Great video as always! Just one thing 6:35 That's not a leaf shutter, it couldn't have have one if it takes m-mount lenses, just a good old focal plane shutter. Althought it's a vertical courtain, instead of the horizontal from the film Leicas.
My dad worked for Konica for over 25 years and has a collection of cameras from over the years including this and another Hexar and an FT-1. All mint condition still in box with original flashes and accessories. Going to try a few out this weekend.
Another good metered alternative is the Minolta CLE. I recently picked one up and Ive been LOVING it. Its by far the most compact leica-m compatible rangefinder.
1/4000 i s generally super cool and fast for rangefinders flash sync 1/125 is awesome too, usually rangefinders has like 1/60 sync speed, and according to what I see on hotshoe, it should be possible to use it with almost any modern flash in manual mode
@@frame-lines im actually really enjoying it, really nice for candids to be able to shoot wideopen without manually focusing but yeh that max shutterspeed is a killer, even with Pan F im not able to shoot f2 in daylight ;( rip bokeh
Absolutely- I’ve used that and the canon P - another great option which I also really liked but I had problems with the rangefinder patch being a bit soft
@@frame-lines I really do love everything about the canon P. Besides lack of a meter my biggest issue that I've read online is the 1x vf would be useless because I wear glasses
@@trels203 Depends on what focal length you use. I shoot a Canon P, and it's actually okay because I only shoot 50mm on it, which is the interior set of framelines. If you wear glasses, the outer 35mm framelines are difficult to see. It can still be done, but it's not easy for those of us with glasses. When I look through the viewfinder without my glasses on, I'm always amazed at how large it is. I also wish the patch was a little less soft, as mentioned, but I don't have issues in decent-to-good light.
Around 2007, I wanted this camera but ended up going with the Bessa R3A. It was way quieter and had a 1:1 OVF. It paired perfectly with the VC 40mm 1.4 SC. They’re both great cameras. The Hexar AF was another tempting camera that really appealed to me.
I've heard good things about the Hexar AF and I'd love to try one someday. The silent shutter is v appealing but i think i'd have problems with 1/250th shutter speed
I was the owner of one of these for a few minutes last year. Amazing camera and the finder is probably one of the best I've seen in an M-mount body (together with the Ikon ZM). I haven't felt the need to go hunting for one again as I just don't like the automatic film advance for some reason. I think I subconsciously connect an M-mount body to everything manual and prefer it that way. The Minolta CLE is also a great option. That is probably my favorite M-mount camera out of them all. I recently got in an M7 as well so might change my mind soon. Already shot more rolls through the M7 in the few weeks of owning it than I did through my M6 after one year of owning it. Definitely worth trying out the CLE though!
@@nedbeg667 if 1:1 is what you're looking for in a viewfinder, the r3a is definitely the way to go. Still prefer the finders of the RF and ZM, as do a lot of people who have handled all of them. Got an R2 in last year and it's definitely is up there as well, just talking about clear, big and comfortable finders, not necessarily the magnification.
@@GindahouseC I have both Konica Hexar Rf cameras and also Voigtländer Bessa r3a. The r3a's viewfinder is no darker than the RF's. If you use 40mm and 50mm lenses, the r3a's viewfinder is the best I've come across. With a 40 mm lens, the field of view is 1:1. Kind regards
I loved the Hexar RF while I had it! Stupidly sold it when I got worried about the end of factory repair services and switched to the MP, and I’ve regretted it ever since. The 0.6 viewfinder is the best for 28/35, and the build quality and industrial design are impressive. It’s the Contax 645 of rangefinders, except it’s a relative bargain because toxic Leicaphiles hated on it since it came out. With any luck, I’ll buy another one. 😁
I’ve been there. I sold my original one last year to get an m2, and although I love the m2 I really missed the ease of using the Konica. Mostly the meter & the film loading.
Love my Konica RF! It has the Leica m system but all automatic except the focusing. It made me more focus on framing and could shoot faster. Konica RF and Leica M is not comparable.
