Problem with my Konica Hexar

[Rob MacKillop]

It's usually extremely reliable, giving beautiful sharp images, but here are some images, actually the best of the bunch (which isn't saying much) from a roll of Delta 400.

Ilford developed the roll, and sent me the negs. I scanned them at 300dpi with Epson V550. They look awful.

What has gone wrong?

 

[darkosaric]

It looks like bad focus. Are you using manual focus, or auto? Can it be that you had manual focus on and forgot about it?

 

[Rob MacKillop]

It was on autofocus, P mode. I shoot with this camera a lot, and all the settings are the same as I always use. It looks to me that, yes, the focus is out, but so is exposure. As I say, it is normally a very easy-to-use camera, giving great results.

 

[darkosaric]

Can you post a picture of the negative - whole negative with perforation, shoot with phone camera against white computer screen? That can reveal additional clues.

 

[Mike Crawford]

I'm on my second Hexar after my first one had the same problem with the shutter / autofocus, which over 20 years I suppose is not too bad. I love the camera, but by all accounts it is quite a well known problem. There was a step by step post on a website I saw quite a few years ago on how to fix it. Couldn't find it, but this Youtube video might help. I haven't felt confident enough perform such an operation myself, but if you're happy to take your camera apart, it might help.

 

[Lachlan Young]

Couple of possibilities: it can struggle in mist/ fog because the AF's IR seems to get confused - or condensation or a small obstruction over the AF sensor. And if something obstructs the DX code, that's going to affect the film speed settings & are you absolutely sure you set the minimum shutter speed on 'P' mode to one you can handhold consistently?

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Apologies, gentlemen, but I was scanning at only 300 dpi. I meant to scan at 3,200 dpi - now all is fine. I haven't scanned a neg for six months or so, and wasn't thinking properly today! No need to take my camera part My brain, on the other hand...

 

[Mike Crawford]

Couple of possibilities: it can struggle in mist/ fog because the AF's IR seems to get confused - or condensation or a small obstruction over the AF sensor. And if something obstructs the DX code, that's going to affect the film speed settings & are you absolutely sure you set the minimum shutter speed on 'P' mode to one you can handhold consistently?

I've had that exact problem shooting in the mist with my Hexar. Once I realised what was happening, switched to manual focus.

 

[Mike Crawford]

Apologies, gentlemen, but I was scanning at only 300 dpi. I meant to scan at 3,200 dpi - now all is fine. I haven't scanned a neg for six months or so, and wasn't thinking properly today! No need to take my camera part My brain, on the other hand...

Ha! Glad it's an easy fix!!