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Konica Hexanon Codes
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 7:08 pm    Post subject: Konica Hexanon Codes Reply with quote
Can someone tell me what the codes on the rear of Konica Hexanon lenses mean? I assume they are manufacturing date codes. Is there a list published somewhere to show their meaning?


PostPosted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 7:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I never heard this kind of list.


PostPosted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 9:46 pm    Post subject: Re: Konica Hexanon Codes Reply with quote
DigiChromeEd wrote:
Can someone tell me what the codes on the rear of Konica Hexanon lenses mean? I assume they are manufacturing date codes. Is there a list published somewhere to show their meaning?


Hi Ed,
Here is a table I made some time ago that is meant as a guide to the various outer characteristics of different Hexanon lens versions and their time of production, as indicated by the production code. EDIT: Table updated in July 2015.



Last edited by konicamera on Sat Jul 18, 2015 12:05 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 7:35 pm    Post subject: Re: Konica Hexanon Codes Reply with quote
konicamera wrote:
DigiChromeEd wrote:
Can someone tell me what the codes on the rear of Konica Hexanon lenses mean? I assume they are manufacturing date codes. Is there a list published somewhere to show their meaning?


Hi Ed,
Here is a table I made some time ago that is meant as a guide to the various outer characteristics of different Hexanon lens versions and their time of production, as indicated by the production code. Lenses made before 1972 (the ones with an aluminum ring and many all-black metal ones) have no code:


"MYBESTKONICA" ... really? Laughing


PostPosted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 8:19 pm    Post subject: Re: Konica Hexanon Codes Reply with quote
Quote:
"MYBESTKONICA" ... really? Laughing


It would indeed seem so. It sounds pretty hilarious, doesn’t it? I strongly suspect the person who came up with this idea was a sixties gung-ho Japanese mid-level manager whose English was not quite what he thought it was. Actually, you won’t find any Konica literature confirming the MYBESTKONICA thing. I (with crucial help from an Australian photographer) “discovered” this, so to speak, following years of research, but that’s a subject for another thread.


PostPosted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 8:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks for this table - the codes make more sense now. Smile


PostPosted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 10:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I have been a lurker for some time. I am a MF lense collector with over 50 MF legacy lenes Smile, but did not think I have much to contribute.
Referring to the Konica codes, I have 3 Konica AR lenses from before and just added 4 more 2 days ago. They are:
28f3.5 with back code 7E and serial #6784741
35f2.8 with back code 8T and serial #6927040
40f1.8 with back code 2K and serial #7703541
50f1.7 with back code 7E and serial #7240478
50f1.7 with back code 7E and serial #7304605
57f1.4 with no back code and serial #7634796
200f3.5 with back code 3I and serial #7486642

Using the Konica codes posted, their manufactural dates are quite logical except for the 2 50f1.7's since these two lenses have the same back code but quite different in serial numbers. Could it be that one is made in 1977 and the other in 1987. They look the same except the #7240478 has a more greenish coating and the #7304605 is slightly more clear or blueish. The #7304605 also appears to be slightly sharper. What do your guys think?

Brian


PostPosted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 11:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Brian Y wrote:
I have been a lurker for some time. I am a MF lense collector with over 50 MF legacy lenes Smile, but did not think I have much to contribute.
Referring to the Konica codes, I have 3 Konica AR lenses from before and just added 4 more 2 days ago. They are:
28f3.5 with back code 7E and serial #6784741
35f2.8 with back code 8T and serial #6927040
40f1.8 with back code 2K and serial #7703541
50f1.7 with back code 7E and serial #7240478
50f1.7 with back code 7E and serial #7304605
57f1.4 with no back code and serial #7634796
200f3.5 with back code 3I and serial #7486642

Using the Konica codes posted, their manufactural dates are quite logical except for the 2 50f1.7's since these two lenses have the same back code but quite different in serial numbers. Could it be that one is made in 1977 and the other in 1987. They look the same except the #7240478 has a more greenish coating and the #7304605 is slightly more clear or blueish. The #7304605 also appears to be slightly sharper. What do your guys think?

Brian


Hi Brian,

For the past 4 years or so, I have been writing down the serial numbers and production codes of all Hexanon lenses I could lay my eyes on. As of today, the list has over 4100 lenses (including yours).

My list has 370 Hexanons 50/1.7s, a number that includes both versions (roughly 170 of the first version and 200 of the second). The first 50/1.7s were made in 1972, the last in 1981. So I think both your 50/1.7s were made in April 1977. This is not as strange as it seems when you consider that this lens was made in very great quantities and several serial number runs were apparently used on them simultaneously. I don’t mean 2 or 3 runs, but more like 7 or 8. For example, to use the year 1977, Hexanons 50/1.7 were made with serial numbers runs beginning with 715, 717, 720, 723, 727, 730, and 750, among others. A similar situation exists for other Hexanons made in great numbers, like all the standard lenses and the ubiquitous 28/3.5.

I can’t say anything about the differences in coating colors. Most Hexanons made during this period had blueish/violet coatings. The coatings on the higher-grade Hexanon UC lenses had a greenish tinge, but I’ve never seen greenish coatings on a regular Hexanon 50/1.7. Who knows, maybe your lens’ front optical element fell into the wrong soup back at the factory. You may have a collector’s item there Smile

I have a question concerning your 200/3.5: Does it have yellow EE markings on the aperture ring, or green AE markings?


