Konica Hexanon AR 50mm f1.4 Review
Dear fotografmania followers, greetings and respect. The lens that is the subject of this article is Konica Hexanon AR 50mm f1.4. We will first look at the technical specifications of the Konica 50mm 1.4 lens, and then I will write a detailed review as a user. Konica hexanon ar 50mm f1.4 review and Technical specifications of the Hexanon 50mm 1.4 lens:
| Lens name | Konica Hexanon AR 50mm f1.4 |
| Diyafram | F1.4- f16 |
| weighht | 290 gr |
| length | 45 x 70 mm |
| Eleman | 6 grup in 7 element |
| Minimum focusing distance | 45 cm |
| Diaphragm blades | 6 |
| Anti-shake | non |
| Filter size | 55 mm |
| made in | Japon |
Konica Hexanon 50mm f1.4 Versions
Our Hexanon 50mm f1.4 inspection lens started production in 1973 and continued until 1987. So far, 3 different versions have been offered for sale. Their optical structures have always been preserved. 7 elements remained constant in all 3 series. The first two versions are almost identical. Just to the right of the area where the aperture values are written, he noticed that ae and ee are written in green text. But there have been a few notable changes in the final version. The first of these was that the aperture value was 22, not the lowest 16. In addition, the diaphragm blades increased from 6 to 8 and the weight decreased from 290gr to 265gr. However, no optical difference was observed.
The lens we will examine is the f16 version with green ae writing. In appearance, it is almost the same as the legendary konica 50mm f1.7. The font colors, lengths etc. are exactly like copies. Although they are not of very different quality optically, it seems as if f1.7 did not waste its legendary nickname.
Konica Hexanon 50mm f1.4 Physical Properties
Yes, let’s talk about the physical first. It tastes like a classic 50mm with a 45mm long metal body weighing 290g and rubber-coated rings. The light transmittance is very good with its 55mm front filter diameter. It’s a very fast lens. Konica ar is circulating in the market as a bayonet. It’s not an uncommon lens. Collections are picking up their clean ones.
The closest focusing distance is 45cm. It’s not that I didn’t think it was necessary to go a little deeper from time to time while shooting, but like most artifacts, it doesn’t focus from 50-55cm away like 50mm lenses. As in Pentacos, it was inedible up to 33 cm, but 45 cm is a sufficient distance.
One of the other things I love about the Konica Hexan is that the aperture ring also stops at half stops. It has a hard apertured diaphragm. You can also use half values if needed. For example, between 1.4 and 2 you can also use the intermediate value, which I think is 1.7. Most 50mm lenses I’ve come across do not have these intermediate values. Especially between 1.4 – 2, maybe it’s the place to say that I encountered it for the first time. But in the 3rd version, that is, the f22 li version, which I mentioned in the first paragraphs, the intermediate pauses were also removed; for your information. If it is as important to you as mine, pay attention to the versions.
Konica 50mm f1.4 Sharpness and Colors
Center sharpness is sufficient for f1.4. Users know that the widest aperture is not very sharp. If the expectation is at these levels, you can easily be satisfied with Konica 50mm f1.4. It gets sharper admirably after f2. like f4 is the best. Corners are super after f5.6. Considering that the hexano is a portrait lens, we don’t want corner sharpness anyway.
As for the colors, I can say that it is superb with contrast. Konicas and Minoltas are already very good at contrast. They are better than equivalent lenses, even though they are a little more flat than others at the widest aperture. The more you look at the photos you take, the more you look. 🙂
Most Konicas have unique coatings. Thanks to these coatings, ca and back glare can be minimized. Interestingly ca never bothered at open closed diaphragm. Similarly, backlight glare was at an acceptable level. In such cases, the diaphragm can be shrunk a little to keep the excess light under control. But one should not expect highly controlled images like Carl Zeiss t* skins. It is very good for its time, but it can be improved a little more compared to our time.
Konica Hexanon 1.4 Bokeh
The background destruction quality is very good. You can take very high quality portraits up to f4, especially on ff cameras. The bokeh in the back is unique. But not much. It’s not as characteristic as Russian lenses, but it’s more characteristic than a Nikon. I definitely felt like an oil painting, especially in f1.4 shots with half-shaded colored objects in the background, up to 1m. Just for this reason, I want to take my Konica Hexanon ar 50mm f1.4 lens with me when shooting flowers and insects. Even if there are tree branches in the background, there is a buble bokeh. It turns out cute photos.
The Konica 50mm f1.4 at the widest aperture creates a bit of vignetting on full-frame cameras. The vignette is not even clear on cropped machines. ff also decreases almost imperceptibly after f5.6. When you have a portrait lens and you have to focus the center, the vignette can actually turn into a positive value rather than a negative.
The defect of the night light source, which we call coma, which is a defect caused by the open diaphragm of portrait lenses, also exists in hexanon. It is not expected to happen. However, from f2.8 on, the wings of the light sources can be seen very clearly; There is no trace of coma. The real problem is at f1.4.
As a result, I can’t count any standard disadvantages of Konica Hexanon ar 50mm f1.4 when considering 50mm as a portrait lens. On the contrary, it is always in a more advantageous position than its competitors, whether it is sharpness, colors, contrast or bokeh. I strongly recommend. Get it, use it and add it to your collection.