I think that's what it came down to with me too. I felt with the M2 my mind was on exposure, and reloading a lot of the time when I could have been thinking about the subjects. I'm in no way saying it's superior to the M2 but it's a nice change.
I thoroughly love Konica, I just repaired an older rangefinder from them an Auto S which predates the RF by decades. I am preparing to jump from my screw mount system cameras to an M mount and now I'm stuck between which one, I am seriously considering the RF but I am always a bit apprehensive about full electronical bodies (had several bad experiences of electronic failure) but there are now a handful of new repair shops that are willing to repair the electronical components of these types of cameras so the RF could be the choice I make now.
Hey Shane, Leica has mounted an Iso memory wheel on the back of the M2. There are 3 images representing different ISO and white balance settings. Sun, evening hour and tungsten bulb. So if you have loaded e.g. Cinestill 800 just take the bulb and set it to 800. easy peasy lemon squeezy It's a focal plane shutter, not a leaf shutter. Nice video and nice that you showed us the camera.👍
Hey Shane, got a choice for a Hexar RF and a Minolta CLE (same price with lenses) - have you had any experience with the latter and do you have an opinion on this choice? Love the smaller form factor of the CLE but on paper the RF is the more advanced camera. I shoot street photography
I love this camera. I actually bought yours Shane last year when you were selling it but ended up selling it myself because I found i didn't use it enough because I was always worried about it breaking. Do really miss it now though haha
@@frame-lines Do you still think it's a worthy camera at the current prices? I'm wondering if I should accept a mint RF + 28 + 50 + 90 Hexanon lenses for an M246 that I don't find as versatile as I would like for a digital camera...
Just picked up a Hexar RF body in Tokyo for about $700 US. They are usually much more, especially if they come with the original box (as Japanese are apt to keep). Great feel and sense of quality when handling. I'm thinking of picking up one of the Hexanon M lenses to pair with it.
My choice of a budget Leica is either a Canon P or the Canon 7 rangefinder cameras. They don't take newer M-mount lenses but it does use old Leica Screw Mount lenses which are plentiful and inexpensive.
I used a Canon P for a few months and really liked it. My only problem was the patch was sometimes difficult to focus with but i think that's a personal choice really. It's easily one of the most beautiful rangefinders imo
I have one of these! I luckily found one that was never used. in the original box and still had the tag inside the body. Then found a old new stock 35mm f2 Hexanon.
I read somewhere online that this camera needs to be calibrated to properly focus with leica m lenses and after that the konica lenses wont quite focus right. Have you had any issues getting the focus on point with a non konica lens?
Hey man, great video! I bought one with a couple of Konica lenses a few months ago. I found the rangefinder to be a bit off which got me worried about not being able to get it serviced anywhere. Turned out there are two places in the Netherlands that still service them. I brought mine to Amsterdam camera repair. They are calibrating the rangefinder as we speak and will include a full check up on the meter, shutter and exposure system to ensure everything is running as it should... for only 55€!! The only downside to the camera for me is the placement of the strap lugs that make the camera hang pointing up a bit. Don’t you have that?
That’s really good to know! I’m pretty sure Pierro at ppp repairs in the Uk can repair and recalibrate them too. Agree about the lugs. It doesn’t hang flat against my chest when I have a lighter lens like the voigt 35 on there which is a bit annoying. I’ve heard heavier lenses make it balance better.
The feeling of this camera is amazing, it feels like a premium tool. I had mine for one day and the film advance mechanism stopped working. I’m now rocking a Voigtlander r3a 😌
Doesnt it feel great? I expected it to be much more lightweight and plasticy feeling but it feels solid like an m6. Would love to try a r3a someday- beautiful camera!
The M5 is also a great option. It’s got an even better finder than the M2 and is right there with the M3 as far as design and build quality goes. It’s bigger ‘cause it’s got a very accurate spot meter and it looks unapologetically German 70s industrial design. Which is why it gets so much hate from the fan boys, who think the way the camera looks is the most important thing about it. But it was designed to be an evolution on the M3 which is why it’s such a hidden gem. Also these old M cameras are all designed to be super simple to use. The rangefinder can be intimidating of course, but apart from that nobody should be scarred of using one.
