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Zamo
Joined: 08 Feb 2019 Posts: 168
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 6:53 pm Post subject: Favourite Konica lens |
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Zamo wrote:
I was recently asked in a different post what my favourite Konica lens was. So I thought it could be fun to ask other people which is their favourite Konica lens and why. I think we can include Hexanons and Konishirokus, and also even medium format and M-mount ones. Less common, but also interesting I imagine. If anyone wants to mention more than one... well, go ahead, this is not a competition and there are no rules. I have many other lenses than Konicas, but I am particularly fond of this particular Japanese brand. Maybe other people can start threads about other brands.
My favourite is probably the Hexanon 50 1.7. Not because it is the one that impresses me most or because its performace is clearly above others. It is just a wonderful lens, but I am particularly fond of it because it was the first manual lens I fell in love with. I took it out years ago, a couple of days after getting it, for a walk in Barcelona with my son (around 3-4 months by then). It was cold and late, and I took a few pictures of him in the stroller, with the last few rays of sun on his face, and they turned out beautiful, special. I enjoyed the process a lot (a lot!), and then the results... they opened me a new world. So it might not be the most special Konica lens, but I would say it is my favourite. |
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caspert79
Joined: 31 Oct 2010 Posts: 3180 Location: The Netherlands
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 7:18 pm Post subject: |
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caspert79 wrote:
The 100mm f/2.8 is still on my wish list. |
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D1N0
Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 2532
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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D1N0 wrote:
I don't have Konica's because they won't fit my Pentax but the Konica hexanon AR 40mm f1.8 has a good reputation as a versatile fast widish standard prime. _________________ pentaxian |
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nimoythecat
Joined: 21 Apr 2021 Posts: 14 Location: United States
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 8:01 pm Post subject: |
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nimoythecat wrote:
Regarding my favorite Hexanon AR lenses, I have to say above all it is the 35mm f/2. Just 100% a lovely lens with great rendering. The 35mm f/2 is outstanding for a 1960s SLR design. The 135mm f/2.5 is another favorite. Konica has a good reputation but not all of its lenses are super great. The late-model Tokina-made ones are generally not anything special. It seems that it earliest generation of AR lenses were among its best. |
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caspert79
Joined: 31 Oct 2010 Posts: 3180 Location: The Netherlands
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 8:05 pm Post subject: |
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caspert79 wrote:
The only Hexanon I currently have is the 135/3.2, very nice. Other Hexanons I tried were a mixed bag. Most of them didn't stand out IMO. |
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fiftyonepointsix
Joined: 30 Apr 2017 Posts: 292
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 9:31 pm Post subject: |
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fiftyonepointsix wrote:
The Konica 50mm F1.7 is my favorite. I have the 50/1.4, 28/1.8, 40/1.8, 50/1.8 v1, and 135/3.5. Had the 135/3.2. The 28/1.8- mine is mint, found it to be not as good as the Nikkor 28/2. The 50/1.8- not as good as the 50/1.7.
The 50/1.7 was the stand-out that came closest the the 50/2 Summicron-M in the 1976 test of 32 normal lenses.
I converted it to RF-Coupled M-Mount.
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Lightshow
Joined: 04 Nov 2011 Posts: 3666 Location: Calgary
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 11:01 pm Post subject: |
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Lightshow wrote:
My favourites are the AR 28mm & 35mm presets.
Edit: I can't believe I didn't mention the 21/4, definitely recommended. _________________ A Manual Focus Junky...
One photographers junk lens is an artists favorite tool.
My lens list
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lightshow-photography/
Last edited by Lightshow on Mon Jan 17, 2022 7:30 am; edited 1 time in total |
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papasito
Joined: 09 Jan 2015 Posts: 1659
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 11:17 pm Post subject: |
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papasito wrote:
The 135/3,2 and 2,5, the 50/1,7 v.2, 57/1,4, 85/1,8.
Now I only have the 57/1,4 and the 50/1,4 v.2. |
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jamaeolus
Joined: 19 Mar 2014 Posts: 2965 Location: Eugene
Expire: 2015-08-20
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Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2022 2:25 am Post subject: |
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jamaeolus wrote:
Fifty seven 1.2. I also really like my 21mm 2.8 and the 24mm 2.8. Actually though, I like all of my Konicas to some extent. I think they are generally underrated. Prices are still relatively low for the IQ available. Partly I think that reflects the relatively short flange distance and thus the inability to shoot on all the CaNikon DSLR's that dominated the market for most of the digital era. With mirrorless making rapid strides and the newfound popularity of our pastime I expect them to outpace other marques on a increase in value assessment. I pick up the odd FL here and there when I see them for bargains even though I may lready have a copy or two. _________________ photos are moments frozen in time |
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Oldhand
Joined: 01 Apr 2013 Posts: 6000 Location: Mid North Coast NSW - Australia
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Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2022 3:17 am Post subject: |
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Oldhand wrote:
I have a few Hexanon AR lenses.
