Don't underestimate the Konica Hexanon AR 50mm 1.7 - vintage lens review and test

[@BriansPhotoShow]

Very nice review. I recently shot a model with my Hexanon 50/1.7 side by side with a Nikkor 50/1.8. To my eyes it seemed the Hexanon had more character at wider apertures than the Nikkor. I've never tried the Pentax. Of course such things are subjective, but it seems indisputable that the Hexanon, Nikkor and Pentax all have their own personalities. I think this is what makes collecting these old lenses so enjoyable.

[@MarcoAries]

Yes, I agree! For me it's also nice to be able to choose a specific set of lenses based on the look or vibe of the shoot

[@steveborghardt]

Great review - you have a new subscriber as well. I bought this lens because of the reviews I had seen online. I intended to use it with my Fuji X-T4. It's a very sharp lens and it works well on my Fuji. I then became interested in Konica as a company - very interesting history if you have the time to look into it. I then wondered how the Konica AR line of lenses worked with Konica's native SLR's. I went out and bought an Autoreflex T3 in near mint condition and OMG this camera is a beast - it's heavy and a solid chunk of metal. I picked up the 24mm f2.8, along with the 50mm f1.4, the 70-150mm, 80-200mm, the 135mm f3.5, and the 35-70mm zoom. So far the 24mm is my favorite to shoot with, and the quality of the images on film is astounding. If you haven't reviewed the 24mm f2.8 - you should really check it out.

[@MarcoAries]

Thanks for the support! Yes, Konica is an underrated brand with many great lenses and cameras! I haven't tried the 24 yet, but eventually I would like to test them all 😉

[@Tbonyandsteak]

Got the 135 2.5. Soooo sharp with really great color contrast. So happy with it.

[@ryanbeer5262]

Cool to see the axes come out. One of my favorite photos is of a friend playing my Harmony Meteor.

[@MarcoAries]

Yeah, sometimes I force myself to take some dust off of them 😅

[@peterm2353]

Someone who I know who is in the camera "game" told me that all of the 50mm f1.7 lenses marketed by various companies in Japan in this era were all part of a Yashica / Zeiss collaboration whereby Yashica had a license from Carl Zeiss Germany to make such lenses based on a Zeiss Planar design for both themselves and for other Japanese companies at the Tomioka plant which had an association with Yashica at that time. As such, these lenses have two very substantial positives - A Zeiss design which is always good, and being made by Tomioka (which for those immersed in the lore of old lenses is always also a highly positive sign of the highest quality. Those in the know always look for lenses with a Tomioka association.) I have both a Rikenon lens of this type and a Konica Hexonon one too. Both are excellent, optically though I would say that the Konica has higher mechanical build quality.

[@MarcoAries]

First time I hear about that, might be worth digging a bit more

[@bransoncarlton4939]

Thanks for your thoughtful and interesting reviews. You do a good job. I wish you would use more rustic locations for your testing as I can no longer travel from the USA. The Colosseum, stone cobbles, etc. 😄

[@MarcoAries]

Thank you! Well, I live something like 6/700km away from Rome, so taking pictures of the Colosseo isn't that easy 😁 Jokes aside, I would love to be able to travel around and show something different in each review, but unfortunately it not something I can do...

[@aveal1337]

I took this lens apart once and from a mechanical point of view it's solid in terms of parts and materials. Probably a bit more than you would expect from a straight up budget lens

[@MarcoAries]

Agree, they are well built and don't feel "budget"

[@darrellcadieux3497]

Marco. If you can please try to do some portrait shots with your reviews. Would like to see how the lenses render skin tones. Great review BTW.

[@MarcoAries]

I used to include them in every review, but because of the last couple years, with the lockdowns and restrictions, I've lost most of my clients and the models I used to collaborate with have moved away. Hopefully things will start getting back on track and I'll be able to get back to including portraits in more reviews! Cheers

[@trungqdo]

Excellent review and pictures!

[@MarcoAries]

Thank you!

[@_otto_art__Officia]

Thank you for making video!! So nice and helpful to me

[@MarcoAries]

Thank you for watching! Glad it was useful!

[@DominikMarczuk]

Nice review. I also have a few Hexanons. I happen to have the earlier (pre 1976) version of this particular lens, with a 45 cm MFD and half-stop clicks in the aperture ring. Easily my favourite vintage fast fifty. My unit had an annoyingly stiff focus ring. Since changing the helicoid lube to a modern PTFE one, it's a pleasure to use. I've taken some of my favourite photographs with this glass. Let's do a Hexanon shootout one day ;) Also, comparing to my Pentax-A 50/1.7, the Hexanon is noticeably sharper wide open. The Minolta MD Rokkor 50/1.7, another solid contestant, sits between the two in terms of sharpness. Obviously, there could be some unit variance so YMMV. The above holds true for the copies I own.