I know so little about the m5, because it seemed to be the ‘one to avoid’ but this has me interested in trying one. The m2 viewfinder is as close to perfect as I’ve ever used. It’s funny how we ignore perfectly great cameras because of aesthetics :)
Interesting review, but one suggestion; you need to learn exposure. Instead of buying a semi-automatic camera, your money would’ve been better spent picking up a light meter then teaching yourself how to use it. Once you master how to measure light, whether reflected or incident, your workflow and exposure in the fast paced environment of street photography will be more consistent. Masters of the past knew Tri-X would give them latitude even when exposure was off a stop or two- color film would not.
I have a lightmeter and sometimes use it with my M2 & Mamiya645 :) I said I was a little bit tired of manual exposure and wanted to try a rangefinder with auto exposure for a change :)
Motor wind sound seems like my Contax G2. What film did you use for the shots that you showed? Personally I thought the leggy broad in what looked like a short skirt on that train/subway or whatever, was quite nice, I suppose it would be kind of urban wildlife in its natural habitat, the female exhibiting display and plumage to the male creatures. I think it it worked. She has the knack that one. Also I think you misspoke it does not use a leaf shutter, those are found in the lens not the body, in my understanding. Best wishes!
I've used the G2 and the konica sounds exactly like it. I kind of like the sound actually :) Most of the shots were fujifilm c200 and then some kodak vision 3 film. Strongly disagree with your plumage comment- sorry
@@frame-lines No need to apologize there are as many opinions as people. I believe the G2 may use the same batteries. It would seem the possibility of shared parts might make sense, but the G2 was/is quite automated.
The Contax G2 had a looooot of common faults so be careful, and although the M6 does have auto exposure at least the meter only runs the meter and the rest of the camera is fully mechanical? and the Hexar RF was only released in 1999 so although slightly older than the M7 or Zeiss ZM it's still waaaay young in terms of film cameras, and its not a leaf shutter, a leaf shutter is built into the lens which would have made the Leica lenses waaaay more expensive than they already are , its a focal plane shutter which is how the camera can get up to 1/4000th of a second where most leaf shutters only go up to like 1/500th at the most. sorry this sounds a bit ranty its really not meant too
Have you had any trouble with your hexar? I think one of the most common reasons for people avoiding it is the anxiety over the electronics failing- so it’s interesting to hear from a long time user
@@frame-lines No, never had an issue with anything Hexar related. I treat them as if they are precious, they still look mint bar a couple of paint scuffs and they do get used a lot. Titanium is a notoriously bad surface for paint to cling to, the XPan is testament to that also.
Hey just bought one but do you know if when you leave the camera on it'll disable itself (or at least the lcd)? like the hexar AF's (2 hour interval)? or whats the battery usage of letting it on for IDK a day or something (accidentally)
Thank you for your thoughts on the Hexar RF. Love the music starting at 1:55 over your lovely images. Stereo headphones made it like a massage for my ears :-) BTW, a "leaf shutter" is built into a lens, next to the aperture diaphragm (like a Zeiss/Hasselblad lens), unlike the Hexar RF's metal focal-plane shutter.
4 года назад+1
That's just the maximum flash sync speed. If the battery dies, not only is the shutter and metering dead, but also the winder motor.
@ thanks, forgot about the motor. How much film transport noise does it make?
4 года назад
@@jklphoto Well, hard to say - the video demonstrates the noise of the shutter and wind-on, but those depend heavily on the distance to the microphone and postprocessing. I don't have many motor-drive cameras to compare to, but it's certainly louder than both the Olympus Mju I and II. If I recall correctly, it's also louder than both my sold Hexar AF and Nikon F100. I don't have anything scientific like dB values to back it up, however :)
@@frame-lines fair point. I've never actually held a hexar rf (but honestly been considering switching to it from the G2 for awhile now), but they've always just had that 'slightly cheap' look to them. I think its mostly due to the blob of texture on the front of it; would probably have really great look without it.
@@reesek1083 You have never held one, let alone use them, but you have a strong opinion about it from looking at pictures. Ha! You're probably too daft to realize how dumb that sounds.
