Hexar RF
Encyclopedia
The Konica
Hexar RF was a 35 mm
rangefinder camera
sold by Konica
. It
was introduced to the market on 13 October 1999. and subsequently discontinued (apparently
without official notice) some time before the end of 2003. The
camera used the "Bayonet Konica KM mount", a copy of the Leica M mount
,
thus sharing interchangeable lenses with those designed for Leica cameras and
others compatible with them. The Hexar RF has a combined rangefinder
/viewfinder
modeled
on that of Leica cameras, a similar body shape and size - and so is similar to
Leica M mount cameras in many aspects of operation.
Hexar RF accepts
lenses
designed for the "Bayonet Konica KM
mount" a copy of the Leica M mount
. Because of this, the Hexar RF can
mount and focus
lenses designed for the Leica and other compatible M mount cameras or, when used with an adapter, the earlier
Leica thread mount
lenses (note that due to physical constraints there is no adapter to allow bayonet mount lenses to be fitted to a Leica screw-mount camera).
When first released there was some controversy and discussion about whether the "Bayonet
Konica KM mount" of the Hexar RF was, in fact, fully compatible with the Leica M mount
. Some earlier testers reported problems using Leica lenses on Hexar RF cameras. Konica
made no comment on the issue, and continued to refer to their lens mount by their own name, with no reference to Leica.
Other testers found no problems, and suggested that early reports may
have related problems with early-production samples or to cameras at one end of a tolerance
range matched with lenses at the other, and so claimed there was no systemic problem. The
latter seems to have become the consensus view. Many users report using Leica and
Konica lenses and cameras interchangeably with good results, including lenses of longer
focal length
or wider maximum aperture
where problems are more likely to be
encountered.
The Konica Hexar RF camera uses a viewfinder
combined with a
lens
-coupled "split-image and double image rangefinder
" with illuminated,
parallax
-corrected, brightline framelines. As such it is very similar to the viewfinder/rangefinder of Leica M mount cameras (if, perhaps, not as bright).
The brightline framelines that show in the viewfinder are selected from one of three
frameline pairings, depending on the
lens
(or lens adapter) mounted on the camera:
These pairings are the same as those used for later Leica M series
camera
viewfinders (Leica M4-P and subsequent models) and use the same frameline selection
mechanism at the lens mount. A frameline preview lever on the front of the camera allows for
temporary selection of a frameline pair other than the one selected by the mounted lens.
The .60x magnification used in the Hexar RF viewfinder allows for all framelines to be easily
seen, including by those wearing eyeglasses - even the 28 mm frameline (the largest). This
also allows for generous amounts of "outside the frame" space in the viewfinder for other
focal lengths, which can aid photographic composition
. However, the reduced apparent
size of the viewfinder image can make composing and accurate focus
more difficult when
using longer focal length
lenses
. (Note, by way of contrast, that the
"standard" Leica viewfinder magnification has been .72x from the Leica M2
onwards,
with .58x and .85x as options on more recent models including the current M7
and MP
models.)
Hexar RF is similar in form-factor to Leica M mount
cameras
, being slightly larger than the archetypal Leica M3
design in all dimensions,
and just slightly heavier when batteries
are fitted. Body construction is a
cast-aluminium
chassis with titanium
top and bottom plates, finished in flat black,
with a rubberised cover and slightly raised hand-grip.
The chassis of the Hexar RF appears to be identical to that used by the Contax G2, with
different top and bottom plates and similar but not identical film transport and shutter
mechanisms. While the Hexar RF appears in some ways similar to the earlier auto-focus
Konica Hexar
camera, it seems to share few if any components with that camera.
Major controls, including shutter release button, surrounding off/mode switch, film-
speed/exposure-compensation dial and shutter speed dial are located on the right-hand side of
the top plate, as seen from the rear, as is the LCD displaying the current frame count. The
viewfinder is located on the upper left-hand side of the camera. The manual rewind button,
release catch for the camera back and cable release socket are on the left-hand side of the
camera. The lens mount release and frameline preview lever are located on the front of the
camera. The bottom plate has the cover for the batteries and a tripod socket.
Hexar RF has a hinged, swing-open, camera back with cut-out view window
to show the film
loaded in the camera
. Film loading, advance and rewind is motorised
and automatic. A button to manually trigger film rewind is also provided. Film sensitivity
can be detected via standard DX encoding
or the ISO value can be selected manually.
Film is automatically advanced to the next frame (and the shutter
cocked) after each
shutter activation. Shutter release and film advance are as described under shutter below.
When the end of a film is reached (or the manual rewind button pressed), the film is wound
back into the film canister, with a brief pause to allow the film to be removed "leader out"
if desired.
Film transport is very different from Leica M mount
film cameras, which require manual
film handling through a removable bottom plate and flip-up camera back, with film advance and
rewind using manual levers and rewind cranks.
