28-135/4.0- 4.6  KONICA Zoom 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

 75-18º

18/12

Automatic

4.0 to 22 + AE

At full aperture

0.5m (at 28mm) 

1.5m (at 135mm)

Screw-in, 67mm

Screw-in, 70mm

XXmm to 115mm 

74mm

800g

1983-87

1

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Optical diagram:

Comments:                                                                ●

The 28-135mm zoom is the Hexanon zoom with the greatest focal range. It was probably also the very first zoom lens of this focal length on the market. Very well-designed and well- built zoom with a very convenient range. It is the only Hexanon lens that incorporates an aspheric element. It produces very sharp images with nice color rendition, great contrast and good CA control. A fairly heavy lens. Its manufacturing was subcontracted to Tokina, which also sold this lens in other mounts. 

35-75/3.5  KONICA Zoom 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

63-34º

9/9

Automatic

3.5 to 22 + AE

At full aperture

0.35m

Screw-in, 55mm

Screw-in, 62mm

XXmm to 96mm 

67mm

480g

1978-81

1

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Optical diagram:

Comments:                                                                 ●

The Hexanon 35-70/3.5 is the first and best of Konica’s zooms in this convenient general purpose focal range. It was also the first zoom of its type on the market to offer continuous focus from close-focusing distance to infinity. It did so without a “macro” setting usually found on short zooms of this type. At the close-focusing end, it focuses to 35cm, which was very close for the day. It’s a push-pull zoom, whose deep focusing/zooming ring serves as a deep hood at the 70mm end. The fore and aft zooming movement shifts the position of the ring/hood, providing optimal shading while avoiding vignetting as the focal length changes. It is unusually sharp for a zoom lens of that time, has great color rendition, and is the best-performing of Konica’s three 35-70mm zooms. It is one of two Hexanon lenses whose manufacturing was sub-contracted to Tokina and which were released in 1978 with the Konica FS-1, the other being the Hexanon 40/1.8 pancake.

 35-70/3.5-4.5  KONICA Zoom 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

 63-34º

8/8

Automatic

3.5 to 22 + AE

At full aperture

0.8m (macro = 0.35m)

Screw-in, 55mm

Screw-in, 55mm

XXmm to 62mm

62mm

215g

1985-87

1

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Optical diagram:

Comments:                                                                 ●

The Hexanon 35-70/3.5-4.5 is Konica’s third and last zoom in this focal range. It is a two touch zoom like its predecessor, but it is entirely made of plastic. It is extremely small and light and has a macro function which is very convenient. It is said that its rear optical element is a plastic aspheric lens. It was often sold in a kit with the Konica TC-X which came out the same year. The optical performance of this lens is quite surprising for a zoom and one made of plastic at that. This lens is probably the last one introduced by Konica before it decided to abandon the SLR market. This lens was most probably manufactured by Tokina although the name of other third-party manufacturers comes up in this context from time to time. 

 35-70/4.0  KONICA Zoom 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

63-35º

8/7

Automatic

4 to 22 + AE

At full aperture

0.8m

Screw-in, 55mm

Screw-in, 62mm

  XXmm to 70mm 

68mm

390g

1981-85

1

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Optical diagram:

Comments:                                                                  ●

The Hexanon 35-70/4.0 is Konica’s second zoom in this focal range. It’s a solidly-built lens, in contrast to its successor, the Hexanon 35-70/3.5-4.5. It’s a two-touch zoom that is pleasant to use. Its optical performance is not quite equal to excellent standards of the previous 35-70 zoom, but it is still extremely good for a zoom lens. The manufacturing of this zoom lens was contracted to Tokina.