This really is a terrific camera. It's less costly than a Leica, but hardly inexpensive. It has a wealth of feature you'll never git on a Leica. It's only downside is its relatively heavy dependence on electronics, which may a failure issue in the future. Not sure where he decided that it shares parts with the Contax G2. Their manufacturers never had anything in common. Shortly after its introduction, it was alleged that its use of the Leica M-mount was defective and therefore it didn't focus properly. Over time, that was proven to be totally bogus as being based on a failure of the originators to understand the technical difference in how Leica and Konica differently defined there specifications. Konica also produced a group of cutting edge lenses for the camera which are a great alternatives to the M-mount Leica lenses for about half the Leica prices. To get a good selection of bodies and find some of the more uncommon lenses, you have to shop in the Japanese market, where the camera was very popular.
Thanks for this video. Interesting to find on Ebay how the price of Hexar RF has gotten so high now, even surpassing the price of some of the Leica Ms.
That’s how it is for all film cameras lately. The price of m6s has gotten totally crazy. I still see some hexars for around 500, and 600 though which seems reasonable
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Great video as always! Just one thing
6:35 That's not a leaf shutter, it couldn't have have one if it takes m-mount lenses, just a good old focal plane shutter. Althought it's a vertical courtain, instead of the horizontal from the film Leicas.
My bad :)
My dad worked for Konica for over 25 years and has a collection of cameras from over the years including this and another Hexar and an FT-1. All mint condition still in box with original flashes and accessories. Going to try a few out this weekend.
Still available
would you ever consider selling a setup?
Another good metered alternative is the Minolta CLE. I recently picked one up and Ive been LOVING it. Its by far the most compact leica-m compatible rangefinder.
Is there anybody who repair Minolta today?
Is it reliable?
1/4000 i s generally super cool and fast for rangefinders
flash sync 1/125 is awesome too, usually rangefinders has like 1/60 sync speed, and according to what I see on hotshoe, it should be possible to use it with almost any modern flash in manual mode
i know the dude at 1:57, really cool guy. Another great vid, makes me want to sell my hexar AF and give the RF a try.
Ah - hope he’s ok with being on RUclips 😅 I’ve never tried the AF - Is the 250 max shutter speed a bit of a pain?
@@frame-lines im actually really enjoying it, really nice for candids to be able to shoot wideopen without manually focusing but yeh that max shutterspeed is a killer, even with Pan F im not able to shoot f2 in daylight ;( rip bokeh
The photos are seriously stunniiiinggg.
Cheers Rian- I really loved using it in Helsinki. Stress-free walking around a new city with a few rolls of film.
The shutter/winding sound is so wonderful actually it's an advantage rather than a down side!
I do like the sound but it’s hard to take a candid photo of someone on the tube with it 😅
For 2 years i really dig this Konica Hexar RF. Indeed a great camera. Subscribed!
I would consider the Voigtländer (Cosina) Bessa R2/3/4 series as a serious M-mount (i.e. M6) alternative too ✌️
Absolutely- I’ve used that and the canon P - another great option which I also really liked but I had problems with the rangefinder patch being a bit soft
@@frame-lines I really do love everything about the canon P. Besides lack of a meter my biggest issue that I've read online is the 1x vf would be useless because I wear glasses
@@trels203 Depends on what focal length you use. I shoot a Canon P, and it's actually okay because I only shoot 50mm on it, which is the interior set of framelines. If you wear glasses, the outer 35mm framelines are difficult to see. It can still be done, but it's not easy for those of us with glasses. When I look through the viewfinder without my glasses on, I'm always amazed at how large it is. I also wish the patch was a little less soft, as mentioned, but I don't have issues in decent-to-good light.
Around 2007, I wanted this camera but ended up going with the Bessa R3A. It was way quieter and had a 1:1 OVF. It paired perfectly with the VC 40mm 1.4 SC. They’re both great cameras. The Hexar AF was another tempting camera that really appealed to me.
