KONICA Autoreflex TC with Hexanon AR 50/1.7 - any good?

TheToadMen · Sep 28, 2013

A collegae gave me his old Konica Autoreflex TC with a Konica Hexanon AR 50 mm F1.7 lens. It's like new.
He also gave me a Hoya HMC zoom & macro 70-210 1:3.8 lens with it.

It needs new batteries so I have to find a replacement for the 2 Mercury batterirs PX625, to get the lightmeter operating.
But since it is a fully mechanical camera I can already use it.

I have never used a Konica and I wonder how this 50 mm lens will perform.
I believe these Hexanon lenses are supposed to be very good.
Any experiences anyone?

I have the early model camera with all upper-case KONICA logo and the serial number in the bottom plate.
See: http://www.buhla.de/Foto/Konica/eTCHaupt.html

pdeeh · Sep 28, 2013

a very nice little camera. I have one recently serviced and adjusted for silver oxide cells, and I like the way it feels in the hand. The extremely short throw of the wind-on is a particular little pleasure

i also have a number of the hexanon AR lenses, and in particular 3 of the 50/1,7
They can be excellent. Two of my 50s are perfectly good enough for any purpose, the third is quite remarkably sharp and contrasty. I used to use them on digital but since I returned to film I got the TC so I could use the lenses in their natural environment.

The 57mm/1,4 is also very good.

craigclu · Sep 28, 2013

In its day, this was the standard package lens supplied. I believe you will be quite amazed at its capabilities. Most Konica folks believe this to be the sharpest prime (vs the ƒ1.4 and 57mm ƒ1.2) of the AR series. Try some slow film and a good tripod and see what it'll do. If I recall, the MLU on a TC was to use the self-timer? Bullet-proof shutters on TC's that stay accurate, too. Trapped-needle automation and shutter priority made it a great beginner's camera as it forced the user to select an appropriate shutter speed for the situation and it flash synched at 1/125 which was quite high in those days. Back in the mid-80's, a camera club that I was in found an example of this lens that was sharper than any of the other brand primes that we tested out for resolution comparison. That was with just one or two samples of each brand so that any results were not definitive (and there are many other aspects to lens performance!) but it certainly held its own.

TheToadMen · Sep 28, 2013

pdeeh said:
... I also have a number of the hexanon AR lenses, and in particular 3 of the 50/1,7
They can be excellent. Two of my 50s are perfectly good enough for any purpose, the third is quite remarkably sharp and contrasty. ...

I'm not sure if I understand you correctly. Do you mean that you have three different models or three of the same? Why is (only) the third sharp and contrasty?
Are the others in bad shape or is there a difference in quality between lenses out of the factory?

miha · Sep 28, 2013

Re PX625 replacment, I'm using and adapter from Frans de Gruijter, a Dutch guy: http://www.butkus.org/chinon/batt-adapt-us.pdf

TheToadMen · Sep 28, 2013

craigclu said:
... Try some slow film and a good tripod and see what it'll do. If I recall, the MLU on a TC was to use the self-timer? ...

Hi,
I'll try that. I still have some Ilford FP4+ 125 (@80 Iso) I can use this week. And I might gonna get me some Adox CHS II 100 and Fomapan 100 film to test.

BTW: what does MLU stands for?

pdeeh · Sep 28, 2013

None of them are in bad shape at all. I can't remember if they are different versions, and I can;t look as they are 200 miles away at the moment .
All are sharp, but the third is noticeably sharper and has more contrast than the others; I am assuming it as a result of sample variation

TheToadMen · Sep 28, 2013

miha said:
Re PX625 replacment, I'm using and adapter from Frans de Gruijter, a Dutch guy: http://www.butkus.org/chinon/batt-adapt-us.pdf

Thanks for the tip, I'm Dutch also. I'll contact him.

E. von Hoegh · Sep 28, 2013

TheToadMen said:
Hi,
I'll try that. I still have some Ilford FP4+ 125 (@80 Iso) I can use this week. And I might gonna get me some Adox CHS II film 100 and Fomapan 100 to test.

BTW: what does MLU stands for?

Mirror lockup.
BTW, the easiest good fix for the meter battery problem is to use two 675 hearing aid cells. Use a neoprene O-ring as a bushing, the 675 is smaller in diameter them the PX13. If you block 3 of the four airholes off, the cells last a very long time, the one in my Nikkormat has been there since April 2011.

TheToadMen · Sep 28, 2013

E. von Hoegh said:
Use a neoprene O-ring as a bushing, the 675 is smaller in diameter them the PX13. If you block 3 of the four airholes off, the cells last a very long time

I'll see if I can get these overhere. Just curious: how can covering airholes prolong the life of a battery?

hdeyong · Sep 29, 2013

I got the same camera and 50 from somebody, also for free, and figured at that price, why not load it up and give it a try?
It's now always loaded with HP5 and ready to go because it turned out to be a great camera and lens. Feels like a brick in your hands.

Xmas · Sep 29, 2013

hdeyong said:
I got the same camera and 50 from somebody, also for free, and figured at that price, why not load it up and give it a try?
It's now always loaded with HP5 and ready to go because it turned out to be a great camera and lens. Feels like a brick in your hands.

The Konicas were comparable with any of the other contemporary Japanease SLRs. The photos indistinguishable. The leatherette cladding and ERC material fell apart but new cladding is all you need.

My preference is for the 40mm pancake but that is just for the 40 mm angle.

You might get a jam very rare but any tech will free in a few minutes you only need to undo baseplate and nudge the delinquent interlock don't try force or fat fingers...

mablo · Sep 29, 2013

The 50mm/1.7 AR is a hidden gem. I have an early example and I swear it's a better lens than all my 50mm Nikkor lenses. You will not be disappointed.

Chan Tran · Sep 29, 2013

To the OP. You already have the camera in your hands so instead of asking us you should use the camera and tell us if it's any good.

TheToadMen · Sep 29, 2013

Chan Tran said:
To the OP. You already have the camera in your hands so instead of asking us you should use the camera and tell us if it's any good.

You're absolutely right and I will.
But it is also nice to hear what others on APUG think about this camera/lens and what the tips&tricks for this type of camera are. So please endulge me.
(I can't ask my wife ...)

montecarlo · Oct 2, 2013

the TC has more plastic than other cameras but I like it anyway. The Hezxanon 50mm f:1.7 is an excellent lens. Good combo. Ad to it a (hexanon) 28/3.5 and perhaps 135/3.5 and you've got pa cheap but good sistem ;-) I've always dreamt of a 28/1.8 + 40/1.8 + 85/1.8 combo but that's not a cheap adventure

Xmas · Oct 2, 2013

ok I confess I have two TC I got both real cheap

the plastic is only outer cladding the chassis is metal you have to hit the plastic hard to damage it.

Both mine came with 40mm /1.8s real cameras

apart from foam crumbling
leatherette shrinkage
ERC disintegrating

normally one goes hill walking with me and Kchrome 64 alas no more.

E. von Hoegh · Oct 3, 2013

TheToadMen said:
I'll see if I can get these overhere. Just curious: how can covering airholes prolong the life of a battery?

The ZA cells are, believe it or not, a type of fuel cell. They work by taking oxygen from the air and they are moist inside. Blocking off the holes will prolong their life by keeping the moisture in, and slowing down the chemistry - you use them intermittently and ask only for very light drain, so you can get away with blocking 3 of the four holes. These typically last four days to a week in hearing aids, they weren't engineered for long life and intermittent use.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc–air_battery

KONICA Autoreflex TC with Hexanon AR 50/1.7 - any good?

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