Gaussian & collapsible L HEXANON 50 F2.4
Review and photo examples using KONICA L39 HEXANON 50mm / F2.4 with LEICA M8.2
Table of contents
Gallery
- Sample photos taken with the LEICA M8.2.
Review
1．Usage
The Hexanon 50mm F2.4 is a Leica L39 screw-mount lens released in 1997.
This standard lens was planned by Fujisawa Shokai and manufactured by Konica in a limited run of 2000 units*1.
- *1 There are various theories about the number of units manufactured, but we have listed the figures from KONICA @ wiki Konica LTM interchangeable lenses (Japanese), which is thought to be the most reasonable verification.
The lens is a Gaussian type with 6 elements in 4 groups, a minimum shooting distance of 0.8m, and an aperture of F2.4.
The lens barrel is silver and retractable, and comes with a black screw-on trumpet-type hood.
2．Lens overview
The Hexanon 50mm F2.4 has a solid and precise lens barrel that is typical of Konica, and both the retractable mechanism and the focus ring are smooth and easy to operate, and the focus lever is just the right size to make focusing easy.
Looking at the results of shooting with the LEICA M8.2 used as an example, it is a very ordinary, modern-style lens with little change in the image depending on the aperture value, and a stable lens.
Because a large number of lenses were supplied at the time and the lens specifications were mediocre, it was not popular on the second-hand market, and even in the 2020s, you can sometimes find lenses in like-new condition at a reasonable price.
It was buried under the 50mm lenses in my house, so I sold it when I bought another lens.
I found it while sorting through old photos, and it looks great on a black M-type Leica.
3．Summary
To sum up the Hexanon 50mm F2.4, the lens barrel has a nice texture and produces flawless images.
However, the Konica lens lineup is diverse, with the 50mm F3.5, 50mm F1.9, 50mm F2, and 50mm F1.2 alone, and as a 50mm lens it does not have any special features that make it a must-have lens.
Specification and Competitor
The latest model of the Elmar-M 50mm F2.8 is similar in shape and release year to the Hexanon 50mm F2.4.
The lens configuration of the Elmar is a modified triplet, while the Hexanon is a Gaussian type, and the Hexanon is a little larger in terms of lens configuration.
The image depends on whether you prefer the clarity of the triplet or the flat image with the advantage of Gaussian aberration correction. Since it is a standard 50mm lens, neither lens will produce a terrible image.
One of the reasons why the maximum aperture of this lens is limited to F2.4 is thought to be to differentiate it from the M HEXANON 50mm released in 2000. The reason for this is that the filter diameter of the M HEXANON 50mm is also 40.5mm, which is the same as this lens, and the lens configuration is also Gaussian, so there is no reason why it cannot be brighter than F2.
| Item | HEXANON L 50mm | ELMAR 50mm |
| focal length(mm) | 50 | 50 |
| Maximum aperture | 2.4 | 2.8 |
| Minimum aperture | 16 | 16 |
| Lens configuration | 4groups 6elements | 3groups 4elements |
| Leaf blade | 10 | 6 |
| Minimum distance(m) | 0.8 | 0.7 |
| Lens length(mm) | 30 (+M/L ring, when retracted) 43 (+M/L ring, when used) | 21.6 (M, when retracted) 37.6 (M, when used) |
| Lens max diameter(mm) | 52 | 52 |
| Filter diameter(mm) | 40.5 | 39 |
| Weight(g) | 200 | 170(Black) 245g(Silver) |
| Release date | Year 1997 | 1994〜2007 |
| List price(Yen) | ¥68,000- | ¥100,000- |
Reference links
Update history
- 2025.4.30
- 2024.9.8
- 2024.03.02:Update the article
- 2022.05.23:First draft
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