I've heard good things about the Hexar AF and I'd love to try one someday. The silent shutter is v appealing but i think i'd have problems with 1/250th shutter speed
I was the owner of one of these for a few minutes last year. Amazing camera and the finder is probably one of the best I've seen in an M-mount body (together with the Ikon ZM). I haven't felt the need to go hunting for one again as I just don't like the automatic film advance for some reason. I think I subconsciously connect an M-mount body to everything manual and prefer it that way.
The Minolta CLE is also a great option. That is probably my favorite M-mount camera out of them all. I recently got in an M7 as well so might change my mind soon. Already shot more rolls through the M7 in the few weeks of owning it than I did through my M6 after one year of owning it. Definitely worth trying out the CLE though!
Take a look at the viewfinder from the Voigtländer Bessa r3a, then you can decide which viewfinder is the best. Kind regards
@@nedbeg667 if 1:1 is what you're looking for in a viewfinder, the r3a is definitely the way to go. Still prefer the finders of the RF and ZM, as do a lot of people who have handled all of them. Got an R2 in last year and it's definitely is up there as well, just talking about clear, big and comfortable finders, not necessarily the magnification.
@@GindahouseC I have both Konica Hexar Rf cameras and also Voigtländer Bessa r3a. The r3a's viewfinder is no darker than the RF's. If you use 40mm and 50mm lenses, the r3a's viewfinder is the best I've come across. With a 40 mm lens, the field of view is 1:1. Kind regards
Do they force this music on you guys?
I loved the Hexar RF while I had it! Stupidly sold it when I got worried about the end of factory repair services and switched to the MP, and I’ve regretted it ever since. The 0.6 viewfinder is the best for 28/35, and the build quality and industrial design are impressive. It’s the Contax 645 of rangefinders, except it’s a relative bargain because toxic Leicaphiles hated on it since it came out. With any luck, I’ll buy another one. 😁
I’ve been there. I sold my original one last year to get an m2, and although I love the m2 I really missed the ease of using the Konica. Mostly the meter & the film loading.
Another cool video. One small detail - this camera has focal-plane shutter not leaf shutter.
I’m learning a lot about leaf shutters today :)
Love my Konica RF! It has the Leica m system but all automatic except the focusing. It made me more focus on framing and could shoot faster. Konica RF and Leica M is not comparable.
I think that's what it came down to with me too. I felt with the M2 my mind was on exposure, and reloading a lot of the time when I could have been thinking about the subjects. I'm in no way saying it's superior to the M2 but it's a nice change.
@@frame-lines Indeed. Leica camera feels good in the hand. It is an artwork. But if you are more focusing on output, Konica RF is the way to go.
I thoroughly love Konica, I just repaired an older rangefinder from them an Auto S which predates the RF by decades. I am preparing to jump from my screw mount system cameras to an M mount and now I'm stuck between which one, I am seriously considering the RF but I am always a bit apprehensive about full electronical bodies (had several bad experiences of electronic failure) but there are now a handful of new repair shops that are willing to repair the electronical components of these types of cameras so the RF could be the choice I make now.
Hey Shane,
Leica has mounted an Iso memory wheel on the back of the M2. There are 3 images representing different ISO and white balance settings. Sun, evening hour and tungsten bulb. So if you have loaded e.g. Cinestill 800 just take the bulb and set it to 800. easy peasy lemon squeezy
It's a focal plane shutter, not a leaf shutter. Nice video and nice that you showed us the camera.👍
I can’t say I ever effectively used that dial 😅, but a film window is so much easier, no? I’m very pro film-window.
Hey Shane, got a choice for a Hexar RF and a Minolta CLE (same price with lenses) - have you had any experience with the latter and do you have an opinion on this choice? Love the smaller form factor of the CLE but on paper the RF is the more advanced camera. I shoot street photography
I love this camera. I actually bought yours Shane last year when you were selling it but ended up selling it myself because I found i didn't use it enough because I was always worried about it breaking. Do really miss it now though haha
Ah no way. I regretted selling it and really missed it! So I bought another one a few months ago. Are you still shooting with a rangefinder?
@@frame-lines Yeah I have a Leica M4-P which is amazing. I'm not much of an SLR shooter so needed a solid replacement for my Konica.