I like the AR 50mm f1.4 because I have shot some of my favourite images with it
#1
And I like the AR 40mm f1.8 because of its size, weight and general overall performance.
It is a good match for a small camera like my Fuji X-E2s when out and about
#2
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jamaeolus
Joined: 19 Mar 2014 Posts: 2965 Location: Eugene
Expire: 2015-08-20
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Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2022 4:20 pm Post subject: |
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jamaeolus wrote:
I see why you like those images. Just great. _________________ photos are moments frozen in time |
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stevemark
Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3971 Location: Switzerland
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Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2022 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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stevemark wrote:
Zamo wrote: |
I was recently asked in a different post what my favourite Konica lens was. So I thought it could be fun to ask other people which is their favourite Konica lens and why. |
Good idea
caspert79 wrote: |
The 100mm f/2.8 is still on my wish list. |
My opinion on that lens: http://www.artaphot.ch/konica-ar/objektive/530-konica-hexanon-100mm-1-2-8
jamaeolus wrote: |
Fifty seven 1.2. |
One of the very few Konica AR lenses I've never used
jamaeolus wrote: |
I also really like my 21mm 2.8 and the 24mm 2.8. |
Nice and pretty small lenses, and rare beauties too! I only quite recently (well, mid-2021) was able to purchase these two, mainly as a collector, to be honest . However I'm really happy to finally have found them !
jamaeolus wrote: |
Actually though, I like all of my Konicas to some extent. |
Same here
jamaeolus wrote: |
I think they are generally underrated. Prices are still relatively low for the IQ available. |
That depends ... some indeed are quite cheap, good and underrated (such as the 3.5/28mm [7L], the 1.8/40mm, the 1.4/50mm, the 1.4/57mm, the 2.5 and 3.2/135mm); others are average in quality and certainly not cheap (4/21mm, 2.8/24mm [first computation], probably the 1.2/57mm, the 1.8/85mm, the 2.8/100mm, and the 3.5/200mm). Others again are way overpriced (=collectors items, e. g. the 15mm Fisheye, the 2.8/21mm, the 1.8/28mm).
My favourite Konica probably is the 1.8/85mm - it has nice soft "portrait" character wide open, but it is very sharp and has nearly no CAs at f5.6 ... f8. Most vintage lenses in that department have less remaining aberrations wide open and more CAs stopped down (indicating they were using mor expensive high refractive glass than Konica). The 2.5/135mm and the 3.2/135mm share these characteristics to some extent.
I do not particularly like the AR 2.8/35mm [first computation] and the AR 2/35mm, but I'm sure they are great "character lenses" for those looking for a "1960s glow". The Konica AR 2/35mm has a very similar general layout as the Nikkor 1.4/35mm, BTW! In my opinion the Minolta MC 1.8/35mm has a much better (nicer) balance of aberrations, and it still is able to produce some "glow" at f1.8. Stopped down it is much better than both the Nikkor 1.4/35mm and the Hexanon 2/35mm.
S _________________ www.artaphot.ch |
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KEO
Joined: 27 Sep 2018 Posts: 773 Location: USA
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Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2022 7:40 pm Post subject: |
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KEO wrote:
My experience is limited to only four Konica AR lenses, but I like the 135/3.2 best, followed by the 40/1.8. The former is excellent for macro, being super-sharp at small apertures. The latter is a good landscape shooter, being very sharp with good contrast.
The 57/1.4 is an interesting character lens. Some images I love, some I dislike.
The 28/3.5 is just fine, but I hardly ever use it because it has failed to make an impression. |
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Zamo
Joined: 08 Feb 2019 Posts: 168
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Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2022 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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Zamo wrote:
Oldhand wrote: |
I have a few Hexanon AR lenses.
I like the AR 50mm f1.4 because I have shot some of my favourite images with it
And I like the AR 40mm f1.8 because of its size, weight and general overall performance.
