[ampguy]

I think I have your old one which you sold to Andy (s/n 1447xxx). It's a good one! The 1/4000 lets you shoot narrow DOF in most any lighting. The stepless shutter gives you unparalleled increased exposure accuracy over an M6.

Originally Posted by Gid

The hexar RF is a very good camera. I sold mine to a fellow RFFer simply because I was also using an M6 and using the two together confused me - I was frequently shooting the M6 without checking the metering (AE on the Hexar). The top and bottom are titanium, it weighs about the same as an M and it is very well made. The 0.6 finder makes it a good bet for those who wear glasses and like wider angles. There is lots of talk about Leica lenses not being usable on the Hexar, but that is just bull**** - check out www.dantestella.com for the real story. The shutter noise is not quite as quiet as a Leica M, but the difference is more to do with pitch that amplitude and the fact that you get the motor sound immediately after the shutter release. If you shoot on continuous the shutter and motor sound as near as co-incide which actually results in less noise. You would never describe the Hexar as a noisy camera. It has everything the M7 has plus 1/4000 top shutter speed and a motor drive for about a third to a quarter of the price. Size wise it is a little bigger than an M without a motor drive, but smaller than an M with one. Overall, if you like AE it is just about the best bang for your money.

[Gid]

Originally Posted by ampguy

I think I have your old one which you sold to Andy (s/n 1447xxx). It's a good one! The 1/4000 lets you shoot narrow DOF in most any lighting. The stepless shutter gives you unparalleled increased exposure accuracy over an M6.

Can't remember the serial number, but it had a small scratch on the body at front left. I always found the metering to be on the money. All this talk is making me think I made a mistake selling it

[furcafe]

No, the Hexar RF sounds just like a Contax G2 (very similar construction, probably same OEM factory/factories in Japan), only without the autofocus noise, of course. As others have posted, the noisiest thing is the film advance, not the shutter itself, which is well-damped. I would say it's actually quieter than the M8 overall.

Originally Posted by RayPA

Is it the same sound as the Bessa's? I've been curious about this camera for a long time, but I'm one of those who is psychologically addicted to the sound of a Leica shutter.

.

[ampguy]

on the top near the shutter, and like many, paint is flaking off the titanium bottom. I want an M film body for backup, and am having trouble deciding if it should be an M4P or the Hexar RF. One thing for sure is if it were my primary camera it would be the RF, if for no other reason for giving me perfect exposures and not wasting film.

Originally Posted by Gid

Can't remember the serial number, but it had a small scratch on the body at front left. I always found the metering to be on the money. All this talk is making me think I made a mistake selling it

[RayPA]

Originally Posted by Flyfisher Tom

Ray you beat me to the Karen Nakamura citation !

cheers

Her site is the first one I think about when referring to the Hexar. For some reason my bookmark to her site comes up with the Hexar RF picture.

[venchka]

SHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! We are collectively driving the price up by the minute!