Hexar RF has a metal
, vertical travel, focal plane shutter
with
digital electronic
control of
shutter speed
. There is no provision for
non-electronic shutter release: charged
batteries
are always required for shutter
operation.
Shutter speeds between 16 seconds and 1/4000th of a second (continuous) are supported in
aperture priority
auto-exposure
metering mode. Shutter speeds from one second
to
1/4000th of a second (in discrete steps) may be selected in manual exposure
mode. A bulb
(B) mode is also supported (the shutter remains open while shutter release is activated).
Shutter release modes (and film
advance) are controlled by a 4-position switch
surrounding the top-mounted shutter release button. Positions are:
Shutter release is activated by pressing the top-mounted shutter release button or by a
cable release inserted in a standard socket located on the side of the camera.
Hexar RF meters for
exposure
either by aperture priority
auto-exposure
(with AE lock and +/-2EV
exposure compensation
) or in metered-manual mode. Aperture priority is selected by setting the shutter speed
dial to either the AE or AE lock position. Manual exposure is set by selecting a specific shutter speed on the shutter
speed dial (there is a central interlock button to prevent accidentally moving the dial from
the AE modes to a manually-selected shutter speed).
Exposure metering is through-the-lens (TTL
) and thus accounts for the aperture
set on the lens
in use. (Unlike SLR
lenses, where the diaphragm controlling lens aperture is generally closed only at the time of shutter release, rangefinder camera
lenses close or open the diaphragm directly as the aperture control is applied).
Hexar RF has a hot-shoe with direct-X flash
synchronisation. Flash operation is manual-only: more modern TTL flash metering is not
supported. Flash synchronisation speed is 1/125th of a second.
Hexar RF was sold either "body only" or as a set in a presentation box
containing the Konica Hexar RF camera
, an M-Hexanon 50 mm f2 lens
and an HX-18
electronic flash unit (along with a manual and accessories including a camera strap, body
cap and front and rear lens caps).
The original release of the Konica
Hexar RF camera
was accompanied by the
release of three "Konica KM bayonet mount"
lenses
for use on Konica RF cameras and
others, such as Leica, with compatible lens mounts
. These lenses were in 50 mm, 28mm and 90 mm focal lengths.
Subsequently, in 2001, an M-Hexanon 35 mm f2 lens was released, and a new-model 50 mm
f1.2 lens was produced, for release only with a 2001-release limited-edition version of the Hexar RF camera.
In 2002 a dual focal length
lens
, the "M-Hexanon Dual Lens 21-35mm/F3.4-4" was
introduced. Altogether, the range of "Bayonet Konica KM mount" lenses produced consists of:
Konica's Leica-mount Hexanon lenses (whether Leica M mount
or Leica thread mount
) are considered to have optical and build qualities of a high standard: not
dissimilar to those produced by Leica and Carl Zeiss. Konica's lenses were even used as a reference for the Japanese Ministry of Industry as the benchmark against other manufacturers' lenses . Production of M-Hexanon lenses
seems to have ceased around the same time as Konica's Hexar RF production was terminated
(2003).
lenses for the Leica mount in
the 1950s and produced a series of so-called "L Mount" lenses, in limited quantities, for the
same mount in the late 1990s through 2001.
The range of Leica thread mount
lenses produced by Konica includes:
1950s
1990s - 2001
produced a chrome-finish Hexar RF camera
, targeted for the year 2001
(the new millennium
) in a limited release of 2001 units, supplied in a boxed set including
a new M-Hexanon 50 mm f1.2 lens and HX-18 flash. The lens was only
manufactured for this set, so examples are unavailable except in conjunction with the
limited-edition kit or the (apparently few) occasions where components of the kit have been
separated. This means that most are held by collectors or those willing to pay "collectible"
prices.
made 50 units of a half-frame
variant of the camera.
Hexar RF camera
was discontinued, without official
announcement, some time before the end of 2003. Konica
and
Minolta
(who had previously manufactured the Leitz/Minolta CL
and
Minolta CLE
M mount
cameras) merged to form Konica Minolta
in
2003. In 2006 Sony
acquired photographic assets from Konica Minolta
, with the latter company withdrawing from all photography-related activity. The targets of the acquisition by Sony
were the designs and tooling for Minolta
/Konica Minolta
SLR
cameras and accessories. It is not known whether Sony
acquired other photographic assets such as rangefinder camera designs or whether those are retained by Konica Minolta
. Whatever the case, none of the involved companies has expressed any interest in renewed production of rangefinder cameras or lenses.
Anecdotal reports (one from 7 FEB 2009) suggest that Sony Japan, but no other Sony location, may retain the capability and parts to repair Hexar RF cameras.
Konica
was a Japanese manufacturer of, among other products, film, film cameras, camera accessories, photographic and photo-processing equipment, photocopiers, fax machines and laser printers.- History :...
