Konica 57mm F1.4 Hexanon EE / Chrome

[mdecorte]

I recently purchased a Konica 57mm F1.4 Hexanon EE in an Konica AR bayonet mount for my X-T1 with Firmware 3.1 from KEH.  It was in excellent condition.  A few observations:

 

- This is a smaller lens, but not Leica small.  For comparison to the Fuji 56/1.2 vs the Konica: filter size is 62mm filter vs 55mm; weight is 405 vs 280 grams; length is 70 mm vs 42mm (74 with adapter).  A Leica Summilux M is 50/1.4 is 46mm filter; 335 grm; 52mm length.  

 

- As expected the lens reminds me very much of the lenses I had in the 80s.  It looks good on the Fuji and a quick glance would suggest that it was a 80s vintage film camera.

 

- Handling is good.  Large focus ring with a nice through and nicely dampened.  Focus has infinity on the right like Leica lenses, but opposite from Fuji.  The aperture ring has rather stiff clicks on the half stops.  Close focus is about 1.5 feet--very nice.

 

- At F1.4 the lens is nicely sharp in the center, a little soft in the corners, slightly low contrast.  By F2.8 its clearly up well.  Note, compared to the Fuji 35mm, it never catches up, but I'm more than happy at all apertures. 

 

- Focus Peaking works great with this lens.  The edges just glow including the eye's iris edge and eyelids edges. Still, at F1.4 with a tight headshot, I'm probably at 50% in focus at 1:1 in LR.  Maybe with practice this will get better--but that's my issue not the lens.  

 

Here are some photos of lens and brick walls and my daughter.  SOC untouched.  

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mdecorte/sets/72157652851926514/

 

[jbs054]

After picking up a couple of Hexanons for $5 each at the thrift store, I grabbed an adapter for my X-E1 and found that the flange distance of the Konica is shorter than most 35mm systems (esp. Nikon.) So I found a 24mm f2.8 on eBay and am now in heaven. It's a great little lens the Hexanon 24mm - if you're into that focal length (36mm equiv) look for the series that has an f22 maximum - it's a smaller and better lens than the ones that only close down to f16. It's no bigger, with adapter, than the 18-55.