[@MarcoAries]

Thanks for sharing! Yeah, the Henxanons are really underrated lenses!

[@bradl2636]

Nice job Marco. Do you recommend for architecture style / low distortion across the frame where straight lines need to be straight?

[@MarcoAries]

Well, I can't tell you for certain, but it does have a bit of distortion. I don't feel like vintage lenses are the best choice for architecture, unless you are specifically going after an unconventional look for the genre...

[@Analogbrain]

Nice review. I think the Canon FDn 50mm 1.8 has some plastic, whilst the FD 50mm 1.8 breech lock don't. They might have more saturated colors though, or what say you? Have you looked at the Minolta MC Rokkor 50mm 1.7? All nice lenses I think, some difference in color and caracter .

[@MarcoAries]

Thanks! Yes, the nFDs should have some plastic, but I can't tell where. As for saturation, they're about the same to my, maybe you can spot finer differences than me 😅 I am keeping an eye out for the Minolta, but I haven't found one yet; I'm curious to try.

[@srb980]

I enjoy your videos, I own the Konica 40, and love it

[@MarcoAries]

Thank you for the support!

[@acecreates]

I've got the 50mm 1.4.. stunning lens!

[@MarcoAries]

I've heard so, hopefully I'll find one to try out myself!

[@acecreates]

@@MarcoAries its a cool lens. I've made a video, why not check it out?

[@MarcoAries]

I already did, remember? 😉

[@leorojo]

Hola Marco! Tengo la oportunidad de conseguir este lente Konica 50mm f1.7 por un lado, y uno Pentax 50mm f1.8 por otro lado. Cual de los dos me recomiendas? Saludos desde San Juan, Argentina

[@MarcoAries]

What version of the Pentax is it? If it's the Asahi Pentax-M 50mm 1.7, then it's just personal preference, they are both very good! I have a video comparing four vintage 50mm where you can see a direct comparison between the two. If it is a different version of the Pentax, then I can't say as I haven't tried it 😉

[@leorojo]

@@MarcoAries correcto, es ese Asahi Pentax-M 50mm 1.7 Ahora mismo veo el video! Gracias Marco, estupendo canal 👏👏👏

[@pottiezluc8693]

Thanks a lot / Je suis d'accord avec vous, concernant le AR 50 mm 1.7 !

[@lino_itkin]

Hi Marco, it would fit on a Nikon reflex? or would i need an adaptor?

[@MarcoAries]

Nikon reflex camera are useless to adapt vintage lenses, the F mount flange distance (the distance between the lens and the film/sensor) is greater than most other mounts, making it not possible to adapt. So no, it doesn't fit and there are no adapters.

[@servidorroque4954]

Great video

[@MarcoAries]

Thank you!

[@Wihgi]

There are 2 variations of Hexanon 50/1.7. In this video is Hexanon 50/1.7 with MFD 0.55m, other lens is Hexanon 50/1.7 with MFD 0.45m. I think you should compare both lenses, and see what the different? Nice video review, Marco😊👍

[@MarcoAries]

If I find the other version, I will!

[@cybermees]

C'est mon préféré! à la suite de ça j'ai racheté le 40mm 1.8 et le 28mm f3.5 7/7, sont les objectifs qui m'accompagnent le plus souvent avec mon A6000. le 40mm est d'origine Tokina, cependant très bon! (à coté de ça, j'aime beaucoup aussi la gamme Yashinon, Rikenon, Mamiya, et Pentax M)mais en général je prends un Ricoh 50mm f2 ou le 50mm 1.7 hexanon.

[@AramKaptein]

Great review.

[@MarcoAries]

Thank you!

[@vincentdiggins5191]

Great review. I like this lens, but for character look at the 57mm 1.4 Hexanon. It oozes character..

[@MarcoAries]

Thanks for watching! So, the 57 has a different look from the others?

[@vincentdiggins5191]

@@MarcoAries It's known for its rendering of B&W film. To me it seems less clinical than the 50 1.7. I love it's color rendition with great out of focus, and 3-d pop. Yesterday on the Konica facebook page Yann Bena posted a great pic of his cat using the 57 1.4. I'll keep mine on my camera and try to catch some pics.

[@MarcoAries]

Thanks for sharing your experience 😉

[@kainbre]

Bass and vintage lenses.. Hey there :)

[@MarcoAries]

Hi! ;)

[@남심회갑]

아주 좋아요~

[@ProFocusPhotography]

nice photos

[@MarcoAries]

Thanks!

[@djmarzek]

good video! keep it up!

[@MarcoAries]

Thank you!

[@vegadneeraj]

Today I saw your many videos and subscribed it 😊 Love to see your presentation , will sure ask questions , Are you member of facebook? Am there if yes send me your link .

[@MarcoAries]

Thanks for the support! I don't really use Facebook, no.