Jump to content

Konica LTM Hexanon 60mm f1.2 pics


flkin

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Yanick- As always very nice. I enjoyed watching Lance's last ride, though the Tour Gods were not with him this time. I really enjoy your use of the 60mm (I view your blog quite often) and it's characteristics.

 

To all those that use the 60mm... do you find that the 50/1.2 Hexanon renders in a similar fashion? I've been a bit tempted to snag one to potentially replace the Noctilux I may be selling.

 

Thanks in advance for any thoughts... very interesting thread.

 

Kent

To what I have read the 50mm and 60mm are quite different. The 60mm is a re-edition of 1950's model with a new optical formula. It is also smaller than the 50mm.

According to the new book on the M9, the 60mm Hexanon has a better rating than both the F1 and 0.95 Noctiluxes, having much less vignetting, chromatic aberration and distortion. It also only weights 400 grams and is much smaller. At F1.2, it has got that 75 Lux look with less saturation and softness, perfect for portraits. Bokeh is probably a bit more curly than Nocti's or Luxes.

F1.4-F2 it is simply the sharpest M lens in the center. From F4 to F11, the whole field is pretty much perfect. It is a bit less contrasty than the Asph lenses and colors are a bit warmer.

So I would say to anybody wanting a small Nocti kind of lens with also the characteristics and build of a modern lens, go for it. Problem is obviously finding one.

 

here is another example at F1.4 with crop

 

lady%20fancy%20car%20HR.jpg

 

woman green car HR.jpg

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • Replies 52
  • Created
  • Last Reply
I see that some optimist in Japan on eBay is trying to sell one for £8,357! Good luck. I can just seem someone paying more than the new price of a Noctilux for one of these.

 

Wilson

This is the old version, only a few dozens of them. The new one was produced in 800 samples in 1999.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Was it complete with box, pouch, hood or a "user".

I am inclined, to have a closer look at one again.

Shortly thought about one, but saw, that indeed this is not "the collect more light than the Lux", but more the "have less dof and a special rendering at reasonable weight and size" lens.

Link to post
Share on other sites

My guess is that for use on an M8 or M9, you would be very lucky to find one with a perfect back focus, given that digital seems to be much more demanding than film. If you bought one, I think it would be sensible to budget for a trip to your local lens man to have the back focus optimised for Leica. Given the very shallow DOF, the adjustment needs to be incredibly accurate. In fact the same applies to buying a second hand Noctilux.

 

Wilson

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Yanidel, I follow your blog and enjoy the Hexanon shots a lot ;-)

 

What are these normally selling for given, how seldom one can find a nice sample?

Thanks !

 

Before the M9 launch, they ranged from 1600 to 2000 euros. Since then, they have almost disappeared from the market. I believe the one mentioned by Lucy was the last one and it was 1800 euros before commissions, so probably around 2200 euros all included.

 

As for the focus issue, it is really a slight back focus and my mid distances, there is almost no impact. I had emailed DAG if they could fix it and needed to see the lens. In the end, I slightly misaligned my M9's rangefinder so it took care of the issue and also took care of my 35mm Lux focus shift issue.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I've had a Hex 60/1.2 since last fall. When I first got it I was disappointed with focus accuracy. However, I had initially used a non-Leitz adapter ring. Experimenting with all my adapter rings, I found a Leitz 5cm ring with which the 60/1.2 focusses perfectly. I did use a Dremel Tool to grind back the arc for the focussing follower as well as a slight relief to the ring on the lens adjacent the focussing follower contact, as such I now have coupled focus all the way to the near (0.8m) limit.

 

Trying several different LTM adapter rings is easier than bundling the lens and a body off to a tech. Who knows, as I did, you might find the correct combination for fine focus.

 

 

 

My guess is that for use on an M8 or M9, you would be very lucky to find one with a perfect back focus, given that digital seems to be much more demanding than film. If you bought one, I think it would be sensible to budget for a trip to your local lens man to have the back focus optimised for Leica. Given the very shallow DOF, the adjustment needs to be incredibly accurate. In fact the same applies to buying a second hand Noctilux.

 

Wilson

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

A blog entry that turned into a comprehensive review. No desire to become a reviewer but I thought it could be of interest to the community since it was never reviewed before. See that as a little contribution to the M system knowledge database and be indulgent to my writing. All shots taken with the Leica M9 of course ;)

 

60mm Konica Hexanon review

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Great review, thank you.

I was going to sell my M collection including the Hex, but after reading your text I am actually inclined to keep the Konica. I like it on GH1 for portraits (eff,120mm) and focusing is no problem. Indeed, I haven't seen a more gracious version of sharpness than the Hex has. And it wins with my macros 105/2.8VR on D700 and Zuiko 50/2 on 43.

Below a portrait with the Hex at f1.4 , already cropped and then 100% crop (to the site size limits).

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Great review, thank you.

I was going to sell my M collection including the Hex, but after reading your text I am actually inclined to keep the Konica. I like it on GH1 for portraits (eff,120mm) and focusing is no problem. Indeed, I haven't seen a more gracious version of sharpness than the Hex has. And it wins with my macros 105/2.8VR on D700 and Zuiko 50/2 on 43.

Below a portrait with the Hex at f1.4 , already cropped and then 100% crop (to the site size limits).

you really should!

 

but if you don't, you know who to give a holler to ;)

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...