I hesitate writing a review of a camera, mainly because I do not intuitively understand technical processes or jargon – which is what a lot of reviews concern themselves with. For my photography, I don’t really care about the things other reviewers seem to obsess about. As long as it feels good in the hands, and inspires me to take the pictures I want to see, then it is a good camera. But I’ll do my best…
The Konica Hexar AF has a growing cult following, the main reason being it’s outstanding fixed f/2 lens, which some have likened to a Leica Summicron. That, plus it’s virtually quiet Stealth mode, make this a street camera par excellence. Just set the aperture to F8 in P mode and start shooting.
There are a few versions of the camera. Mine is the classic black, as per the original from 1993, and if you are looking to get one yourself, most people agree it is the best version to go for.
The viewfinder is superb – very bright, with visible frame lines (parallax corrected) and cross hairs for the centre. It has a green focus confirmation light, plus and minus warning lights for under/over exposure, a distance scale, and a warning sign for being too close to the subject.
The downside is the LCD panel and the few buttons (all on the top of the camera) which are nothing short of baffling to most users. Search online for “The Lost Commands Of The Hexar”. I’ll leave it to others to go into the details of its operating system.
Luckily for me, all the setting s I need are very easy to find. Select P, A or M. For infinity, just press the MF button once, and you are good to go. Exposure Comp? Just press Select button once, then adjust via the up and down buttons – 2 stops available, in 1/3 gradations. The camera in normal setting is very quiet, and I’ve felt no need to switch on the Stealth mode, but to do so requires only that you hold the MF button down while switching on.
Well, that’s all the technical talk you will get from me, so it’s on to taking photographs!
As mine was an eBay acquisition, I just put a cheap colour film through it the first time, just to check it was working. For the second I used Ilford XP2, and in a flush of wild experimentation, attached a Red Filter:
1. The Kiss, The Leer and The Blush
2. The Well-Lit Gallery
3. Girl Seated and Lost
4. The Birds
5. From Cramond Beach, near Edinburgh
6. Good Neighbours
7. Woman Seated and Lost
But I did eventually take the red filter off. The following are XP2 again, this time with a yellow filter:
8. Atrium – National Museum of Scotland
9. Corridor – National Museum of Scotland
10. The Stare
In conclusion, I find the Konica Hexar to be a wonderful camera which allows me the freedom to be expressive – not every camera does that – and captures not just what I am seeing, but also what I am feeling, and few cameras manage that. Highly recommended – go find yourself one!
For another opinion about the Konica Hexar, see here for Hamish’s review
16 Comments
Luismi
February 27, 2015 at 9:55 pmAwesome machine, it´s my main 35mm camera.
Caranga
January 14, 2016 at 10:48 pmExcellent camera and beautiful images!
Rob MacKillop
January 15, 2016 at 6:09 pmThanks, Caranga. It’s still my No.1 camera.
Experiences with Ilford SFX for 35mm Cameras - Guest post by Rob MacKillop - 35mmc
March 17, 2016 at 8:33 pm[…] Ilford SFX is an extended red sensitivity black and white film, which I had used once before through a medium-format camera. I liked it very much, though it proved expensive for 120 film. Recently I noticed the 35mm version, so thought I would try it with my trusty Konica Hexar AF. […]
Experiences with 35mm Ilford SFX - Guest post by Rob MacKillop - 35mmc
March 17, 2016 at 8:34 pm[…] Ilford SFX is an extended red sensitivity black and white film, which I had used once before through a medium-format camera. I liked it very much, though it proved expensive for 120 film. Recently I noticed the 35mm version, so thought I would try it with my trusty Konica Hexar AF. […]
Martin Hugh Henley
December 10, 2016 at 11:54 pmVery nice review, Rob. I, too, went for the black version – sold my house in the UK – then thought I’d really treat myself to a Rhodium version….errrr, until I discovered the ludicrous difference in price & settled on a second, identical, black version. Quite simply, if you tend to come from a medium format background and/or prefer med. format, but hanker for the extra frames 35mm offers and/or the accompanying smaller body of a 35mm camera then the Hexar AF is THE one. I’ve done a few sessions now, portraits, using my med. format Fuji GA645S & my Konica Hexar AF . . . there is VERY LITTLE difference in quality when viewing images at A4 size. OF COURSE, start to get into A3 and beyond med. format will pull ahead. Quite simply the best 35mm camera I’ve ever used, based on lens quality, ease of use, & the wonderful functionality of the minimum shutter speed option.
Rob MacKillop
December 11, 2016 at 8:42 amGood post, Martin. Yes, the Rhodoim version is rhodiculous!
Hamish Gill
December 11, 2016 at 9:15 amI have the Rhodium one – I shalt tell you how little I paid for it! 😉
Rob MacKillop
December 11, 2016 at 12:59 pm:-0 Well, well, well…I look forward to your review!
Martin Hugh Henley
August 22, 2017 at 10:17 pmOops, I just “accidentally” bought a HAF Titanium. How can I justify this – errr, Mum, there were only 1,000 made. Mum? MUM?! 😉
After unpacking my HAF Ti, I set about reprogramming both my black HAFs and the Ti – all 3 now have the double/multi-exposure option, and the bracketing option. Sweet! Took me all of 6 minutes to do this hack – TOTAL! These Leica-eaters just get better!
Brian moore
January 7, 2017 at 3:52 pmBonnie foties, Rob,…and a great review!
Rob MacKillop
January 7, 2017 at 8:28 pmThanks, Brian! Not too technical, I hope?! 😉
Reflecting on some analogue memories - by Rob MacKillop - 35mmc
April 6, 2018 at 3:00 pm[…] gave a review of the Hexar here which was wholly positive, and Hamish gave his more negative thoughts here. Suffice to say I still […]
Daniel Štraub
April 20, 2018 at 1:24 pmhey hey, Im bit newbie with hexar loaded with hp5 and with a red/yellow filter in my pockets….. I’m just wondering if I need to somehow set the iso or exp compensation while using red/yellow filter or if I just could put it on hexar and set my mind free.
Vittore Buzzi
December 13, 2018 at 2:13 amThis is a great camera I owned it for about 5 years. I regret that I sold it!!!
Konica Hexar review - Picking a few holes in the Untouchable - 35mmc
May 6, 2020 at 5:09 pm[…] talked about the Konica Hexar a couple of times on this blog, it’s even been reviewed here by master musician Rob Mackillop, but so far, despite owning one for a while, I’m yet to […]