Hexar RF was a 35 mm
135 film
The term 135 was introduced by Kodak in 1934 as a designation for cartridge film wide, specifically for still photography. It quickly grew in popularity, surpassing 120 film by the late 1960s to become the most popular photographic film format...
rangefinder camera
Rangefinder camera
A rangefinder camera is a camera fitted with a rangefinder: a range-finding focusing mechanism allowing the photographer to measure the subject distance and take photographs that are in sharp focus...
sold by Konica
Konica
was a Japanese manufacturer of, among other products, film, film cameras, camera accessories, photographic and photo-processing equipment, photocopiers, fax machines and laser printers.- History :...
. It
was introduced to the market on 13 October 1999. and subsequently discontinued (apparently
without official notice) some time before the end of 2003. The
camera used the "Bayonet Konica KM mount", a copy of the Leica M mount
Leica M mount
The Leica M mount is a camera lens mount introduced in 1954 with the Leica M3, and a range of lenses. It has been on all the Leica M series up to the current film Leica M7 and digital Leica M9....
,
thus sharing interchangeable lenses with those designed for Leica cameras and
others compatible with them. The Hexar RF has a combined rangefinder
Rangefinder
A rangefinder is a device that measures distance from the observer to a target, for the purposes of surveying, determining focus in photography, or accurately aiming a weapon. Some devices use active methods to measure ; others measure distance using trigonometry...
/viewfinder
Viewfinder
In photography, a viewfinder is what the photographer looks through to compose, and in many cases to focus, the picture. Most viewfinders are separate, and suffer parallax, while the single-lens reflex camera lets the viewfinder use the main optical system. Viewfinders are used in many cameras of...
modeled
on that of Leica cameras, a similar body shape and size - and so is similar to
Leica M mount cameras in many aspects of operation.
Lens mount
The KonicaKonica
was a Japanese manufacturer of, among other products, film, film cameras, camera accessories, photographic and photo-processing equipment, photocopiers, fax machines and laser printers.- History :...
Hexar RF accepts
lenses
Photographic lens
A camera lens is an optical lens or assembly of lenses used in conjunction with a camera body and mechanism to make images of objects either on photographic film or on other media capable of storing an image chemically or electronically.While in principle a simple convex lens will suffice, in...
designed for the "Bayonet Konica KM
mount" a copy of the Leica M mount
Leica M mount
The Leica M mount is a camera lens mount introduced in 1954 with the Leica M3, and a range of lenses. It has been on all the Leica M series up to the current film Leica M7 and digital Leica M9....
. Because of this, the Hexar RF can
mount and focus
Focus (optics)
In geometrical optics, a focus, also called an image point, is the point where light rays originating from a point on the object converge. Although the focus is conceptually a point, physically the focus has a spatial extent, called the blur circle. This non-ideal focusing may be caused by...
lenses designed for the Leica and other compatible M mount cameras or, when used with an adapter, the earlier
Leica thread mount
M39 lens mount
The M39 lens mount is a screw thread mounting system for attaching lenses to 35 mm cameras, primarily rangefinder Leicas. It is also the most common mount for Photographic enlarger lenses....
lenses (note that due to physical constraints there is no adapter to allow bayonet mount lenses to be fitted to a Leica screw-mount camera).
When first released there was some controversy and discussion about whether the "Bayonet
Konica KM mount" of the Hexar RF was, in fact, fully compatible with the Leica M mount
Leica M mount
The Leica M mount is a camera lens mount introduced in 1954 with the Leica M3, and a range of lenses. It has been on all the Leica M series up to the current film Leica M7 and digital Leica M9....
. Some earlier testers reported problems using Leica lenses on Hexar RF cameras. Konica
Konica
was a Japanese manufacturer of, among other products, film, film cameras, camera accessories, photographic and photo-processing equipment, photocopiers, fax machines and laser printers.- History :...
made no comment on the issue, and continued to refer to their lens mount by their own name, with no reference to Leica.
Other testers found no problems, and suggested that early reports may
have related problems with early-production samples or to cameras at one end of a tolerance
range matched with lenses at the other, and so claimed there was no systemic problem. The
latter seems to have become the consensus view. Many users report using Leica and
Konica lenses and cameras interchangeably with good results, including lenses of longer
focal length
Focal length
The focal length of an optical system is a measure of how strongly the system converges or diverges light. For an optical system in air, it is the distance over which initially collimated rays are brought to a focus...
or wider maximum aperture
Aperture
In optics, an aperture is a hole or an opening through which light travels. More specifically, the aperture of an optical system is the opening that determines the cone angle of a bundle of rays that come to a focus in the image plane. The aperture determines how collimated the admitted rays are,...
where problems are more likely to be
encountered.
Viewfinder/Rangefinder
Viewfinder
In photography, a viewfinder is what the photographer looks through to compose, and in many cases to focus, the picture. Most viewfinders are separate, and suffer parallax, while the single-lens reflex camera lets the viewfinder use the main optical system. Viewfinders are used in many cameras of...
combined with a
lens
Photographic lens
A camera lens is an optical lens or assembly of lenses used in conjunction with a camera body and mechanism to make images of objects either on photographic film or on other media capable of storing an image chemically or electronically.While in principle a simple convex lens will suffice, in...