@@frame-lines Do you still think it's a worthy camera at the current prices? I'm wondering if I should accept a mint RF + 28 + 50 + 90 Hexanon lenses for an M246 that I don't find as versatile as I would like for a digital camera...
Just picked up a Hexar RF body in Tokyo for about $700 US. They are usually much more, especially if they come with the original box (as Japanese are apt to keep). Great feel and sense of quality when handling. I'm thinking of picking up one of the Hexanon M lenses to pair with it.
there reselling on eBay for 1 - 3 grand so 550 pounds that's a steal
Damn really? I can see why- it’s an excellent camera.
I wish you'd mentioned what film you used, scanner, etc.. Thanks.
My choice of a budget Leica is either a Canon P or the Canon 7 rangefinder cameras. They don't take newer M-mount lenses but it does use old Leica Screw Mount lenses which are plentiful and inexpensive.
I used a Canon P for a few months and really liked it. My only problem was the patch was sometimes difficult to focus with but i think that's a personal choice really. It's easily one of the most beautiful rangefinders imo
loved this straightforward overview of the camera
Cheers Ezra
I have one of these! I luckily found one that was never used. in the original box and still had the tag inside the body. Then found a old new stock 35mm f2 Hexanon.
That’s lucky alright. They seem to go for good prices mint and still boxed because I guess the electronics are less likely to fault maybe
Beautiful photos, what filM are you using ? First photos They are beautiful
Great Video Shane
Please do a video on the Yashica Electro 35 GSN... not enough video on a great lowkey camera
I actually had one of those cameras a few years ago. Gem of a camera eh?
I read somewhere online that this camera needs to be calibrated to properly focus with leica m lenses and after that the konica lenses wont quite focus right. Have you had any issues getting the focus on point with a non konica lens?
Not sure if I have missed it but what film was that?
Looks like Rollei Superpan 200.
Hi, is this lens Nokton classic 35mm F1.4 II you are using the one they still sell ?
The Hexar RF is probably the best M body for shooting 28mm due to its low viewfinder magnification. This is especially true if you wear glasses.
Hi.. How about vs Contax G1 with planar lens?
Titanium top? sounds cool. I thought it was plastic all the time and decided not to purchase it. Now I'm changing my mind.
It doesn't feel at all 'plasticy'. It's very robust and solid
Hey man, great video! I bought one with a couple of Konica lenses a few months ago. I found the rangefinder to be a bit off which got me worried about not being able to get it serviced anywhere. Turned out there are two places in the Netherlands that still service them. I brought mine to Amsterdam camera repair. They are calibrating the rangefinder as we speak and will include a full check up on the meter, shutter and exposure system to ensure everything is running as it should... for only 55€!! The only downside to the camera for me is the placement of the strap lugs that make the camera hang pointing up a bit. Don’t you have that?
That’s really good to know! I’m pretty sure Pierro at ppp repairs in the Uk can repair and recalibrate them too. Agree about the lugs. It doesn’t hang flat against my chest when I have a lighter lens like the voigt 35 on there which is a bit annoying. I’ve heard heavier lenses make it balance better.
Never knew I wanted one until now. Great vid!
Its a really great camera if you’re into film rangefinders
The feeling of this camera is amazing, it feels like a premium tool. I had mine for one day and the film advance mechanism stopped working. I’m now rocking a Voigtlander r3a 😌
Doesnt it feel great? I expected it to be much more lightweight and plasticy feeling but it feels solid like an m6. Would love to try a r3a someday- beautiful camera!
Did it fail completely, as in paperweight now? hmm
The Minolta CLE is a great option too
I've tried the Leica CL for a bit but never the CLE. So tiny!
Great video and cool camera!
2:38 is an incredible shot
Thanks Joel. That was at one of the final pro europe rallys before 'Brexit Day' in 2019
The M5 is also a great option. It’s got an even better finder than the M2 and is right there with the M3 as far as design and build quality goes. It’s bigger ‘cause it’s got a very accurate spot meter and it looks unapologetically German 70s industrial design. Which is why it gets so much hate from the fan boys, who think the way the camera looks is the most important thing about it. But it was designed to be an evolution on the M3 which is why it’s such a hidden gem. Also these old M cameras are all designed to be super simple to use. The rangefinder can be intimidating of course, but apart from that nobody should be scarred of using one.