It is a good match for a small camera like my Fuji X-E2s when out and about
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Nice pics, thanks for sharing. The 40mm has quite a decent reputation. I find it very nice as of 2.8, but fairly unusable wide open. So ends up being almost a 35mm 2.8 (or a wider and slower 50mm), so a bit of a marketing trick for me, that I dislike. It should have been a 40mm 2.8, or 2.5. So, for some reason, I do not rank it among my used or favorite ones
Your other one, 50 1.4 is great, but I can't help being in love with its slower and shorter bro, the 1.7 |
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eggplant
Joined: 27 May 2020 Posts: 517
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Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2022 6:47 pm Post subject: |
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eggplant wrote:
If I could afford them! |
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y
Joined: 11 Aug 2013 Posts: 306 Location: EU
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Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2022 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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y wrote:
57/1.4 - It is a very nice old lens. Also the design is very stylish. It's definitely not a sharp lens like those from 80s or later, although it's interesting due the >50mm focal length.
50/1.7 is often highly praised but mine copy of version 2 (compact) was nothing interesting. Very sterile with above average CA - at least that is my experience.
135/2.5 feels and looks nice but loses to cheaper Canon FD. |
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tomasg
Joined: 01 Nov 2009 Posts: 1135
Expire: 2014-04-28
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Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2022 7:19 pm Post subject: |
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tomasg wrote:
I like my Konica lenses, not the best in everything and not without flaws. One thing i like is the short flange distance which makes for a thin adapter. I don t have a favourite but i use a lot the 40/1.8 for it s size and FL, 21/2.8 super small, prices are crazy and completely off for it s performance, very flare prone, the 24/2.8 again size. I have a hate/love relationship with the 28/1.8, designed by Toshiko Shimokura a female lens designer, value for money is the same as for the 21. The 35/2 is very nice, btw is was made in 1973 not in the 60ies according to this: https://www.hexanon.net/konica_lens_detail/35f2/, the 57/1.2 is nice, this is my second copy the first was very yellow and i couldn t get rid of it, it s a long story. The 85/1.8 is very nice, the 100/2.8 is ok, the 135/2.5 also ok. The 50/1.4 i have is slightly yellow, it has a "funky" bokeh. The 50/17 is my least used Konica, very milky" wide open, the 50/1.8 has a very sharp center but it starts to get soft quickly towards the edges, nice bokeh. The 28/3.5 later version, strikes a nice balance between portability and performance.
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stevemark
Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3971 Location: Switzerland
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Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2022 1:32 am Post subject: |
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stevemark wrote:
That's a really nice set of Hexanons - thanks for sharing te image and the additional information.
Concerning the 2/35mm, Alex Buhl says in his website that the optical formula was the same starting from the (Konica) F-mount 2/35mm around 1960: http://buhla.de/Foto/Konica/Objektive/35_2.html
I don't know who's right, though ... at least it seems the first AR 2/35mm was introduced along with the Autoreflex in 1965, and thus way earlier than 1973!
S _________________ www.artaphot.ch |
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papasito
Joined: 09 Jan 2015 Posts: 1659
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Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2022 2:42 am Post subject: |
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papasito wrote:
In this forum, Attila was one of the first Konica lenses fan.
He said sometimes that Konica was the made in japan Zeiss .
I don't know where Attila is now, but he was right about konica lenses IQ |
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benadamx
Joined: 25 Feb 2019 Posts: 329
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Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2022 7:55 pm Post subject: |
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benadamx wrote:
the AR 50/1.7 and 40/1.8 are both very sharp and have really lovely, unique color rendering, but the wide-open bokeh of the 40/1.8 is pretty unpleasant to me.. just have to be careful how one uses the lens. |
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nimoythecat
Joined: 21 Apr 2021 Posts: 14 Location: United States
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Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2022 8:32 pm Post subject: |
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nimoythecat wrote:
stevemark wrote: |
That's a really nice set of Hexanons - thanks for sharing te image and the additional information.
Concerning the 2/35mm, Alex Buhl says in his website that the optical formula was the same starting from the (Konica) F-mount 2/35mm around 1960: http://buhla.de/Foto/Konica/Objektive/35_2.html
I don't know who's right, though ... at least it seems the first AR 2/35mm was introduced along with the Autoreflex in 1965, and thus way earlier than 1973!