-coupled "split-image and double image rangefinder
Rangefinder
A rangefinder is a device that measures distance from the observer to a target, for the purposes of surveying, determining focus in photography, or accurately aiming a weapon. Some devices use active methods to measure ; others measure distance using trigonometry...
" with illuminated,
parallax
Parallax
Parallax is a displacement or difference in the apparent position of an object viewed along two different lines of sight, and is measured by the angle or semi-angle of inclination between those two lines. The term is derived from the Greek παράλλαξις , meaning "alteration"...
-corrected, brightline framelines. As such it is very similar to the viewfinder/rangefinder of Leica M mount cameras (if, perhaps, not as bright).
The brightline framelines that show in the viewfinder are selected from one of three
frameline pairings, depending on the
lens
Photographic lens
A camera lens is an optical lens or assembly of lenses used in conjunction with a camera body and mechanism to make images of objects either on photographic film or on other media capable of storing an image chemically or electronically.While in principle a simple convex lens will suffice, in...
(or lens adapter) mounted on the camera:
- 50 mm and 75 mm
- 28 mm and 90 mm
- 35 mm and 135 mm
These pairings are the same as those used for later Leica M series
Leica M mount
The Leica M mount is a camera lens mount introduced in 1954 with the Leica M3, and a range of lenses. It has been on all the Leica M series up to the current film Leica M7 and digital Leica M9....
camera
viewfinders (Leica M4-P and subsequent models) and use the same frameline selection
mechanism at the lens mount. A frameline preview lever on the front of the camera allows for
temporary selection of a frameline pair other than the one selected by the mounted lens.
The .60x magnification used in the Hexar RF viewfinder allows for all framelines to be easily
seen, including by those wearing eyeglasses - even the 28 mm frameline (the largest). This
also allows for generous amounts of "outside the frame" space in the viewfinder for other
focal lengths, which can aid photographic composition
Composition (visual arts)
In the visual arts – in particular painting, graphic design, photography and sculpture – composition is the placement or arrangement of visual elements or ingredients in a work of art or a photograph, as distinct from the subject of a work...
. However, the reduced apparent
size of the viewfinder image can make composing and accurate focus
Focus (optics)
In geometrical optics, a focus, also called an image point, is the point where light rays originating from a point on the object converge. Although the focus is conceptually a point, physically the focus has a spatial extent, called the blur circle. This non-ideal focusing may be caused by...
more difficult when
using longer focal length
Focal length
The focal length of an optical system is a measure of how strongly the system converges or diverges light. For an optical system in air, it is the distance over which initially collimated rays are brought to a focus...
lenses
Photographic lens
A camera lens is an optical lens or assembly of lenses used in conjunction with a camera body and mechanism to make images of objects either on photographic film or on other media capable of storing an image chemically or electronically.While in principle a simple convex lens will suffice, in...
. (Note, by way of contrast, that the
"standard" Leica viewfinder magnification has been .72x from the Leica M2
Leica M2
The Leica M2 is a 35 mm rangefinder camera by Ernst Leitz GmbH of Wetzlar, Germany, introduced in 1957. Around 82,000 M2s were produced between 1957 and 1968...
onwards,
with .58x and .85x as options on more recent models including the current M7
Leica M7
The Leica M7 is a 35 mm camera by Leica AG introduced in 2002. It is the direct successor to the M6. The Leica M7 is a departure from previous mechanical designs for the M series....
and MP
Leica MP
The Leica MP is a 35 mm film camera manufactured by Leica Camera AG and was introduced in 2003. It is an all-mechanical rangefinder focusing camera that follows in a long line of cameras since the Leica M3 was introduced in 1954. The camera uses the Leica M Bayonet Mount which accepts all Leica...
models.)
Camera body
The KonicaKonica
was a Japanese manufacturer of, among other products, film, film cameras, camera accessories, photographic and photo-processing equipment, photocopiers, fax machines and laser printers.- History :...
Hexar RF is similar in form-factor to Leica M mount
Leica M mount
The Leica M mount is a camera lens mount introduced in 1954 with the Leica M3, and a range of lenses. It has been on all the Leica M series up to the current film Leica M7 and digital Leica M9....
cameras
Camera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...
, being slightly larger than the archetypal Leica M3
Leica M3
The Leica M3 is a 35 mm rangefinder camera by Leica AG, introduced in 1954. It was a new starting point for Leitz, which until then had only produced screw-mount Leica cameras that were incremental improvements to its original Leica...
design in all dimensions,
and just slightly heavier when batteries
Battery (electricity)
An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Since the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta and especially since the technically improved Daniell cell in 1836, batteries have become a common power...
are fitted. Body construction is a
cast-aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
chassis with titanium
Titanium
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color....
top and bottom plates, finished in flat black,
with a rubberised cover and slightly raised hand-grip.