I know so little about the m5, because it seemed to be the ‘one to avoid’ but this has me interested in trying one. The m2 viewfinder is as close to perfect as I’ve ever used. It’s funny how we ignore perfectly great cameras because of aesthetics :)
What lenses were used to take those pictures?
The price on Ebay is somewhat around €2500 with lens.
There’s one on eBay right now for £590 buy it now. Are you sure you’re not looking at a collector version?
Which lens? You’re definitely looking at the limited version with the 50 1.2.
Interesting review, but one suggestion; you need to learn exposure. Instead of buying a semi-automatic camera, your money would’ve been better spent picking up a light meter then teaching yourself how to use it. Once you master how to measure light, whether reflected or incident, your workflow and exposure in the fast paced environment of street photography will be more consistent. Masters of the past knew Tri-X would give them latitude even when exposure was off a stop or two- color film would not.
I have a lightmeter and sometimes use it with my M2 & Mamiya645 :) I said I was a little bit tired of manual exposure and wanted to try a rangefinder with auto exposure for a change :)
Motor wind sound seems like my Contax G2. What film did you use for the shots that you showed? Personally I thought the leggy broad in what looked like a short skirt on that train/subway or whatever, was quite nice, I suppose it would be kind of urban wildlife in its natural habitat, the female exhibiting display and plumage to the male creatures. I think it it worked. She has the knack that one. Also I think you misspoke it does not use a leaf shutter, those are found in the lens not the body, in my understanding. Best wishes!
I've used the G2 and the konica sounds exactly like it. I kind of like the sound actually :) Most of the shots were fujifilm c200 and then some kodak vision 3 film. Strongly disagree with your plumage comment- sorry
@@frame-lines No need to apologize there are as many opinions as people. I believe the G2 may use the same batteries. It would seem the possibility of shared parts might make sense, but the G2 was/is quite automated.
The Contax G2 had a looooot of common faults so be careful, and although the M6 does have auto exposure at least the meter only runs the meter and the rest of the camera is fully mechanical? and the Hexar RF was only released in 1999 so although slightly older than the M7 or Zeiss ZM it's still waaaay young in terms of film cameras, and its not a leaf shutter, a leaf shutter is built into the lens which would have made the Leica lenses waaaay more expensive than they already are , its a focal plane shutter which is how the camera can get up to 1/4000th of a second where most leaf shutters only go up to like 1/500th at the most. sorry this sounds a bit ranty its really not meant too
The Hexar was released prior to the M7, I have have owned both since they became available and the Hexar is a great professional tool.
Have you had any trouble with your hexar? I think one of the most common reasons for people avoiding it is the anxiety over the electronics failing- so it’s interesting to hear from a long time user
@@frame-lines No, never had an issue with anything Hexar related. I treat them as if they are precious, they still look mint bar a couple of paint scuffs and they do get used a lot. Titanium is a notoriously bad surface for paint to cling to, the XPan is testament to that also.
what about Minolta CLE?
CR2 batteries are often in supermarkets
That first photo is 🙏
thanks matthew :)
The prices on these went nuts ! They use to be bought in by dealers for £150 for the body not long ago !
How long ago was that? I remember them being around 500 last year and can still be had for roughly the same
@@frame-lines 4-5 years ago .
@@carforumwanker Damn. I wish I had the foresight to snap a few up :)
@@frame-lines Epson RD1 also use to be super cheap .And what about Contax G2's !!!! At one point many dealers would not touch them
Love the channel 👍🏻📷
Thanks Ross. We’re going to do an AMA for the next video so let us know if you have any questions
Been saving to buy one of this, real worried this video will add a few more months of saving if the price bumps
ah i dont think we're that influential :)
Hey just bought one but do you know if when you leave the camera on it'll disable itself (or at least the lcd)? like the hexar AF's (2 hour interval)? or whats the battery usage of letting it on for IDK a day or something (accidentally)
No m5?
