Hexar AF - a different kind of release button issue :)

[Odot]

Hey everyone, my "new" Hexar has release issues but not like the commonly known problem.

When you hit the release button, it does react because it focuses like it should but thats the problem, it keeps focusing and it takes forever to release. I took the film out and tested the release button and it worked flawlessly so its not that the button doesnt work so i wonder, what the issue could be? Today was nice and sunny, i had a Portra 400 in my camera which should have been fine but i just couldnt get it to work reliably.

Also, when i tip the release to focus and hit the release again, it focuses all over instead of directly releasing - is this normal? Shouldnt the camera release once i hit the button a second time?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

...
When you hit the release button, it does react because it focuses like it should but thats the problem, it keeps focusing and it takes forever to release. I took the film out and tested the button and it worked flawlessly so its not that the button doesnt work so i wonder, what the issue could be? ...

I've heard of this phenomenon before, with the Ricoh GR-1. In that case, the camera would fail to achieve focus lock and therefore the shutter wouldn't release. Remove the film and focus locks on the subject every time.

EDIT: actually, what happens with film is: you press down halfway, focus does lock (indicated by a highlighted focus segment), press further to release, and focus is lost. Remove film and everything works normally.

Hard to explain why the presence of film matters, but it does.

 

[Odot]

I just spoke to a friend of mine and she also had the same issue with her Hexar. Odd. I really wish i would know what to do now..thanks again

 

[darkosaric]

Sorry to hear about this problem Odot. The camera was not cheap for sure. For me - once when the camera develop some problem - I cannot trust it again. I would recommend to sell it and buy something more reliable, maybe full manual camera (if this is your thing)? No matter how awesome is the lens, if you are not sure that the camera will do the job - it is worthless.

 

[Odot]

Sorry to hear about this problem Odot. The camera was not cheap for sure. For me - once when the camera develop some problem - I cannot trust it again. I would recommend to sell it and buy something more reliable, maybe full manual camera (if this is your thing)? No matter how awesome is the lens, if you are not sure that the camera will do the job - it is worthless.

The camera was surprisingly dirt cheap, may be this is why..jebiga.. I still have my F100 that i use with my G lenses so thats already great. Just to be clear though, it works flawlessly without film, only when the film is inside it lags and whatnot

 

[AgX]

This is the weirdest fault I heard of. Without knowing that model, I assume it gives two kind of information to the CPU: the set of DX infos and the signal that the film has been advancing after closing of the back.

 

[darkosaric]

Try to tape DX code and see if it is working ok then. You will need to sacrifice one film roll for testing.

 

[macfred]

I had -so far- four Konica Hexar AF - one of them had the issue described above (not each time but very often) - Fortunately I had the chance to give it back to the seller.
Like Darko suggested, I tried to cover DX code with tape but this didn't work for me.

 

[darkosaric]

This reminds me about Minox and Leica Minilux that I had: superb lens with problematic body with delicate electronics. I hate this.

 

[macfred]

This reminds me about Minox and Leica Minilux that I had: superb lens with problematic body with delicate electronics. I hate this.

Same here with Leica Minilux - E02 failure.