Konica Hexanon Zoom Lens Size 24x18 47-100 mm / 1:3.5
The Konica Hexanon Zoom Lens Size 24x18 47-100 mm / 1:3.5 is a one-touch zoom with a combined setting ring for focusing and focal length shift. It is designed exclusively for the camera bodies Auto-Reflex and Auto-Reflex P, which can be switched to half format 24x18 mm. With full-frame 24x36 mm there will be some vignetting in the corners at certain focal lengths, as the image circle is too small.
When used with half format 24x18, this zoom lens covers an image angle area from light to medium telephoto lens. The image angle area is close to that of a 65-135 mm zoom in normal 24x36 mm format. On full 24x36 mm, the image angles reach from normal to light telephoto.
The lens does change its overall length when the focal length is shifted. As on almost every Konica zoom lens, the front element rotates when focus is shifted, making the use with polarizers and gradated filters a bit cumbersome.
As the lens has only been built for a short time for the two bodies switchable to half format, there is only a single variation of it. Like the other Hexanon lenses of this vintage, it has a shiny black finish and a chrome ring. The yellow EE marking on the aperture ring is beside a yellow dot which indicates the click position. However, the shape of the zoom / focusing ring is quite unusual. It has a small, checkered pattern, which looks very much like the rubber rings which have been in use many years later. But its structure is not a rubber ring, it is directly milled into the metal. Other Hexanon lenses from this vintage had lengthwise grooves.
The small filter thread diameter of 52 mm is also untypical for Hexanon lenses. All other Hexanon and Hexar lenses for Konica SLR had a filter thread diameters of 55 mm, if the size of the front element did not require even larger diameters for lens speed.
In original condition, the lens does not have coupling for largest aperture value. The light meters of later bodies with TTL metering do not give sensible results with this lens. So it cannot be used in AE mode on such bodies. The coupling is not required for the bodies which can be switched to half format. On the Auto-Reflex, the metering is not done through the lens. On the Auto-Reflex P, there is no meter and no way for automatic exposure control anyway.
I cannot say much about image quality, as I have not really used the lens. In the finder, quite some distortion can be seen. Shape of distortions is pincushion at 100 mm focal length and barrel at 47 mm.
The Hexanon Zoom Lens Size 24x18 47-100 mm / 1:3.5 does not have a built-in lens shade. I do not know if the lens originally was supplied with a matching shade.
The lens is rather rare. Being more a collector's item, it is mostly quite expensive. The practical value is rather modest today. The UC Zoom-Hexanon AR 45-100 mm / F3.5 is a better choice, when you are looking for the same focal lengths range - it can be used on all bodies and for full-size 24x36 mm without limitations.
Lens data
Angle of view (at full size 24x36 mm): | 51°-24° |
Construction: | 13 elements in 8 groups |
Aperture: | Fully automatic AE, smallest aperture 16 |
Closest focusing: | 1.85 m (6 ft 13/16") |
Filter thread: | 52 mm |
Length (at ∞): | 94 mm (32/3") (at 47 mm focal length) 115 mm (41/2") (at 100 mm focal length) |
Weight: | 435 g (151/3 oz) |
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