Konishiroku Hexanon 100 mm / F2.8
Konica Hexanon AR 100 mm / F2.8
Lens data | Variations | Lens overview
This lens was available very early, already at the time of the older F bayonet. At first a preset lens, there was an automatic aperture version later. For some time, both versions have been sold simultaneously. There is no version of this lens for the coupled light meter of the Konica F, however.
All variations for the younger AR bayonet provide fully automatic AE aperture control. Because the lens was available so early and was built until shortly before the SLR line was dropped altogether, a multitude of variations of this lens exist, although it was never modernised for a smallest aperture 22. The optical formuala remained unchanged as far as I know, only the coatings have been improved.
The Hexanon AR 100 mm / F2.8 has very good image quality. It renders razor-sharp images with high contrast and a good colour rendition, no barrel or pincushion distortions are visible.
The Hexanon AR 100 mm / F2.8 is not very sensitive to back or stray light. Like with most telephoto lenses with their big and not recessed front elements, the consequent use of a lens hood is recommended to avoid loss of contrast. None of the different variations of this lens provides a built-in lens shade. A matching metal lens hood was available from Konica, which is adequate but hard to find. An adequate third-party hood can be used just as well, of course.
The Hexanon / Hexanon AR 100 mm / F2.8 telephoto lens is very compact and quite lightweight, therefore the lens is a good choice for travel photography. But it is just as well suited for other applications like portraits – even though the Hexanon / Hexanon AR 85 mm / F1.8 outperforms it in some situations due to its larger widest aperture, which throws the background out of focus so nicely.
The Hexanon / Hexanon AR 100 mm / F2.8 is much rarer than the 135 mm lenses, but is up for sale once in a while. Because it is rarer, it is more expensive than these, but it does not fetch the high prices of the Hexanon AR 85 mm / F1.8 – it is not such a sought-after cult classic lens. It can be bought for a reasonable price in good condition.
Variations
- (Uppermost image above)
F bayonet
Splined metal focusing ring
Chrome ring
Preset aperture - F bayonet
Splined metal focusing ring
Chrome ring
Automatic aperture - AR bayonet
Splined metal focusing ring
Chrome ring
Yellow EE mark - (Middle image above)
AR bayonet
Splined metal focusing ring
All black
Yellow EE mark - (Lower image above)
AR bayonet
Rubberized focusing ring
All black
Green AE mark
Lens data
Angle of view: | 24° |
Construction: | 5 elements in 4 groups |
Aperture: | Preset, smallest aperture 22 (first F bayonet version), Auto, smallest aperture 16 (later F bayonet version), Fully automatic AE (AR bayonet versions),smallest aperture 16 |
Closest focusing: | 1 m (3 ft 3") |
Filter thread: | 55 mm |
Length (at ∞): | 65 mm (29/16") (F bayonet versions) 62 mm (21/2") (AR bayonet version) |
Weight: | 350 g (123/8 oz) (F bayonet versions) 290 g (101/4 oz) (AR bayonet versions) |
Lens hood: | Metal, 55 mm, round, screw-in |
Lens diagram: |
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