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Konica Hexanon AR 50 mm / F1.4
early f16 version
Konica Hexanon AR 50 mm / F1.4
late f22 version
Konica Hexanon AR 50 mm / F1.4
Lens data | Variations | 
Lens overview
The Hexanon 50 mm / F1.4 superseded the older Hexanon AR 57 mm / F1.4 shortly after the introduction of the Autoreflex T3.
Right from the beginning, the Hexanon AR 50 mm / F1.4 had the focusing ring with the checkered rubber inlay, the earliest version has a green EE marking, all other variations have a green AE marking for automatic exposure.
Contemporary to the introduction of the FS-1, the lens was thoroughly revised – with unchanged optical formula it got a smallest aperture 22 (previously 16) and was substantially lighter as well as a bit slimmer, the length remaining unchanged. In this revision, it lost the click stops for half aperture values. Different from the slower budget standard lens Hexanon AR 50 mm / F1.7, the closest focusing of 0.45 m (1 ft 53/4") was preserved in the revised version. The later variation was sold until the Konica SLR system was abandoned altogether in 1987.
Image quality is superb, the Hexanon AR 50 mm / F1.4 renders razor-sharp and contrasty images with neutral colour rendition – the results are only very slightly less sharp than those of the legendary Hexanon AR 50 mm / F1.7, which is considered as one of the sharpest lenses ever made by anyone – you really have to take a very close look to see any difference at all. The lens is definitely sharper than its predecessor Hexanon AR 57 mm / F1.4.
However, it was pointed out to me by a reader that the Hexanon / Hexanon AR 57 mm / F1.4 is a very good lens for infra-red photography, where the Hexanon AR 50 mm F1.4 would produce prominent hotspots, so the 57 mm would be superior to the 50 mm F1.4 for this application. I have no own experience with that, but as this info might be interesting, I mention it here.
A matching round metal screw-in lens shade was available from Konica as an accessory. In later variations, this shade was also intended for the Hexanon AR 40 mm / F1.8 and the Hexanon AR 85 mm / F1.8, according to the markings.
The difference in speed over the budget standard lens is about 2/3 f-stops – this is nowhere near as important as it used to be in the days when the fastest colour film available was Kodachrome 64. Sometimes, the shallower depth-of-field when used wide open is desirable, especially for portraits. In low-light situations, it still can be the small difference that decides whether or not hand-held images can be made without blur caused by camera shake.
Which variation of the Hexanon AR 50 mm / F1.4 is preferred, is a matter of taste – both have their advantages. Someone exposing mainly slide film with manual exposure control will probably be happier with the half aperpurture click stops of the earlier variation, others will maybe prefer the lesser weight of the later variation. Optically, both versions are equal.
The Hexanon AR 50 mm / F1.4 is not as common as the slower alternatives, but can still be seen regularly. It can be bought easily and quite cheaply, but still is not as breathtakingly cheap as the Hexanon AR 50 mm / F1.7. A great lens for a good price.
Variations
- Smallest aperture 16
Green EE marking
Half-stop aperture clicks - (Upper image above)
Smallest aperture 16
Green AE marking
Half-stop aperture clicks - (Lower image above)
Smallest aperture 22
Green AE marking
Full-stop aperture clicks
Lens data
| Angle of view: | 46° |
| Construction: | 7 elements in 6 groups |
| Aperture: | Fully automatic AE, smallest aperture 16 Fully automatic AE, smallest aperture 22 |
| Closest focusing: | 0.45 m (1 ft 53/4") |
| Filter thread: | 55 mm |
| Length (at ∞): | 45 mm (13/4") |
| Weight: | 290 g (101/4 oz) (version with smallest aperture 16) 265 g (93/8 oz) (version with smallest aperture 22) |
| Lens hood: | Metal, 55 mm round screw-in |
| Lens diagram: |  |
More pages on the Konica Hexanon and Hexar lenses:
Main page | Lens overview | 
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