The chassis of the Hexar RF appears to be identical to that used by the Contax G2, with
different top and bottom plates and similar but not identical film transport and shutter
mechanisms. While the Hexar RF appears in some ways similar to the earlier auto-focus
Konica Hexar
Konica Hexar
The Konica Hexar is a 35 mm fixed-lens,fixed focal length autofocus camera which was produced through the 1990s. It was introduced to the market in 1993...
camera, it seems to share few if any components with that camera.
Major controls, including shutter release button, surrounding off/mode switch, film-
speed/exposure-compensation dial and shutter speed dial are located on the right-hand side of
the top plate, as seen from the rear, as is the LCD displaying the current frame count. The
viewfinder is located on the upper left-hand side of the camera. The manual rewind button,
release catch for the camera back and cable release socket are on the left-hand side of the
camera. The lens mount release and frameline preview lever are located on the front of the
camera. The bottom plate has the cover for the batteries and a tripod socket.
Film transport
The KonicaKonica
was a Japanese manufacturer of, among other products, film, film cameras, camera accessories, photographic and photo-processing equipment, photocopiers, fax machines and laser printers.- History :...
Hexar RF has a hinged, swing-open, camera back with cut-out view window
to show the film
Photographic film
Photographic film is a sheet of plastic coated with an emulsion containing light-sensitive silver halide salts with variable crystal sizes that determine the sensitivity, contrast and resolution of the film...
loaded in the camera
Camera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...
. Film loading, advance and rewind is motorised
and automatic. A button to manually trigger film rewind is also provided. Film sensitivity
can be detected via standard DX encoding
DX encoding
DX encoding is an ANSI and I3A standard, originally introduced by Kodak in March 1983, for marking 135 and APS photographic film and film cartridges...
or the ISO value can be selected manually.
Film is automatically advanced to the next frame (and the shutter
Shutter (photography)
In photography, a shutter is a device that allows light to pass for a determined period of time, for the purpose of exposing photographic film or a light-sensitive electronic sensor to light to capture a permanent image of a scene...
cocked) after each
shutter activation. Shutter release and film advance are as described under shutter below.
When the end of a film is reached (or the manual rewind button pressed), the film is wound
back into the film canister, with a brief pause to allow the film to be removed "leader out"
if desired.
Film transport is very different from Leica M mount
Leica M mount
The Leica M mount is a camera lens mount introduced in 1954 with the Leica M3, and a range of lenses. It has been on all the Leica M series up to the current film Leica M7 and digital Leica M9....
film cameras, which require manual
film handling through a removable bottom plate and flip-up camera back, with film advance and
rewind using manual levers and rewind cranks.
Shutter
The KonicaKonica
was a Japanese manufacturer of, among other products, film, film cameras, camera accessories, photographic and photo-processing equipment, photocopiers, fax machines and laser printers.- History :...
Hexar RF has a metal
Metal
A metal , is an element, compound, or alloy that is a good conductor of both electricity and heat. Metals are usually malleable and shiny, that is they reflect most of incident light...
, vertical travel, focal plane shutter
Shutter (photography)
In photography, a shutter is a device that allows light to pass for a determined period of time, for the purpose of exposing photographic film or a light-sensitive electronic sensor to light to capture a permanent image of a scene...
with
digital electronic
Electronics
Electronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
control of
shutter speed
Shutter speed
In photography, shutter speed is a common term used to discuss exposure time, the effective length of time a camera's shutter is open....
. There is no provision for
non-electronic shutter release: charged
batteries
Battery (electricity)
An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Since the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta and especially since the technically improved Daniell cell in 1836, batteries have become a common power...
are always required for shutter
operation.
Shutter speeds between 16 seconds and 1/4000th of a second (continuous) are supported in
aperture priority
Aperture priority
Aperture priority, often abbreviated A or Av on a camera mode dial, is a setting on some cameras that allows the user to choose a specific aperture value while the camera selects a shutter speed to match. The camera will ensure proper exposure...
auto-exposure
Exposure (photography)
In photography, exposure is the total amount of light allowed to fall on the photographic medium during the process of taking a photograph. Exposure is measured in lux seconds, and can be computed from exposure value and scene luminance over a specified area.In photographic jargon, an exposure...
metering mode. Shutter speeds from one second
Second
The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock....
to
1/4000th of a second (in discrete steps) may be selected in manual exposure
Exposure (photography)
In photography, exposure is the total amount of light allowed to fall on the photographic medium during the process of taking a photograph. Exposure is measured in lux seconds, and can be computed from exposure value and scene luminance over a specified area.In photographic jargon, an exposure...
mode. A bulb
(B) mode is also supported (the shutter remains open while shutter release is activated).