S |
I am pretty sure that the 35mm f/2 AR lens is a contemporary of the 1973 T3. The 35mm f/2 AR is not listed in either the original 1965 Autoreflex or 1968 Autoreflex T manuals as being a lens available for the system (only the 35mm f/2.8 ). The Chinese site quoted above also has a diagram of the original 35mm f/2 F-mount lens, and it is totally different design than the AR lens. |
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stevemark
Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3971 Location: Switzerland
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Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2022 9:18 pm Post subject: |
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stevemark wrote:
nimoythecat wrote: |
I am pretty sure that the 35mm f/2 AR lens is a contemporary of the 1973 T3. The 35mm f/2 AR is not listed in either the original 1965 Autoreflex or 1968 Autoreflex T manuals as being a lens available for the system (only the 35mm f/2.8 ). The Chinese site quoted above also has a diagram of the original 35mm f/2 F-mount lens, and it is totally different design than the AR lens. |
Thanks for the additional information - I'm by no means a Konica specialist, and I was simply reproducing what I had read on the Alex Buhl website!
S _________________ www.artaphot.ch |
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konicamera
Joined: 03 May 2009 Posts: 746 Location: Warsaw, Poland
Expire: 2014-06-14
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Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2022 11:11 pm Post subject: |
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konicamera wrote:
Just to add my 2 cents' worth:
It is true that the F-mount 35/2 and the AR-mount 35/2 are different lenses, if similar. They both have a 9/7 construction and both focus to 0.3cm. But one takes 72mm filters and the other 55mm.
The first was not only an F-mount lens, it was also one of the 4 lenses proprietary to the Konica’s first SLR and was only made for as long as the Konia F. By proprietary I mean that it had an aperture arm on the outside of the barrel for coupling with the Konica F’s build-in light meter (Japan’s first coupled light meter SLR). This lens could be mounted on later F-mount bodies, but depending on the aperture chosen, the external arm could get in the way. That 35/2 is far rarer than the Konica F itself, of which 1,600 at most were made. If you scroll down on the following web page, the second photo shows the Konica F with 3 of the 4 proprietary lenses, including the 35/2: https://camerapedia.fandom.com/wiki/Konica_F
While the AR-mount 35/2 was not introduced with the Auto-Reflex (1965), it is a little older than the T3 (1973). I have 316 of them in my database. The first production codes on them appear in April 1972 and about 18% of the sample is without code, meaning that they were made before that date. As the lens was made until mid-1980, I estimate the first ones came out in early 1971, or perhaps as early as late 1970. Incidentally, in case anyone is interested in such things, the serial number range of the entire sample suggests a production run of about ~11k lenses. _________________
L'homme s'ennuie du bien, cherche le mieux, trouve le mal, et s'y soummet, crainte du pire. - Duc François-Gaston de Lévis
While it is nice to be important, it's more important to be nice.
URL: www.konicafiles.com
Last edited by konicamera on Tue Jan 18, 2022 9:07 am; edited 1 time in total |
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nimoythecat
Joined: 21 Apr 2021 Posts: 14 Location: United States
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Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2022 2:17 am Post subject: |
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nimoythecat wrote:
konicamera wrote: |
Just to add my 2 cents' worth:
It is true that the F-mount 35/2 and the AR-mount 35/2 are different lenses, if similar. They both have a 9/7 construction and both focus to 0.3cm. But one takes 72mm filters and the other 55mm.
The first was not only an F-mount lens, it was also one of the 4 lenses proprietary to the Konica’s first SLR and was only made for as long as the Konia F. By proprietary I mean that it had an aperture arm on the outside of the barrel for coupling with the Konica F’s build-in light meter (Japan’s first coupled light meter camera). This lens could be mounted on later F-mount bodies, but depending on the aperture chosen, the external arm could get in the way. That 35/2 is far rarer than the Konica F itself, of which 1,600 at most were made. If you scroll down on the following web page, the second photo shows the Konica F with 3 of the 4 proprietary lenses, including the 35/2: https://camerapedia.fandom.com/wiki/Konica_F
While the AR-mount 35/2 was not introduced with the Auto-Reflex (1965), it is a little older than the T3 (1973). I have 316 of them in my database. The first production codes on them appear in April 1972 and about 18% of the sample is without code, meaning that they were made before that date. As the lens was made until mid-1980, I estimate the first ones came out in early 1971, or perhaps as early as late 1970. Incidentally, in case anyone is interested in such things, the serial number range of the entire sample suggests a production run of about ~11k lenses. |
Thanks! That's some great info. |
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stevemark
Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3971 Location: Switzerland
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Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2022 6:35 pm Post subject: |
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stevemark wrote:
@ konicamera: Thank you as well - it's always astonishing to see how much you know about the Konica cameras & lenses!
S _________________ www.artaphot.ch |
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