Konica UC Zoom-Hexanon AR 80-200 mm / F4

Konica UC Zoom-Hexanon AR
80-200 mm / F4

Konica UC Zoom-Hexanon AR 80-200 mm / F4

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The UC Zoom-Hexanon AR 80-200 mm / F4 is a two-touch zoom with two separate rings for focal length shift and focusing. It supplanted the older internal linkZoom-Hexanon AR 80-200 mm / F3.5, also a two-touch zoom, during the construction period of the internal linkAutoreflex T3N. The UC Zoom-Hexanon AR 80-200 mm / F4 is much smaller and lighter than its predecessor, but still is a big and heavy lens. Its overall length does not change 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.

During the first half of the 80's, it was superseded by the one-touch Zoom-Hexanon AR 80-200 mm / F4.

Because the UC Zoom-Hexanon AR 80-200 mm / F4 was built only during a rather short period of time, there have never been any changes to it, there is only one variation. All lenses of this type have the rubberized focusing ring, a smallest aperture 16, and a green AE mark.

Until the mid-80's there were only very few zoom lenses with decent optical quality that had a focal length range greater than double or triple – independent of who the manufacturer was. Even with the double or triple zoom lenses that are easier to master, many lenses from the 60's and 70's have optical quality inferior to the fixed focal length lenses. This affects mainly sharpness and contrast, but some zoom lenses from this era also have problems with distortions and especially in the wide-angle range many show strong vignetting. Most of the Konica zoom lenses belong to the better ones for their time, but still many of them cannot keep up to their contemporary, first-class fixed focal length lenses, nor to modern zoom lenses from the upper quality range.

For a zoom lens of its vintage, the UC Zoom-Hexanon AR 80-200mm / F4 has a very good image quality. Images are sharp and contrasty and free from noticeable distortions. The lens has a flare problem and is sensitive to contrast loss due to stray light, so consequent use of the built-in lens hood is essential.

The UC Zoom-Hexanon AR 80-200 mm / F4 is neither rare nor very common, it is offered on the used market once in a while – therefore, you will not get one for an extremely low price, but it is not too expensive either. If you want a moderate to medium telephoto zoom of decent quality, the UC lens will serve you well.

The UC Zoom-Hexanon AR 80-200 mm / F4 is one out of a series of high-performance lenses designated UC. According to Konica, UC stands for Ultra Coated, Ultra Compact, and Ultra Close (focusing). Other UC lenses are:

UC Hexanon AR lenses leaflet

UC Hexanon AR lenses leaflet

The complete, multi-lingual internal linkUC Hexanon AR lenses leaflet will be downloaded as PDF file, if you follow the link (4 pages; Japanese, English, German, French, Swedish, Italian, and Spanish; file size: 1,129 KB).

Lens data
Angle of view: 30°-12°
Construction: 14 elements in 10 groups
Aperture: Fully automatic AE, smallest aperture 16
Closest focusing: 0.7 m (2 ft 31/2")
Filter thread: 62 mm
Length (at ∞): 157 mm (63/16")
Weight: 830 g (1 lb 131/4 oz)
835 g (1 lb 137/16 oz)
Lens hood: built-in
Lens diagram: Lens diagram UC Zoom-Hexanon AR 80-200 mm / F4
More pages on the Konica Hexanon and Hexar lenses:

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