300/4.5  KONICA HEXANON AR

Specifications:

Field of view

Elements / groups 

Aperture system

Aperture Scale

Metering

Closest focusing distance

Filters

Hood

Length

Diameter

Weight (~)

Years of production

Number of versions

Rarity

8 º

8/5

Automatic

4.5 to 16 + AE

At full aperture

4.0m

Screw-in, 72mm

Built-in

168mm

80mm

965g

1970-87

2

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Optical diagram:

Comments:                                                                 ●

The Hexanon 300/4.5 is an ideal lens for wildlife photography. It can also be used for sports, but fast action shooting is made difficult by its relatively long focus throw. It was one of the best 300mm lenses on the market in its day. It is an excellent lens that gives surprisingly sharp images with great color rendition from edge to edge even when wide open. When stopped down a couple of stops the image becomes outstanding. It is not a very large lens considering its focal length, merely 2cm longer than the 200/3.5, and it has a tripod collar. In good lighting conditions and at speeds higher than 1/500s it can be used hand held with very good results.

 300/6.3  KONICA FL HEXANON AR

Specifications:

Field of view

Elements / groups 

Aperture system

Aperture Scale

Metering

Closest focusing distance

Filters

Hood

Length

Diameter

Weight (~)

Years of production

Number of versions

Rarity

8 º

9/5

Automatic

6.3 to 22 + AE

At full aperture

4.5m

Screw-in, 55mm

Built-in

146mm

65mm

560g

1973-87

1

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Optical diagram:                                                                  

Comments:                                                                   ●

Excellent lens of very modest dimensions for this focal length and, for this very reason it is a bit dark. It is the only Hexanon lens to contain a fluorite element. Fluorite is a rare mineral that exhibits a low ratio of light dispersion so lenses with optical elements made of fluorite are less prone to chromatic aberration. The Hexanon 300/6.3 is extremely rare and very expensive. It is said that the lens was much appreciated at one time by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

 400/4.5  KONICA HEXANON ARM

Specifications:

Field of view

Elements / groups 

Aperture system

Aperture Scale

Metering

Closest focusing distance

Filters

Hood

Length

Diameter

Weight (~)

Years of production

Number of versions

Rarity

6º

4/4

Manual, preset

4.5 to 32 (45)

Stopped down

8.0m

Drop-in, 55mm

Screw-in, 95mm / built-in

355mm

104mm

2.7kg (2.4kg)

1965-76

3

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Optical diagram:

Comments:                                                                 ●

The Hexanon 400/4.5 is a carry-over lens from the F-mount era. It exists in the high-gloss black version and the rubber focusing ring version. Its manual aperture operation makes it a slow lens to use. It was replaced in 1976 by the automatic Hexanon 400/5.6 UC. The Hexanon 400/4.5 is a very solidly-built lens of excellent optical performance, with good sharpness and color rendition but contrast tends to be better with the later models with rubber covered focusing ring. It has a built-in hood and tripod collar and takes drop-in filters.

 400/5.6  KONICA UC HEXANON AR

Specifications:

Field of view

Elements / groups 

Aperture system

Aperture scale

Metering

Closest focusing distance

Filters

Hood

Length

Diameter

Weight (~)

Years of production

Number of versions

Rarity

6º

9/5

Automatic

5.6 to 45 + AE

At full aperture

4m

Screw-in, 77mm

Built-in

217mm

83mm

1.6kg

1976-87

1

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Optical diagram:

Comments:                                                                 ●

The Hexanon 400/5.6 UC is Konica’s largest fully automatic lens. It replaced the much heavier Hexanon 400/4.5 which was a carry-over from the F-mount era. As an UC lens, it has a closer focusing capability than other lenses of similar focal length and advanced coatings that give it splendid color rendition and superior flare control. The Hexanon 400/5.6 UC is a very sharp and contrasty lens. It is a solidly-built lens that has a built-in tripod collar. It is a highly sought-after lens that is seldom seen today as, apparently, only about 600 were manufactured. 

 800/8.0  KONICA HEXANON ARM

Specifications:

Field of view

Elements / groups 

Aperture system

Aperture Scale

Metering

Closest focusing distance

Filters

Hood

Length

Diameter

Weight (~)

Years of production

Number of versions

Rarity

3º

2/1

Manual, preset

8 to 45

Stopped down

20m

Drop-in, 55mm

Built-in

775mm

134mm

5.6kg

1965-76

2

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Optical diagram:

Comments:                                                                 ●

The Hexanon 800/8.0 is somewhat reminiscent of a Penzerfaust and was, it is said, entirely made by hand. There are supposedly only a dozen or so in existence. It is an extremely well-made manual lens that originates in the F-mount era. It has excellent contrast and sharpness for this focal range, which is surprising for a two-element optical design. The lens’ extreme length and the not entirely judicious placement of its tripod mount make it difficult to stabilize as it tends to tip forward. A heavy tripod with a solid head is a must. A specially-designed accessory tripod was offered with the initial version of this lens. I know of only one person who has one and only saw one twice. 

 1000/8.0  KONICA HEXANON ARM

Specifications:

Field of view

Elements / groups 

Aperture system

Aperture Scale

Metering

Closest focusing distance

Filters

Hood

Length

Diameter

Weight (~)

Years of production

Number of versions

Rarity

2.5º

7/6

With ND filters

8 to 22

Stopped down

28mm (25m)

Drop-in, 67mm (55mm)

N/A

45.5cm

20cm

8.5kg

1966-81

2

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Optical diagram:

Comments:                                                                 ●

The Hexanon 1000/8.0 mirror lens is somewhat more common than the Hexanon 800/8.0. I have seen several on auction in the last few years. The first version was produced for only a year or so and the second version was introduced in 1968. Konica’s two mirror lenses are unusual in that they are fast for mirror lenses and in that they had a means to adjust the amount of light penetrating into the lens by means of neutral density filters mounted on a dial. Most mirror lenses have a fixed aperture value. Mirror lenses are, in a way, little more than large metallic tubes that contain an imposing volume of air, In the sun, this air warms up, causing turbulence within the tube with the result that one can guess. Such lenses are thus painted white in order to reflect sunlight.    

 2000/11.0  KONICA HEXANON ARM

Specifications:

Field of view

Elements / groups 

Aperture system

Aperture Scale

Metering

Closest focusing distance

Filters

Hood

Length

Diameter

Weight (~)

Years of production

Number of versions

Rarity

1.25 º

9/8

With ND filters

11 to 32

Stopped down

43.5m

Drop-in, 55mm

N/A

?

?

18kg

1966

2

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Optical diagram:

Comments:                                                                 ●

Mirror lens which used to adorn certain advertising brochures prior to 1970 and was available on special order for an undisclosed price. It would seem that Konica made two of these and it isn’t known if either found a buyer. Witnesses claim to have seen one exemplar with their own eyes at international photographic exhibitions. Konica’s two mirror lenses are unusual in that they are fast for mirror lenses and in that they had a means to adjust the amount of light penetrating into the lens by means of neutral density filters mounted on a dial. Most mirror lenses have a fixed aperture value. Mirror lenses are, in a way, little more than large metallic tubes that contain an imposing volume of air, In the sun, this air warms up, causing turbulence within the tube with the result that one can guess. Such lenses are thus painted white in order to reflect sunlight. 

“Hexanon lenses, in their time, were at least on par with those of Canon and Nikon."

Tim Hobson