Just like the Xpan, the Hexar is a ticking time bomb.
I was supposing the Leica q was enough for you?
For digital, yes. For film i still use the hexar :)
Why not the Leica M5?
This is a very good question. Maybe a future video to look at the m5. It's definitely a very under-appreciated camera
Thank you for your thoughts on the Hexar RF. Love the music starting at 1:55 over your lovely images. Stereo headphones made it like a massage for my ears :-) BTW, a "leaf shutter" is built into a lens, next to the aperture diaphragm (like a Zeiss/Hasselblad lens), unlike the Hexar RF's metal focal-plane shutter.
That's just the maximum flash sync speed. If the battery dies, not only is the shutter and metering dead, but also the winder motor.
@ thanks, forgot about the motor. How much film transport noise does it make?
@@jklphoto Well, hard to say - the video demonstrates the noise of the shutter and wind-on, but those depend heavily on the distance to the microphone and postprocessing. I don't have many motor-drive cameras to compare to, but it's certainly louder than both the Olympus Mju I and II. If I recall correctly, it's also louder than both my sold Hexar AF and Nikon F100. I don't have anything scientific like dB values to back it up, however :)
interesting but i have now fujifilm x pro3...
Nice video guys
Man this “budget” camera is ways to overprice for me :)))
It’s not cheap, but compared to a Leica or even the zeiss ikon it’s not bad :)
Budget LEICA
But he never said it was a budget camera....
this is basically halfway between a G2 and a m7, but not as well made as either
What makes you say that? I’ve used both and they feel as solid and as well made as each other. The g2 is notorious for failing.
@@frame-lines fair point. I've never actually held a hexar rf (but honestly been considering switching to it from the G2 for awhile now), but they've always just had that 'slightly cheap' look to them. I think its mostly due to the blob of texture on the front of it; would probably have really great look without it.
@@reesek1083 You have never held one, let alone use them, but you have a strong opinion about it from looking at pictures. Ha! You're probably too daft to realize how dumb that sounds.
The Hexar RF is a beast. G2 is hot garbage.
This really is a terrific camera. It's less costly than a Leica, but hardly inexpensive. It has a wealth of feature you'll never git on a Leica. It's only downside is its relatively heavy dependence on electronics, which may a failure issue in the future. Not sure where he decided that it shares parts with the Contax G2. Their manufacturers never had anything in common. Shortly after its introduction, it was alleged that its use of the Leica M-mount was defective and therefore it didn't focus properly. Over time, that was proven to be totally bogus as being based on a failure of the originators to understand the technical difference in how Leica and Konica differently defined there specifications. Konica also produced a group of cutting edge lenses for the camera which are a great alternatives to the M-mount Leica lenses for about half the Leica prices. To get a good selection of bodies and find some of the more uncommon lenses, you have to shop in the Japanese market, where the camera was very popular.
I really want to get my hands on the hexanon m glass alright. I’ve heard very good things about those lenses, especially the 50
Just a shame that these are near enough £1000 now :(
That's a focal plane shutter
So it is- I think I had it confused with the AF version
Thanks for this video. Interesting to find on Ebay how the price of Hexar RF has gotten so high now, even surpassing the price of some of the Leica Ms.
That’s how it is for all film cameras lately. The price of m6s has gotten totally crazy. I still see some hexars for around 500, and 600 though which seems reasonable
Still worth considering; saw a few on ebay that's affordable enough.
The Konica does NOT have a leaf shutter, it has a focal plane shutter. Basic correct facts would help.
Titanium would make it nice and light, no? Not add to the heft...
Guess it depends on how much titanium is used and what you’re comparing it to. Point being is that’s it’s heavier than it looks :)
Is there anybody who rapair Konica today?
Mine is silent..
Leica m5.
Not budget anymore.
‘Budget’ does not mean cheap.
it can mean cheap or inexpensive, no?
@@frame-lines not really. The phrase ‘ low budget ‘ does however 🤓
Leica M7 is cheaper now then this konica wtf!!!