The Konica AR lens mount

[Vonder]

Konica Hexanon lenses are, from what I've read, considered some of the finest pieces of glass ever made. One magazine called the 50mm 1.7 the sharpest lens ever made, by anyone, period.

So why are there no adapters to use Konica lenses on other SLRs? Is there something about the AR mount that made it impossible?

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Probably just rarity. They're not common enough for anyone to have bothered.

 

[r-brian]

It's probably cheaper to buy a Konica camera that what the adapter would cost.

 

[Anscojohn]

A Konica to some other lens mount would, probably, not allow focus to infinity. That being said, check out Arax foto in Ukraine. He sells adapters for just about anything. FWIW, there is an M42 to Konica adapter which allows focus to infinity; but one loses auto diaphram operation. BTW, you are correct about the old Konica lenses: real sleepers.

 

[Excalibur2]

Konica Hexanon lenses are, from what I've read, considered some of the finest pieces of glass ever made. One magazine called the 50mm 1.7 the sharpest lens ever made, by anyone, period.

So why are there no adapters to use Konica lenses on other SLRs? Is there something about the AR mount that made it impossible?

The digital guys can't use em, that's why they are cheap to buy.

 

[Peter Black]

Konica Hexanon lenses are, from what I've read, considered some of the finest pieces of glass ever made. One magazine called the 50mm 1.7 the sharpest lens ever made, by anyone, period.

So why are there no adapters to use Konica lenses on other SLRs? Is there something about the AR mount that made it impossible?

I recall there was some magazine had said that about a single copy of a lens, but others had never found them to be so remarkable, although they are undoubtedly fine lenses and an absolute steal at current prices.

There are a few Konica resources on the web and most seem to be linked to the site below, which also explains about fitting the lenses to other cameras.
http://www.buhla.de/Foto/Konica/eHexanonHaupt.html

 

[Focus No. 9]

Soligor Lens .. I need an ID - Konica Mount?

Hi, I posted a thread on another post tonight..Elekm(subscriber member) put me on the trail to Konica,,, so i googled it and it brought this post which led me to the Konica pages.. i think i have a third party AR mount lens for the Konica Autoreflex T3. What do you think...
sorry for the duplicate post ... but it is a beautiful lens in my eye.

thanks. the pcis of the lens are at this post:
(there was a url link here which no longer exists) #post986003

 

[Towermax]

Take a long at Buhla's page on Hexanon lenses: http://www.buhla.de/Foto/Konica/eHexanonHaupt.html

He explains the problem in using Hexanon lenses on non-Konica SLRs. (In brief, the film to flange register is shorter than almost all other mounts.)

 

[altair]

I have 2 Konica AR mount lenses, a 50/1.7 and a 40/1.8. The scans I get from the negatives I shot with these lenses on my Autoreflex TC shows that they are indeed very sharp. I love them, and Konica lenses are indeed real sleepers.

As someone said before me, you have to bear with the bodies in order to use all those excellent glass.

 

[5stringdeath]

I have 2 Konica AR mount lenses, a 50/1.7 and a 40/1.8. The scans I get from the negatives I shot with these lenses on my Autoreflex TC shows that they are indeed very sharp. I love them, and Konica lenses are indeed real sleepers.

As someone said before me, you have to bear with the bodies in order to use all those excellent glass.

Bear with as in the bodies aren't very good?

 

[altair]

5stringdeath: Well, it depends on who you ask, some people swear by the Konica bodies, while others despise them for various reasons. Me, I like them just fine.

 

[KrankyKraut]

I have used Konica on and off sine the mid-70's. The bodies are, indeed, the weak link. The older T-series (T, T2, T3) are nicely made, but have darkish viewfinders that makes it difficult to focus, especially with zoom lenses. The T4 has a bit brighter finder, but has a very loud mirror and shutter action. The FC-1 has a brighter viewfinder, but is still very loud and just doesn't fit my hands very well (YMMV). Haven't tried the FT-1. The lenses, especially the 50mm 1.4 and late 57mm 1.4, the 85mm 1.8 and the 135mm 3.2 are very nice. The metal focusing ring Hexanon 28mm 3.5 has a special quality when it comes to color reproduction. The 40mm 1.8 is very sharp, but a little sterile for my taste.

 

[BobD]

Konica AR adapters with infinity focus are available for mini 4/3 mount cameras.

 

[5stringdeath]

Konica AR adapters with infinity focus are available for mini 4/3 mount cameras.