Shutter release modes (and film
Photographic film
Photographic film is a sheet of plastic coated with an emulsion containing light-sensitive silver halide salts with variable crystal sizes that determine the sensitivity, contrast and resolution of the film...
advance) are controlled by a 4-position switch
surrounding the top-mounted shutter release button. Positions are:
- off the camera is off (the LCD frame counter remains on while batteries are present, giving an indication that batteries are charged).
- single-shot the shutter is released and one frame advanced each time the shutter release is activated
- continuous the shutter is released and film advanced for as long as the shutter release is activated, at approximately 2.5 frames per second
- self-timer the shutter is released, and one frame advanced, 10 seconds after shutter release is activated
Shutter release is activated by pressing the top-mounted shutter release button or by a
cable release inserted in a standard socket located on the side of the camera.
Exposure metering
The KonicaKonica
was a Japanese manufacturer of, among other products, film, film cameras, camera accessories, photographic and photo-processing equipment, photocopiers, fax machines and laser printers.- History :...
Hexar RF meters for
exposure
Exposure (photography)
In photography, exposure is the total amount of light allowed to fall on the photographic medium during the process of taking a photograph. Exposure is measured in lux seconds, and can be computed from exposure value and scene luminance over a specified area.In photographic jargon, an exposure...
either by aperture priority
Aperture priority
Aperture priority, often abbreviated A or Av on a camera mode dial, is a setting on some cameras that allows the user to choose a specific aperture value while the camera selects a shutter speed to match. The camera will ensure proper exposure...
auto-exposure
Exposure (photography)
In photography, exposure is the total amount of light allowed to fall on the photographic medium during the process of taking a photograph. Exposure is measured in lux seconds, and can be computed from exposure value and scene luminance over a specified area.In photographic jargon, an exposure...
(with AE lock and +/-2EV
Exposure value
In photography, exposure value denotes all combinations of a camera's shutter speed and relative aperture that give the same exposure. In an attempt to simplify choosing among combinations of equivalent camera settings, the concept was developed by the German shutter manufacturer in the 1950s...
exposure compensation
Exposure compensation
Exposure compensation is a technique for adjusting the exposure indicated by a photographic exposure meter, in consideration of factors that may cause the indicated exposure to result in a less-than-optimal image. Factors considered may include unusual lighting distribution, variations within a...
) or in metered-manual mode. Aperture priority is selected by setting the shutter speed
Shutter speed
In photography, shutter speed is a common term used to discuss exposure time, the effective length of time a camera's shutter is open....
dial to either the AE or AE lock position. Manual exposure is set by selecting a specific shutter speed on the shutter
speed dial (there is a central interlock button to prevent accidentally moving the dial from
the AE modes to a manually-selected shutter speed).
Exposure metering is through-the-lens (TTL
Through-the-lens
Through-the-lens metering is a photographic term describing a feature of cameras capable of measuring light levels in a scene through their taking lenses, as opposed to a separate metering window...
) and thus accounts for the aperture
Aperture
In optics, an aperture is a hole or an opening through which light travels. More specifically, the aperture of an optical system is the opening that determines the cone angle of a bundle of rays that come to a focus in the image plane. The aperture determines how collimated the admitted rays are,...
set on the lens
Photographic lens
A camera lens is an optical lens or assembly of lenses used in conjunction with a camera body and mechanism to make images of objects either on photographic film or on other media capable of storing an image chemically or electronically.While in principle a simple convex lens will suffice, in...
in use. (Unlike SLR
Single-lens reflex camera
A single-lens reflex camera is a camera that typically uses a semi-automatic moving mirror system that permits the photographer to see exactly what will be captured by the film or digital imaging system, as opposed to pre-SLR cameras where the view through the viewfinder could be significantly...
lenses, where the diaphragm controlling lens aperture is generally closed only at the time of shutter release, rangefinder camera
Rangefinder camera
A rangefinder camera is a camera fitted with a rangefinder: a range-finding focusing mechanism allowing the photographer to measure the subject distance and take photographs that are in sharp focus...
lenses close or open the diaphragm directly as the aperture control is applied).
Electronic flash
The KonicaKonica
was a Japanese manufacturer of, among other products, film, film cameras, camera accessories, photographic and photo-processing equipment, photocopiers, fax machines and laser printers.- History :...
Hexar RF has a hot-shoe with direct-X flash
synchronisation. Flash operation is manual-only: more modern TTL flash metering is not
supported. Flash synchronisation speed is 1/125th of a second.
Packaging
The KonicaKonica
was a Japanese manufacturer of, among other products, film, film cameras, camera accessories, photographic and photo-processing equipment, photocopiers, fax machines and laser printers.- History :...
Hexar RF was sold either "body only" or as a set in a presentation box
containing the Konica Hexar RF camera
Camera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...
, an M-Hexanon 50 mm f2 lens
Photographic lens
A camera lens is an optical lens or assembly of lenses used in conjunction with a camera body and mechanism to make images of objects either on photographic film or on other media capable of storing an image chemically or electronically.While in principle a simple convex lens will suffice, in...
and an HX-18
electronic flash unit (along with a manual and accessories including a camera strap, body
cap and front and rear lens caps).
