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Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.

Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.
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Konica Hexanon 135 3.2
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 6:51 am
Post subject: Konica Hexanon 135 3.2
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 6:51 am
Post subject: Konica Hexanon 135 3.2
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 7:14 am
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 7:14 am
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Nice shot...I came across this site and this guy has a different angle on lenses and could possibly be used as a very rough guide, anyway he rated Hexanon lenses near the top for less chance of getting a crappy lens.

http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/bestcameralensbrand.html


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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 7:29 am
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 7:29 am
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Interesting, the two lenses he mentions are two of the M Mount lenses Konica made for Leica cameras. I really like several of the Hexanons, there are others that don't do much for me. The 135 3.2 is among the best, it's one of those lenses where you have to look twice at your monitor when doing pp because you can't believe it resolved so well. It's not an expensive lens either.

http://forum.mflenses.com/hexanon-ar-135mm-lenses-t51174.html


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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 8:24 am
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 8:24 am
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kenetik wrote:
I really like several of the Hexanons, there are others that don't do much for me.


Understandable as it seems to reduce costs in manufacture some of the better lenses are the older ones, but for me all my common lenses are" AE" and give nice results on film.


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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 9:34 am
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 9:34 am
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I am looking for a good 100/105mm lens lately, I would be interested in seeing more samples, I like the rendering !


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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 10:39 am
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 10:39 am
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The 135/3.2 is my favorite 135 mm lens; very sharp and a MFD of 1 m/3ft, which is quite uncommon for 135 mm lenses.
Some examples, shot as RAW and converted in camera, no PS (full-res available on flickr):

DSCF4169 by scepticswe, on Flickr


DSCF4072 by scepticswe, on Flickr


DSCF4167 by scepticswe, on Flickr


DSCF4140 by scepticswe, on Flickr


DSCF4132 by scepticswe, on Flickr


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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 12:56 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 12:56 pm
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I don't for a moment challenge the quality and desirability of the subject lens. Quite the opposite: it's a great lens!!

Still, I feel compelled to mention that in the USA market I follow, prices for this lens are today roughly half what they were between twelve and eighteen months ago. I have no explanation whatsoever for this and I do not understand the lower prices. Suffice it to say anyone wanting a copy of this Hexanon might be well advised to strike now, while the iron is hot. It's the best of the three Hexanon 135s.

And have you seen pricing on the larger and heavier f2.5 lenses? That lens is today out of reach for many of us.


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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 1:11 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 1:11 pm
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Some lovely images here.

The comment about prices is interesting. Over in the UK Pentax User forum there has been much discussion as to why the bottom appears to have fallen out the market for older lenses. Many people are finding it hard to sell items that would have gone for much more a year ago.

Curious...!

K.


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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 1:28 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 1:28 pm
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womble wrote:
Some lovely images here.

The comment about prices is interesting. Over in the UK Pentax User forum there has been much discussion as to why the bottom appears to have fallen out the market for older lenses. Many people are finding it hard to sell items that would have gone for much more a year ago.

Curious...!

K.


Strange, I have noticed the prices overall have increased over the last 2-3 years.


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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 1:48 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 1:48 pm
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Here are a couple shots with the Hexanon 135mm F3.2:





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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 2:22 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 2:22 pm
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womble wrote:
Some lovely images here.

The comment about prices is interesting. Over in the UK Pentax User forum there has been much discussion as to why the bottom appears to have fallen out the market for older lenses. Many people are finding it hard to sell items that would have gone for much more a year ago.

Curious...!

K.


H'mm wish that was true for the lenses I want, but maybe my problem is just supply and demand.


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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 4:25 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 4:25 pm
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Great shots, sceptic and verbatim, really demonstrating what this lens can do! The 3.2 prices have mystified me as well. I think maybe it's because there isn't much difference speed-wise from the 3.5, a good copy of which can be had for $15-20, while the 2.5 is still expensive. Get one, it's an awesome lens!

As a collector I want low prices, but I've definitely seen them rise as the possible use of legacy glass reaches more camera bodies. With FF mirrorless, even previously unattractive focal lengths have become desirable!


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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 5:12 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 5:12 pm
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Excalibur wrote:
Nice shot...I came across this site and this guy has a different angle on lenses and could possibly be used as a very rough guide, anyway he rated Hexanon lenses near the top for less chance of getting a crappy lens.

http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/bestcameralensbrand.html


I would not put much confidence in that information as it looks to be statistically invalid. Number of samples tested are dramatically different and some include zooms.


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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 5:18 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 5:18 pm
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Having owned about 50 Hexanons and every one being great, not a single dud, I think it's safe to say Konica had very good QC.


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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 5:51 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 5:51 pm
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Some of you have mentioned prices of the Hexanon 135/3.2. As some of you may know, for the past 5 years, I have been compiling a database of Hexanon lenses. My database contains 314 Hexanons 135/3.2, and I have the prices 102 of them sold for over the past several years. Below is a screen shot of those prices, which vary greatly at all times, of course:



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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 6:30 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 6:30 pm
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Hat off. Impressive work of collection data.


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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 7:09 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 7:09 pm
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konicamera wrote:
Some of you have mentioned prices of the Hexanon 135/3.2. As some of you may know, for the past 5 years, I have been compiling a database of Hexanon lenses. My database contains 314 Hexanons 135/3.2, and I have the prices 102 of them sold for over the past several years. Below is a screen shot of those prices, which vary greatly at all times, of course:


Excellent database. Looking at it, it seems like there has been fluctuation auction to autcion but the overall price range has remained pretty constant.


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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 8:07 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 8:07 pm
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This is my favourite tele-lens too. I use it on a m4/3 and it always delivers.
Kjell


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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 8:20 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 8:20 pm
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this lens on Olympus E-M5





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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 8:44 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 8:44 pm
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This seems like a lovely lens!

I already have a 135 (Super Takumar 1:3.5/135mm) but this could complement it nicely...

Rudolf


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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 10:38 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2014 10:38 pm
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I'm blown away, gotta have this lens !!! Smile thanks for sharing.


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Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 4:26 am
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Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 4:26 am
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I have this lens I can vouch that it is one of the best 135mm there...


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Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 4:33 am
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Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2014 4:33 am
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Great to see everyone's work with this lens. Some amazing shots.


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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 10:28 pm
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 10:28 pm
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Even though I did a shoot out with my contax 135/2.8 and this hexanon 135/3.2, and found the contax half a notch better regarding IQ. Se this thread, http://forum.mflenses.com/sonnar-135-2-8-vs-hexanon-135-3-2-t62219.html. I still prefer the hexanon. Low weight and close focusing ability without any real life disadvantage regarding IQ.
Kjell
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