Diese Seite auf Deutsch
Konica Macro-Hexanon AR
55 mm / F3.5
middle version with EE marking
Konica Macro-Hexanon AR
55 mm / F3.5
late version with AE marking
Konica Macro-Hexanon AR
55 mm / F3.5
with Macro Lens Adapter AR
(focused to minimum distance)
Konica Macro-Hexanon AR 55 mm / F3.5
Lens data | Variations | 
Lens overview
The Macro-Hexanon AR 55 mm / F3.5 is one of the most interesting lenses from the Konica line-up. It had some very innovative features, especially for the solution of the exposure compensation problem in macro photography.
It was introduced during the era of the Autoreflex T2, it was one of the first Konica SLR lenses with the rubberized focusing ring. The first version still had a chrome ring. Because it had a smallest aperture 22 right from the beginning, no changes for the new electronic bodies were necessary later – therefore, there are only few variations of this lens.
As a dedicated macro lens it is optimized mainly for sharpness, especially in the close focusing range. As depth-of-field is extremely shallow with the close focusing distances of macro photography and such shots are mainly made stopped-down from a tripod, speed is not so important – the impressive sharpness is achieved also by means of a small optical element size and the resulting slow lens speed.
The Macro-Hexanon AR 55 mm / F3.5 was supplied together with a matching extension ring, the Macro Lens Adapter AR. This extension ring has no optical elements. The changes in effective speed due to this extension ring can be directly seen on the lens. With this extension ring, the lens can also be used in automatic AE mode. Both lens and Macro Lens Adapter AR were delivered in a special case with two compartments.
Without the matching Macro Lens Adapter AR, the lens can be focused down to 0.25 m (97/8"). At this distance a maximum magnification ratio of 1:2 is achieved. Together with the matching extension ring, a minimum focusing distance of 22.2 cm (83/4") with a maximum magnification ratio of 1:1 can be achieved – the image on the film has the same size as the subject in reality.
Image quality is outstanding technically – the lens renders razor-sharp and contrasty images, free from vignetting or distortions. It is not sensitive to stray light even without lens hood because its small front element is deeply recessed by almost 4 cm (11/2"). However, the so-called bokeh is not particularly pleasing. Bokeh is the look of the out-of-focus image areas. Out-of-focus highlights in the background unfortunately have a distinctive hexagonal shape that is caused by the aperture blades and can be very distracting and disturbing, especially with soft subjects like flowers. For such subjects, one of the 50 mm standard lenses with extension rings gives more pleasing results in my opinion.
The operation of the lens with the matching Macro Lens Adapter AR is really well-done, and the solution of the exposure compensation problem is just as ingenious as it is simple – other manufacturers could have learned a lot from Konica in this respect.
The lens has two aperture scales offset by 180° from each other and also two separate focusing index marks also offset by 180° with matching scales for distances and magnification ratios. If the lens is mounted on the body without the Macro Lens Adapter AR, the respective scales and index marks are visible. If the lens is mounted together with the Macro Lens Adapter AR, it is automatically turned by 180° along its longitudonal axis and the respective scales for aperture values and distances, which account for the use of the extension ring, are visible – no computing necessary. Together with the Macro Lens Adapter AR, the effective speed of the lens is F5.2. In the upper image, the lens side with the scales for use without the Macro Lens Adapter AR can be seen, the lower image shows the other side of the lens with the scales when the Macro Lens Adapters AR is used.
A short introduction to the exposure compensation problem: the lens speed given for any lens is always the effective value if the lens is focused to ∞. If the lens is focused to shorter distances, the lens is moved away from the film plane (you can see this, the lenses become longer), resulting in a decrease of effective speed. With most lenses, this effect is so small it can be ignored, being smaller than a half aperture stop. But macro lenses allow for a big extension to achieve small focusing distances and the desired magnification ratios. With this long extensions, the drop in effective speed cannot be ignored any longer, because it can be more than a full stop and would result in visibly underexposed images. With the Macro-Hexanon AR 55 mm / F3.5 the effective speed at the minimum focusing distance (without the extension ring) is F5.2 – a loss of about 11/3 aperture stops compared to the F3.5 speed at ∞.
The Macro-Hexanon AR 55 mm / F3.5 has a very user-friendly and simple system to compensate for this loss of effective speed. When the respective lever ist set to M for manual exposure, the actual size of the aperture opening is adjusted automatically when shifting focus. For example, if the lens is set to aperture 11, the lens has at every focusing distance an opening resulting in an effective speed of 11. When set to close focus distances, the actual opening of the aperture blades is larger than when set to longer focus distances. Thus, the loss of speed is compensated for automatically. Obviously, this does not work when the aperture is fully open already, as the aperture cannot be opened any further – in this case you can see the effective speed on a scale on the lens barrel (the green figures beside the focusing distance index mark on the image). With all other aperture values, the lens always has the effective speed set on the aperture ring, no matter what distance it is focused on.
When using the body's own through-the-lens light meter in AE mode, this compensation is not necessary. The light meter meters the light level that passes the lens. If this level is becoming darker, the meter would automatically choose a wider aperture, so that the light loss is automatically compensated for with TTL metering. For use with the TTL meter, the lever should be set to the AE position. But for use with external light meters and manually controlled exposure, the built-in compensation is a real help and simplification.
Variations
- Focusing ring with rubber inlay
Chrome ring
yellow EE mark - (Upper image)
Focusing ring with rubber inlay
all black
yellow EE mark - (Middle and bottom image)
Focusing ring with rubber inlay
all black
green AE mark
Lens data
| Angle of view: | 43° |
| Construction: | 4 elements in 3 groups |
| Aperture: | Fully automatic AE, smallest aperture 22 |
| Closest focusing: | 0.25 m (97/8") |
| Filter thread: | 55 mm |
| Length (at ∞): | 60 mm (23/8") (lens only) 88 mm (31/2") (incl. Macro Lens Adapter AR) |
| Weight: | 290 g (101/4 oz) (lens only) 405 g (141/4 oz) (incl. Macro Lens Adapter AR) |
| Lens hood: | 55 mm round screw-in |
| Maximum magnification ratio: | 1:2 (lens only) 1:1 (incl. Macro Lens Adapter AR) |
| Lens diagram: |  |
Top of page
E-mail