You know I've seen these online .. in fact I've seen 4/3 adapters for just about every mount imaginable .... wondering if anyone has tested them at all.

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

You know I've seen these online .. in fact I've seen 4/3 adapters for just about every mount imaginable .... wondering if anyone has tested them at all.

I know *of* several people who have used 4/3 adapters (mostly with Leica R, but also with many other lens types) and swear by them (and have posted many, apparently very good, examples of results and so on)....

Apparently, if you can live with (or take advantage of) the 2x effective FL doubling, they work very well.

 

[dynachrome]

I have been using and collecting Konica cameras for a long time. The first Konica in our family was my father's Auto S1.6 rangefinder. My first Konica SLR was an Autoreflex T2 in 1971. When my eyes were younger the not-so-bright viewfinders of the Konics SLRs didn't bother me. I grew to like macro photography and not having interchangeable focusing screens was a disadvantage. I worked around this by having a Nikon E screen from the FE permanently installed in a Konica FT-1 in 1984. I used the camera for 20 years before it needed some service. Last year it needed a lot more service and it has been awaiting repair since then. Luckily I also have an Autoreflex T2 with a Nikon E screen so I can still do macro work comfortably with a Konica body. If my count of 35mm and medium format cameras is correct I now have 27 SLR cameras with interchangeable focusing screens. In the last few months I added a 135/2.5 Hexanon (I had 2 already), a 28-85/2.8-3.8 Kiron, a 135/2.8 Formula 5 and a 28/2.5 Vivitar Fixed Mount (I had one or two already). Over the years Greg Weber has helped to keep my Konicas going. The only time I have used Konica or Konica mount lenses on other cameras is when I had one on a bellows and used adapters to attach the camera. I think I also used a Konica lens reversed with the Auto Ring and double cable but on a non-Konica body.

 

[macrorie]

I inherited a TC and 40mm 1.8 from my father, then bought the 135mm 3.2 and 28mm 3.5 lenses. It is good, light kit for most kinds of shooting. The shutter sound is definitely distinctive, and the noise makes you think that there would be sharpness problems from mirror slap, but I have never observed any.

 

[benjiboy]

I find it deeply ironic in the way that the digital guys are trying to profit from the technology the" Digital Revolution" has all but destroyed by trying to use them on digital SLR s.

 

[Lanline]

I bought a TC at a thrift store and was surprised at how sharp the 40mm lens was. I've since collected 33 bodies from A to TCX. I have all the lenses from 21mm to 300mm Hexanons. My total investment was like $800. I've had 3 FT-1 motor camera bodies fail, but all were repaired. The Konicas are a SERIOUSLY UNDERRATED SYSTEM in the USA due to poor market share. GOOD FOR ME. GOOD FOR YOU, THEY ARE A STEAL.

 

[Simplicius]

I got myself a complete Konica kit for a steal recently, including a Autoreflex TC and it came with a combination of lens ... 28 mm f/3.5; 50mm f/1.4 ; 50mm f/1.7, the 85mm 1.8 and 40mm f/1.8.
All were in reasonable condition, some dust, minor cleaning marks.. (ie they need a service.)
I tried them for the first time during the St Patrick Day festivities with expired superia 200 film on AE. I tried the 28, 50 (can't remember which one) and 85mm. I was totally bowled over by the quality and the richness of colours. These are wonderful lenses...

real sleepers like someone else said. Some pictures are stuck up on Flickr in a set.

 

[dbuckle]

Very nice photos Simplicus. You got some fine glass there. The 85 is an excellent portrait lens and much sot after. I have several Konica cameras and lenses and have using them for years. I have a new never used T4 ARRIVING THIS WEEK I hope. It has been CLA and battery conversion done by Weber Camera who is the Konica expert. Should be good for 30 years.

 

[dbuckle]

I got my first film back and like the results.

 

[Focus No. 9]

dbuckle SCORES a Winner! ...IMHO

I got my first film back and like the results.

It's either a very nice camera/lens or a very good photog. All in all it is very nice when you put the two together and get shots like this. Thanks for sharing.

BTW, your not making it easy for me to avoid a purchase to test my orphan lens. Uuuggghhhh.

 

[Focus No. 9]

Sorry about the poor quality of the lens picture above. The upload size limitations are very restrictive.
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[Lanline]

Konica Bodies

Bear with as in the bodies aren't very good?

I've got a good collection of Konicas and I find them to be very dependable, very well built.