Konishiroku Hexanon 135 mm / 1:3.5 Preset

Konishiroku Hexanon 135 mm / 1:3.5
Preset version for F bayonet

Konishiroku Hexanon 135 mm / 1:3.5 Auto

Konishiroku Hexanon 135 mm / 1:3.5
Auto version for F bayonet

Konica Hexanon 135 mm / 1:3.5

Konica Hexanon 135 mm / 1:3.5
very early AR bayonet version

Konica Hexanon 135 mm / 1:3.5

Konica Hexanon 135 mm / 1:3.5
early AR bayonet version

Konica Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.5

Konica Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.5
late f22 version

Konishiroku Hexanon 135 mm / 1:3.5
Konica Hexanon 135 mm / 1:3.5
Konica Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.5

downLens data | downVariations | internal linkLens overview

The Konica Hexanon / Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.5 is the most common telephoto lens in the Konica SLR line.

It was available quite early – it supplanted the earlier Hexanon 135 mm / 1:2.8 already while the early internal linkF bayonet was still in use. There is no version of this lens for the coupled light meter of the Konica F, however. The Hexanon 135 mm / 1:3.5 was first offered as a preset lens, later it was also available in an auto-aperture version. Both versions were sold simultaneously for some time.

All versions for the younger internal linkAR bayonet provide fully automatic AE aperture. The lens was built until the SLR system was dropped by Konica and has been revised several times, so many different downvariations exist. The optical formuala remained unchanged as far as I know, only the coatings have been improved.

The Hexanon / Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.5 provides a very good image quality and renders very sharp and contrasty images with great colour fidelity, no barrel or pincushion distortions are visible – like with most similar lenses of other manufacturers. It seems to be a classic lens design, well-proved for decades, that all quality manufacturers master well.

Like with most telephoto lenses and their big and not recessed front elements, the consequent use of a lens hood is recommended to avoid loss of contrast due to stray light. This is especially true for older versions that have coatings not as good as the newer ones. In the late f22 version, the Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.5 does provide a built-in lens shade, but this hood is a bit too shallow, not giving good protection in any case. The use of a deeper accessory lens shade gives better results in many situations. Older versions of the lens do not have a built-in lens shade, but a metal screw-in lens hood was available from Konica.

Lens hood Hexanon 135 mm / 1:3.5

Lens hood
Hexanon 135 mm / 1:3.5

The faster Hexanon AR lenses of the same focal length, the internal linkHexanon AR 135 mm / F2.5 and the internal linkHexanon AR 135 mm / F3.2 are preferred by many users. The large maximum aperture of the 135 mm / F2.5 is more suitable in low-light situations and offers a shallower depth-of-field when used wide open, which is good for portraits. The 135 mm / F3.2 has a shorter closest focusing distance, so you can do better close-ups of your subject. Both, espicially the Hexanon AR 135 mm / F2.5 are bigger and heavier than the Hexanon / Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.5 – in addition, they are much more expensive, so the Hexanon / Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.5 has its justification, especially when size and weight savings are important as with travel photography for example.

For some time, beside the Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.5 a lens from the Hexar series with the same focal length and speed was being sold. This lens has a smallest aperture 16, but it is much bulkier and heavier than the Hexanon AR version with smallest aperture 22. The Hexar series were a series of entry-level lenses sold for a smaller price. These lenses were not manufactured by Konica themselves, rumours say they were probably made by Tamron. Other lenses from the Hexar series beside the internal linkHexar AR 135 mm / F3.5 are:

Size comparison 135 mm lenses

Size comparison of different 135 mm lenses:
Hexanon AR 135 mm / F2.5 (left)
Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.2 (centre left)
Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.5 (late f22 version) (centre right)
Hexar AR 135 mm / F3.5 (right)

The Hexanon / Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.5 for the newer AR bayonet is very common and often offered for sale – as most of the left-over Konica SLR users already have one, they are mostly very cheap. A real bargain for the prices it is usually being sold for. For the earlier F bayonet, all lenses are rare.

Variations
Lens data
Angle of view: 18°
Construction: 4 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 (early versions) or 22 (latest version)
Closest focusing: 1,5 m (4 ft 111/4")
Filter thread: 55 mm
Length (at ∞): 92 mm (35/8") (F bayonet / f22 preset version)
92 mm (55/8") (AR bayonet / f16 version)
82 mm (31/8") (AR bayonet / f22 version)
Weight: 395 g (137/8 oz) (F bayonet / f22 preset version)
350 g (123/8 oz) (AR bayonet / f16 version)
315 g (111/8 oz) (AR bayonet / f22 version)
Lens hood: 55 mm round screw-in (early versions)
built-in (AR bayonet / f22 version)
Lens diagram: Lens diagram Hexanon / Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.5
More pages on the Konica Hexanon and Hexar lenses:

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