KONICA M HEXANON 50 F1.2(Limited)
Review and Photo example of the HEXANON 50mm F1.2.
Table of contents
Gallery
- Sample photo taken with
- HEXAR-RF +Kodacrome64 +NIKON COOLSCAN-V
- HEXAR RF LIMITED +KODAK E100VS +NIKON COOLSCAN-V
Review
1．Overview
The Hexanon 50mm F1.2 is a large-aperture standard lens that was released in 2001 as part of the HEXAR RF Limited (limited to 2001 units).
It is a Gaussian lens with 7 elements in 6 groups, with a minimum shooting distance of 0.9m and an aperture value of F1.2.
The lens hood is a cylindrical hood with a slit.
2．Usability
The photos in the gallery were taken in 2007 at Nishiki Market in Kyoto with the original HEXAR RF Limited + M-HEXANON 50mm F1.2 set and KR64 (Kodachrome-64).
KR64 (Kodachrome-64) has a film sensitivity of ISO 64, and when used with the Hexanon 50mm F1.2 at full aperture, the shutter speed can be increased, so there were almost no blurred photos.
The light ball bokeh and front and back bokeh were also good, making it an easy-to-use lens. I had many standard lenses, so I sold it without using it much. It is one of the lenses I would like to buy again if I have the opportunity, but as of 2024, the price has risen considerably.
Since it is a lens that comes with a camera called Limited, the finish of the lens barrel is quite impressive. The titanium color and orange lettering are beautiful. The knurling on the focus ring has a moderate width and unevenness, allowing for smooth focusing. The aperture ring was also located at the very front of the lens barrel, so it was unlikely to be accidentally changed during shooting.
The hood was screwed in, and the slit position could be adjusted after it was fixed. However, because the hood diameter was large, it covered the eyepiece of the rangefinder camera, which made it difficult to see the subject. I rarely used the hood because it got in the way of the viewfinder frame and the lens alone had good resistance to backlighting.
When I got this camera and lens set in 2007, it was the end of the film camera era, and camera and lens sets were sold at a much cheaper price than they are now.
The camera and lens were released in 2001, but because the set price was high, even when I bought it in 2007, unused boxes would occasionally come onto the market. After that, I saw a few unused boxes here and there, but it seems that collectors’ stock has run out, and in the 2020s, I only occasionally see cameras and lenses alone.
3．Summary
In conclude, To sum up the Hexanon 50mm F1.2 has a titanium lens barrel befitting a limited edition product, and its orange accent design will satisfy your desire to own it.
The lens diameter is large, but if you do not attach the hood, it will not get in the way of the viewfinder.
The minimum shooting distance is 0.9m, which is a shame as it means you cannot get closer.
Specification and Competitor
The HEXANON 50mm F1.2’s titanium-colored barrel with orange accents looks much better than the KL-HEXANON 60mm F1.2’s simple black and silver barrel.
Both lenses have a double Gauss-type construction with seven elements in six groups.
However, the lens arrangement is different. The 50mm has a shorter focal length than the 60mm, so the front group including the front lens is compact and the number of rear lenses is increased, which seems to be a design that takes aberration correction into consideration.
| Item | HEXANON 50 | HEXANON 60(New) |
| focal length(mm) | 50 | 60 |
| Maximum aperture | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| Minimum aperture | 16 | 16 |
| Leaf blade | 7 elements in 6 groups | 7 elements in 6 groups |
| Lens configuration | 10 | 10 |
| Minimum distance(m) | 0.9 | 0.8 |
| Lens length(mm) | 52(from M) | 51.5(from L39) |
| Lens max diameter(mm) | 68 | 64 |
| Filter type | 62 | 58 Silver-colored special edition available |
| Weight(g) | 390 | 388 Lens + L/M adapter |
| Hood | Cylindrical slit type/screw-in | Cylindrical slit type/screw-in |
| Lens mount | M mount | L39 screw |
| Release date | 2001 | 1999 |
| Production numbers | 2001 | 800 |
| Price | Sold as a set with the body | ¥190,000 |
KONICA M-mount lens list
| Focal length | Lens name | Release date | Technical Report |
| 28mm | M-HEXANON f28 / F2.8 | 1999年 | 28/50/90mm-PDF |
| 50mm | M-HEXANON f50 / F2 | 1999年 | 28/50/90mm-PDF |
| 90mm | M-HEXANON f90 / F2.8 | 1999年 | 28/50/90mm-PDF |
| 35mm | M-HEXANON f35 / F2 | 2000年 | 35mm-PDF |
| 50mm | M-HEXANON f50 / F1.2 | 2001年 | 50mm/F1.2-PDF |
| 21-35mm | M-HEXANON f21-35 / F3.4-4 | 2002年 | 21-35mm-PDF |
Reference links
Update
- 2025.4.23
- 2024.05.15:Update the article
- 2024.03.01:Update the article
- 2022.04.24:First draft
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