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First shots: Konica Hexanon & Canon FL 85mm 1.8
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 05, 2015 5:17 pm    Post subject: First shots: Konica Hexanon & Canon FL 85mm 1.8 Reply with quote
So I finally got a chance to take a some of quick (test) shots with a couple of recently acquired 85mm vintage MF lenses. Here are the pictures. These are straight out of the camera Jpegs, transferred to android phone via wireless app and uploaded - no retouching whatsoever. What do you guys think?

I am super happy with both these lenses.

Konica Hexanon 85mm 1.8 (EE High Gloss version)
Canon FL 85mm 1.8 (aperture ring on front of lens version) This lens was a surprise as its relatively inexpensive and always perceived as an underdog to the FD version.

Camera was set to Auto WB in Classic Chrome.

Konica Hexanon @ 1.8 (bounced flash)
2015_1004_19560100_KH85 1_8 by Sanjay Nayar, on Flickr

Canon FL 85mm @ 1.8 (bounced flash)
2015_1004_19582000_CFL85_1-8 by Sanjay Nayar, on Flickr

Konica Hexanon 85mm @ 2.8 (bounced flash)
2015_1003_20245200_KH85_2-8 by Sanjay Nayar, on Flickr

Canon FL 85mm @ 2.8 (bounced flash)
2015_1003_20221400_CFL85_2-8 by Sanjay Nayar, on Flickr

I noticed that the WB is slightly different in the KH/C pictures (showing more yellow in CL) and that either KH is less than 85 or C is slightly more (like 87-90) but that is yet to be determined as these were shot hand held.


PostPosted: Mon Oct 05, 2015 9:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Nice work. Hexanons are regarded as having a neutral colour rendition. Not familiar with Canon's but they might be slightly warmer. Age can also yellow some elements, but depends very much on the glass used. Honestly thought modern day AWB would take care of this, but there might be limits.


PostPosted: Mon Oct 05, 2015 10:36 pm    Post subject: Re: First shots: Konica Hexanon & Canon FL 85mm 1.8 Reply with quote
starlights wrote:
So I finally got a chance to take a some of quick (test) shots with a couple of recently acquired 85mm vintage MF lenses. Here are the pictures. These are straight out of the camera Jpegs, transferred to android phone via wireless app and uploaded - no retouching whatsoever. What do you guys think?
I am super happy with both these lenses.
Konica Hexanon 85mm 1.8 (EE High Gloss version)
Canon FL 85mm 1.8 (aperture ring on front of lens version) This lens was a surprise as its relatively inexpensive and always perceived as an underdog to the FD version.
Camera was set to Auto WB in Classic Chrome.

Very nice photos and very nice child. Smile
Try your Hexanon in B&W Wink


PostPosted: Tue Oct 06, 2015 1:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
My hexanon 85 had low contrast and neutral colors.

In your pics it has more contrast than the canon, which is warmer too.

The fl of the canon seems to be longer.

My vote for the hexanon.


PostPosted: Tue Oct 06, 2015 1:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
To me, they're both so close, the differences are negligible. Both did a great job. Being a Canon user from way back, I've always been partial to it and so I'd lean toward the 85 FL. I dunno what the Hexanon 85/1.8 typically sells for but it might be possible to pick up the FL for less, just because it's an FL lens -- which means nothing to a digital shooter. FL lenses are used with the apertures manually stopped down for exposure on Canon FL-mount cameras, but both FL and FD lenses are used this way on digitals, so it makes no difference in terms of usage. The FD will likely have better coatings, though, and perhaps a more modern lens formula, but this isn't always the case.

Speaking of lens element coloration, I've never heard of this being a problem with FL lenses. If you look at your FL 85, it should have a blue coating and shouldn't be showing any sign of yellowing.


PostPosted: Tue Oct 06, 2015 3:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
RnR wrote:
Nice work. Hexanons are regarded as having a neutral colour rendition. Not familiar with Canon's but they might be slightly warmer. Age can also yellow some elements, but depends very much on the glass used. Honestly thought modern day AWB would take care of this, but there might be limits.


Thanks. It would have been more accurate had I set the WB to a specific setting - its possible that due to the reflected light from the flash or background, there was a variation in the in-camera WB between shots. This was just a quick on the spur of the moment kind of test. I shall definitely be subject these (and one more 85 that's on the way) to a more controlled test when time permits.

konicamera wrote:

Very nice photos and very nice child. Smile
Try your Hexanon in B&W Wink


Thank you! yes I will definitely be trying both these in BW, especially the KH (BTW, sold the other lenses today and recouped some cost on the KH).
That child is one of my twins - rare moment when he was still enough to even attempt taking some pictures.

papasito wrote:
My hexanon 85 had low contrast and neutral colors.

In your pics it has more contrast than the canon, which is warmer too.

The fl of the canon seems to be longer.

My vote for the hexanon.


Being that these were SooC, I am impressed with the contrast and color from both. I have the raw files sitting with me for when I get a chance to work with them, just to see how far can I take these. I am sure on a Digital camera, shooting RAW, these Jpegs are only 2/3rd the story Smile I am not sure, but I think the Konica had a hood on, canon didn't.


cooltouch wrote:
To me, they're both so close, the differences are negligible. Both did a great job. Being a Canon user from way back, I've always been partial to it and so I'd lean toward the 85 FL. I dunno what the Hexanon 85/1.8 typically sells for but it might be possible to pick up the FL for less, just because it's an FL lens -- which means nothing to a digital shooter. FL lenses are used with the apertures manually stopped down for exposure on Canon FL-mount cameras, but both FL and FD lenses are used this way on digitals, so it makes no difference in terms of usage. The FD will likely have better coatings, though, and perhaps a more modern lens formula, but this isn't always the case.

Speaking of lens element coloration, I've never heard of this being a problem with FL lenses. If you look at your FL 85, it should have a blue coating and shouldn't be showing any sign of yellowing.


I agree, they are both pretty close. I was surprised about the FL. With raw, most of these differences will be gone. I agree FL lenses are a fantastic unrealized value.
After reading your post, I took a close look at the FL - its definitely coated and reflects overhead lights as both blue and yellow reflections - more yellow ones than blue Smile

Maybe, I will take a picture of the lens, the coating shows well under certain light (flash) reflections.



In addition to these, I obtained a Canomatic 85 1.8 last night - from all the reading (whatever little info there is on that lens) it seems to be the same optical formula as the 85mm 1.8 LTM - not sure until I get to play with it, but I am hoping its that good. It will be fun to shoot these side by side.
http://forum.mflenses.com/anyone-has-any-info-on-super-canomatic-r-85mm-1-8-t72872.html
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