Konica M-Hexanon lenses
Konica
was a Japanese manufacturer of, among other products, film, film cameras, camera accessories, photographic and photo-processing equipment, photocopiers, fax machines and laser printers.- History :...
Hexar RF camera
Camera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...
was accompanied by the
release of three "Konica KM bayonet mount"
lenses
Photographic lens
A camera lens is an optical lens or assembly of lenses used in conjunction with a camera body and mechanism to make images of objects either on photographic film or on other media capable of storing an image chemically or electronically.While in principle a simple convex lens will suffice, in...
for use on Konica RF cameras and
others, such as Leica, with compatible lens mounts
Leica M mount
The Leica M mount is a camera lens mount introduced in 1954 with the Leica M3, and a range of lenses. It has been on all the Leica M series up to the current film Leica M7 and digital Leica M9....
. These lenses were in 50 mm, 28mm and 90 mm focal lengths.
Subsequently, in 2001, an M-Hexanon 35 mm f2 lens was released, and a new-model 50 mm
f1.2 lens was produced, for release only with a 2001-release limited-edition version of the Hexar RF camera.
In 2002 a dual focal length
Focal length
The focal length of an optical system is a measure of how strongly the system converges or diverges light. For an optical system in air, it is the distance over which initially collimated rays are brought to a focus...
lens
Photographic lens
A camera lens is an optical lens or assembly of lenses used in conjunction with a camera body and mechanism to make images of objects either on photographic film or on other media capable of storing an image chemically or electronically.While in principle a simple convex lens will suffice, in...
, the "M-Hexanon Dual Lens 21-35mm/F3.4-4" was
introduced. Altogether, the range of "Bayonet Konica KM mount" lenses produced consists of:
- M-Hexanon 21-35mm f3.4-4
- M-Hexanon 28 mm f2.8
- M-Hexanon 35 mm f2
- M-Hexanon 50 mm f1.2
- M-Hexanon 50 mm f2
- M-Hexanon 90 mm f2.8
Konica's Leica-mount Hexanon lenses (whether Leica M mount
Leica M mount
The Leica M mount is a camera lens mount introduced in 1954 with the Leica M3, and a range of lenses. It has been on all the Leica M series up to the current film Leica M7 and digital Leica M9....
or Leica thread mount
M39 lens mount
The M39 lens mount is a screw thread mounting system for attaching lenses to 35 mm cameras, primarily rangefinder Leicas. It is also the most common mount for Photographic enlarger lenses....
) are considered to have optical and build qualities of a high standard: not
dissimilar to those produced by Leica and Carl Zeiss. Konica's lenses were even used as a reference for the Japanese Ministry of Industry as the benchmark against other manufacturers' lenses . Production of M-Hexanon lenses
seems to have ceased around the same time as Konica's Hexar RF production was terminated
(2003).
Other Konica rangefinder lenses
Konica produced rangefinderRangefinder camera
A rangefinder camera is a camera fitted with a rangefinder: a range-finding focusing mechanism allowing the photographer to measure the subject distance and take photographs that are in sharp focus...
lenses for the Leica mount in
the 1950s and produced a series of so-called "L Mount" lenses, in limited quantities, for the
same mount in the late 1990s through 2001.
The range of Leica thread mount
M39 lens mount
The M39 lens mount is a screw thread mounting system for attaching lenses to 35 mm cameras, primarily rangefinder Leicas. It is also the most common mount for Photographic enlarger lenses....
lenses produced by Konica includes:
1950s
- 50/3.5 Hexar collapsible
- 50 mm f/1.9 Hexanon
- 60/1.2 Hexanon
1990s - 2001
- 35/2 L Hexanon (1996)
- 35/2 L UC-Hexanon (2001)
- 50/2.4 L Hexanon collapsible (1997)
- 60/1.2 L Hexanon (1999)
2001 Limited Edition
KonicaKonica
was a Japanese manufacturer of, among other products, film, film cameras, camera accessories, photographic and photo-processing equipment, photocopiers, fax machines and laser printers.- History :...
produced a chrome-finish Hexar RF camera
Camera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...
, targeted for the year 2001
(the new millennium
Millennium
A millennium is a period of time equal to one thousand years —from the Latin phrase , thousand, and , year—often but not necessarily related numerically to a particular dating system....
) in a limited release of 2001 units, supplied in a boxed set including
a new M-Hexanon 50 mm f1.2 lens and HX-18 flash. The lens was only
manufactured for this set, so examples are unavailable except in conjunction with the
limited-edition kit or the (apparently few) occasions where components of the kit have been
separated. This means that most are held by collectors or those willing to pay "collectible"
prices.