PostPosted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 12:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks for your response. the two 50f1.7 do have different coating color. I double checked it by having them side by side and then switch their position to avoid light reflection coming at different angles. They are definitely different. Maybe one of the front glass was replaced due to damages? As I said I like the 730 better since it appears to be slightly sharper, although it could only reflect where the lenses have been rather than original new condition.

The 300f3.5 has a orange EE sign, exactly like the color of last EE on your post at the location under 71. With a back code of 3I, based on your post, it should be made in Oct 1973. It is all black with rubber covered focussing ring. Hope this help you in your quest.

Brian


PostPosted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 12:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Brian Y wrote:

The 300f3.5 has a orange EE sign, exactly like the color of last EE on your post at the location under 71. With a back code of 3I, based on your post, it should be made in Oct 1973. It is all black with rubber covered focussing ring. Hope this help you in your quest.
Brian


Thanks for the info.

BTW on the table I uploaded, the three different shades of yellow EE markings are there simply to show that there were three different shades. Their relative right-to-left location on the table is not supposed to indicate that they were introduced in any particular year. Some of the darkest EE markings can be seen on the very first Hexanon AR lenses.


PostPosted: Wed Sep 04, 2013 7:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I'll add some Hexanons to the serial list.
Aluminium DOF ring 57/1.4 #7615868
All black 28/3.5 #7170855
All black 52/1.8 #7952736
All black 100/2.8 #7239953
Rubber focus ring 50/1.7 #7477798 9Y


PostPosted: Tue Feb 16, 2021 6:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
[quote="konicamera"]
Brian Y wrote:
I have been a lurker for some time. I am a MF lense collector with over 50 MF legacy lenes Smile, but did not think I have much to contribute.
Referring to the Konica codes, I have 3 Konica AR lenses from before and just added 4 more 2 days ago. They are:
28f3.5 with back code 7E and serial #6784741
35f2.8 with back code 8T and serial #6927040
40f1.8 with back code 2K and serial #7703541
50f1.7 with back code 7E and serial #7240478
50f1.7 with back code 7E and serial #7304605
57f1.4 with no back code and serial #7634796
200f3.5 with back code 3I and serial #7486642

Using the Konica codes posted, their manufactural dates are quite logical except for the 2 50f1.7's since these two lenses have the same back code but quite different in serial numbers. Could it be that one is made in 1977 and the other in 1987. They look the same except the #7240478 has a more greenish coating and the #7304605 is slightly more clear or blueish. The #7304605 also appears to be slightly sharper. What do your guys think?

Brian



Hi Brian,

On my Konica Hexanon 28mm f/3.5 from 1977 (s/n 6785623) is the aperture f/5.6 in red color. I've never seen this on other lenses. Do you have an idea, what's the meaning of it? Thank you for your attention! Martin J.




PostPosted: Tue Feb 16, 2021 7:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
[quote="Der Schnellzeichner"]
konicamera wrote:
Brian Y wrote:
I have been a lurker for some time. I am a MF lense collector with over 50 MF legacy lenes Smile, but did not think I have much to contribute.
Referring to the Konica codes, I have 3 Konica AR lenses from before and just added 4 more 2 days ago. They are:
28f3.5 with back code 7E and serial #6784741
35f2.8 with back code 8T and serial #6927040
40f1.8 with back code 2K and serial #7703541
50f1.7 with back code 7E and serial #7240478
50f1.7 with back code 7E and serial #7304605
57f1.4 with no back code and serial #7634796
200f3.5 with back code 3I and serial #7486642

Using the Konica codes posted, their manufactural dates are quite logical except for the 2 50f1.7's since these two lenses have the same back code but quite different in serial numbers. Could it be that one is made in 1977 and the other in 1987. They look the same except the #7240478 has a more greenish coating and the #7304605 is slightly more clear or blueish. The #7304605 also appears to be slightly sharper. What do your guys think?

Brian



Hi Brian,

On my Konica Hexanon 28mm f/3.5 from 1977 (s/n 6785623) is the aperture f/5.6 in red color. I've never seen this on other lenses. Do you have an idea, what's the meaning of it? Thank you for your attention! Martin J.




When mounted on a Konica 35mm camera, by setting the aperture to f5.6 and aligning the infinity mark with the red line between f3.5 and f8, then these settings should in theory give you the maximum depth of field using this aperture.


PostPosted: Wed Feb 17, 2021 7:51 am    Post subject: Re: Konica Hexanon Codes Reply with quote
konicamera wrote:
Quote:
"MYBESTKONICA" ... really? Laughing


It would indeed seem so. It sounds pretty hilarious, doesn�t it? I strongly suspect the person who came up with this idea was a sixties gung-ho Japanese mid-level manager whose English was not quite what he thought it was. Actually, you won�t find any Konica literature confirming the MYBESTKONICA thing. I (with crucial help from an Australian photographer) �discovered� this, so to speak, following years of research, but that�s a subject for another thread.


Very typical Janglish. The gas company used the famous slogan "My Gas", and after Fukushima one company made personal dosimeters called "My Dose". For the Japanese such names do not sound at all strange.
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