Hexar AF Camera and the Hexar RF Camera

I super-glued the Megaperls (now Japan Exposures) Hexar eyepiece magnifier adapter to the eyepiece on my RF - now I don't worry about losing anything. The adapter does not impede the view at all when I remove the magnifier.
 
jmkelly said:
I super-glued the Megaperls (now Japan Exposures) Hexar eyepiece magnifier adapter to the eyepiece on my RF - now I don't worry about losing anything. The adapter does not impede the view at all when I remove the magnifier.
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John,

In my case, wouldn't the replacement eye piece still show distortion? With a magnifier, the distortion may appear less prominent? Maybe.
 
Raid - I think you have to have the original eyepiece to glue the adapter to. If your eyepiece is missing I'm not sure where you are going to find a replacment. Maybe Don Goldberg?
 
The CV 40mm lenses, the Leitz and Minolta 40mm lenses for the CL are designed to bring up 50mm framelines. You know about the modification with a file to the bayonette to bring up the 35mm framelines.
 
I did not recall this fact about the Rokkor/Summicron lenses. Thanks for reminding me. I will not file anything except my finger nails.
 
raid said:
What's special about a Titanium Hexar AF, Johan?
I don't use my cameras in a way that would require extra robustness.
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It was a limited production (1,000 pieces, specially numbered) camera, the titanium matched the Hexar RF Limited color. I owned both for a short while and have shots with them side by side.

I'm not sure though if the top plate was solid titanium, like on the Hexar RF Limited.

In the end it had to go, it was left at home too much when taking a bag with Leica gear. It took me like forever to find the Hexar AF lens in the screw mount, since that is a limited production too (in chrome this time, would have made a nice combo with a Hexar RF Limited when in titanium!) There's an article on my current lens in the Camera Gear - Lenses on my site.
 
I own both the AF Black with silent mode and the silver version without silent mode. I love these cameras. They are great for street shooting. The black version has a problem with the shutter release so I will have to take it somewhere to have it fixed. I hope it can be fixed since it is such a beautiful camera.
 
raid said:
How would you compare the Hexar RF with an M mount Bessa R(.) camera?
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A stop faster shutter speed on the RF, and a stop slower on the other end in AE, for those who like this. Me.

Easier film loading on the RF, for the klutzy. Me.

Higher quality finish on the RF, for the fondlers. Not me.

Given the RF's longer effective baselength than the Bessas, maybe it'd be more obvious to compare it with a Leica M7 or the Zeiss Ikon? It still holds its own. It was designed as an electronic answer to the Leica M6, and even nearly ten years on, it's still a remarkably good design.

As for drawbacks, a more precise meter display would be nice. But I don't find this a problem when photographing, and the meter is accurate.

raid said:
I am just now trying to use this camera.
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I can't see there'd be a problem. Using the camera is simplicity itself.
 
I may get another Hexar AF, the last time I got frustrated with mine because it was so silent that I didn't know when I made a shot in a noisy environment.

The sticky shutter problem is a concern but I suppose most decent camera repair people can clean them up and/or replace the switches.

I've owned four of them off and on now. I don't mind either the black or the silvers, the data back is what I avoid -- stupid inventions.

Just get a strong 46mm ND to deal with the 1/250th speed. The only other issue is that the strap lugs are a tiny bit too tight for a Domke strap but you can shave the strap and melt the frayed Nylon.
 
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One more question about the af silver vs. black. Now that I've read that the silver can be upgraded with the silent mode, I've also "heard" that the silver's "quiet" mode is louder than the black version. True? I LOVE the look of the silver one but also want the quietest camera possible. Thanks!
 
raid said:
The Hexar AF is a fixed lens AF camera with a hellish sharp 35mm/2 and other nice properties. Still, it is a fixed lens camera with a max 1/250 shutter speed. It can be programmed for a "silent" shutter for the SILVER model while the BLACK model is "silent".

The Hexar RF camera is an M-mount camera with AE and 1/4000 max shutter speed. It has automatic film advance, like the Hexar AF camera.

How do users of either camera feel about their cameras. I am particulalrly interested in features you find as being negative. They may be elusive and not known to others. The positives seem to be plenty with either of these two cameras.

How would you compare the Hexar RF with an M mount Bessa R(.) camera?

Thanks.
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I have long thought that RFF should have a Hexar AF forum. The camera is such a piece of work, there's really nothing else like it. I have made this suggestion but nothing has happened and I've gotten no answer. So: RFF powers that be please consider doing it.

I have a Hexar Rhodium AF, which I think will be the one film camera I will never part with. (Other than its being a beautiful finish there is nothing special about the rhodium except that it came originally programmed for silent mode and so on. However, you have learned that any AF can be programmed for all the features.) I have actually not found the 1/250 speed too much of a problem--I usually shoot Portra 160 or something like that with it, meaning the bright light exposure is still almost always less than 1/250th at f/16.

Its incomprehensible controls are legendary, although once you teach yourself what each of them does, it is a fast camera to operate. I have also had some fun shooting infrared film with it. I admit I was encouraged by the idea that its AF system has an infrared setting, and from that, one thing led to another.

I have an M6TTL that I am equally besotted with, but I can imagine parting with that, on the grounds that it will be replaced with newer Leica Ms, if Leica stays afloat, and I may need to sell it to afford a new M body. No danger of the AF being superseded by a better model!

The AF is probably the one classic fixed-lens RF-like camera that I would recommend to any enthusiastic photographer who doesn't have one. I have others, a Fed and so on and on, but that's because of my damaged DNA. The AF is a very practical and excellent picture taking machine in addition to being a curious photographic artifact.

Tom
 
raid said:
I am particularly interested in features you find as being negative.
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I had both and sold both.

Sold the AF even though the lens is every bit as good as folks say.
AF had awful finder; not remotely accurate even for a viewfinder camera which of course is never really accurate. Did not like the build or the metering.

The RF had a rangefinder that was impossible to keep aligned. I think I sent it to Konica (back when there was a Konica to send it to) 2 or 3 times and each time the return shipping would knock the RF out of alignment (assuming they actually did fix it). Did not like the finder magnification and I DO shoot wides. This camera is made to be used on AE and while you can use it on manual, it's a pain. And I shoot 99% manual.

I now use all Leica M6 and M4p for my RF film work and I'm very happy. I suspect I would dislike the M7, and, of course, the Ikon. Did not like the CLE either, by the way.

So these are just my personal and very opinionated (based on a lot of use) preferences.
 
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I prefer total manual control of the exposures and in an uncluttered and uncomplicated way. Here, a camera such as the Konica III or a Canon P excels for my needs. The Hexar AF seems to be a very good camera, but I am not into AF cameras at all. Add AE, and I am unhappy. I sold the AF to raise cash for the Summilux, and then I stumbled into Matt's ad for his Hexar RF. It was not planned. I could see there was room for a Hexar RF in my set of cameras for my photography needs when I travel.

Maybe I will sell it after a while if I don't feel comfortable with it.
 
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