Hexar RF Half-Frame
At some phase of the production of the Hexar RF, KonicaKonica
was a Japanese manufacturer of, among other products, film, film cameras, camera accessories, photographic and photo-processing equipment, photocopiers, fax machines and laser printers.- History :...
made 50 units of a half-frame
Half-frame camera
A half-frame camera is a camera using a film format at half the intended exposure format. A common variety is the 18x24mm format on regular 135 film. It is the normal exposure format on 35mm movie cameras...
variant of the camera.
Successors
Production of the KonicaKonica
was a Japanese manufacturer of, among other products, film, film cameras, camera accessories, photographic and photo-processing equipment, photocopiers, fax machines and laser printers.- History :...
Hexar RF camera
Camera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...
was discontinued, without official
announcement, some time before the end of 2003. Konica
Konica
was a Japanese manufacturer of, among other products, film, film cameras, camera accessories, photographic and photo-processing equipment, photocopiers, fax machines and laser printers.- History :...
and
Minolta
Minolta
Minolta Co., Ltd. was a Japanese worldwide manufacturer of cameras, camera accessories, photocopiers, fax machines, and laser printers. Minolta was founded in Osaka, Japan, in 1928 as . It is perhaps best known for making the first integrated autofocus 35mm SLR camera system...
(who had previously manufactured the Leitz/Minolta CL
Leica CL
The Leica CL is a 35 mm compact rangefinder camera made by Leica with interchangeable lenses in the Leica M mount. It was developed in collaboration with Minolta and appeared in April 1973. It was released in the Japanese market in November 1973 as the Leitz Minolta CL...
and
Minolta CLE
Minolta CLE
The Minolta CLE is a TTL-metering aperture-priority automatic 35mm rangefinder camera taking Leica M lenses, introduced by Minolta in 1981.Leica and Minolta signed a technical cooperation agreement in June 1972. One of its results was the joint development of the Leica CL, a compact rangefinder...
M mount
Leica M mount
The Leica M mount is a camera lens mount introduced in 1954 with the Leica M3, and a range of lenses. It has been on all the Leica M series up to the current film Leica M7 and digital Leica M9....
cameras) merged to form Konica Minolta
Konica Minolta
is a Japanese manufacturer of office equipment, medical imaging, graphic imaging, optical devices, and measuring instruments. It is headquartered in the Marunouchi Center Building in Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Tokyo, with a Kansai office in Nishi-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture...
in
2003. In 2006 Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
acquired photographic assets from Konica Minolta
Konica Minolta
is a Japanese manufacturer of office equipment, medical imaging, graphic imaging, optical devices, and measuring instruments. It is headquartered in the Marunouchi Center Building in Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Tokyo, with a Kansai office in Nishi-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture...
, with the latter company withdrawing from all photography-related activity. The targets of the acquisition by Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
were the designs and tooling for Minolta
Minolta
Minolta Co., Ltd. was a Japanese worldwide manufacturer of cameras, camera accessories, photocopiers, fax machines, and laser printers. Minolta was founded in Osaka, Japan, in 1928 as . It is perhaps best known for making the first integrated autofocus 35mm SLR camera system...
/Konica Minolta
Konica Minolta
is a Japanese manufacturer of office equipment, medical imaging, graphic imaging, optical devices, and measuring instruments. It is headquartered in the Marunouchi Center Building in Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Tokyo, with a Kansai office in Nishi-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture...
SLR
Single-lens reflex camera
A single-lens reflex camera is a camera that typically uses a semi-automatic moving mirror system that permits the photographer to see exactly what will be captured by the film or digital imaging system, as opposed to pre-SLR cameras where the view through the viewfinder could be significantly...
cameras and accessories. It is not known whether Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
acquired other photographic assets such as rangefinder camera designs or whether those are retained by Konica Minolta
Konica Minolta
is a Japanese manufacturer of office equipment, medical imaging, graphic imaging, optical devices, and measuring instruments. It is headquartered in the Marunouchi Center Building in Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Tokyo, with a Kansai office in Nishi-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture...
. Whatever the case, none of the involved companies has expressed any interest in renewed production of rangefinder cameras or lenses.
Anecdotal reports (one from 7 FEB 2009) suggest that Sony Japan, but no other Sony location, may retain the capability and parts to repair Hexar RF cameras.
External links
- http://ca.konicaminolta.com/support/manuals/film-cameras/hexar_cle_tc1/hexar_rf/HEXAR_RF.pdf Manual for the Hexar RF from a Konica MinoltaKonica Minoltais a Japanese manufacturer of office equipment, medical imaging, graphic imaging, optical devices, and measuring instruments. It is headquartered in the Marunouchi Center Building in Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Tokyo, with a Kansai office in Nishi-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture...
web site - http://www.cameraquest.com/konicam.htm Hexar RF on Stephen Gandy's CameraQuest Site
- http://www.dantestella.com/technical/hexarrf.html Hexar RF on Dante Stella's photography web site
- http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/KonicaHexarRF.html Hexar RF on Karen Nakamura's Photoethnography Site.
- http://www.nemeng.com/leica/010b.shtml Leica FAQ entry by Andrew Nemeth