 35-100 /2.8  KONICA Varifocal 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

63-24°

15/10

Automatic

2.8 to 16 + AE

At full aperture

0.3m (at 35mm)

1m (at 100mm)

Screw-in, 82mm

Clip-on, 85mm

140mm to XXmm 

mm (at 100mm)

85mm

1.1kg

1971-76

2

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Optical diagram:

Comments:                                                                 ●

The Hexanon 35-100/2.8 is not a true zoom, but a varifocal-type lens. The difference has to do with the fact that while true zooms remain in focus as their focal distance setting is changed, varifocal lenses need to be refocused each time. This is due to the lens’ internal construction, which may seem a drawback at first but makes it possible to overcome physical limitations that are inherent to regular zoom lenses. Firstly, the varifocal design allows for much closer focus distances to be achieved. Usually the closest focusing distance of true zooms of comparable focal range is anywhere from 1.8 to 2.4 meters at the short end. The Hexanon 35-100/2.8 has a closest focusing distance of 35mm at the short end and 1m at the long end. Secondly, the varifocal approach allows for much better correction and produces sharper images at all focal lengths than regular zoom lenses of similar focal length are capable of. In terms of close-focusing ability and image quality, the performance of Konica’s 35-100/2.8 varifocal is very close to that of Konica’s better primes of the day. When it was introduced in 1971, the Hexanon 35-100 varifocal was a very innovative piece of equipment. While there was a handful of varifocal lenses in existence for 35mm SLRs at the time, this one stood out not only in terms of its above-mentioned focusing abilities, but also on account of the fact that it was the first moderate wide-angle to moderate telephoto, variable-focal-distance lenses with a fixed aperture over the entire focal range. And it is fast: It features a largest aperture of f2.8 while the largest aperture of other varifocals available at the time was f4. This wide constant aperture value made for a large and heavy lens. Other shortcomings include the lens’ very wide front element that makes it vulnerable to flare. It is nevertheless sought and prized for its surprising image quality. It has the great Hexanon color rendition that makes it ideally suited for slide photography.

 45-100/3.5  KONICA UC Zoom 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

52-24º

11\10

Automatic

3.5 to 16 +AE

At full aperture

0.35m

Screw-in, 55mm

Built-in

85mm (at 45mm)

mm (at 100mm)

70mm

570g

1976-87

1

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Optical diagram:

Comments:                                                                 ●

The Hexanon 45-100mm is a zoom whose collapsible and compact design and close focusing capabilities made it unique in its day. Its convenient focal range makes it probably the most practical of the UC lenses as a general walk-around lens. It is extremely well-built and produces images of excellent quality with superior sharpness and contrast at all focal lengths. 

 47-100/3.5  KONICA Zoom HEXANON AR-H

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

51-24º (full-frame)

~ 34-16° (half-frame)

13\8

Automatic

3.5 to 16 +AE

At full aperture

1.8m

Screw-in, 52mm

Screw-in, 52mm

96mm (at 47mm)

mm (at 100mm)

63mm

450g

1965-67

1

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Optical diagram:

Comments:                                                                 ●

This is the first Hexanon automatic zoom. It was offered along with the Auto-Reflex and was meant to be used in half-frame mode, with a focal distance equivalent of about 70-150mm. It produces images of surprising optical quality. It is an extremely well-made and small zoom that is very easy to handle. 

 58-400/4.0  KONICA Zoom 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

41-6°

14/9

Manual

4.0 to 32

Stopped down

5m

Drop-in, 55mm

Screw-in, 67mm

338mm

130mm

4.3kg

1965-66

1

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Optical diagram:

Comments:                                                              ●

The 58-400/4.0 is one of the first Konica zooms and the Hexanon zoom with the widest focal range (nearly x 6.9). It is an enormous beast with a built-in tripod collar. It was made only in 1965-66 and was available for only 2-3 years. It was one of several zooms of similar focal range offered in the middle to late sixties by various lens makers. Its optical performance is reputed to have been very good for a zoom of its period. It disappeared from Konica’s brochures by the end of the decade. As the only place where I have seen it are Konica brochures in Japanese, I wonder is it was ever available in other markets.

 65-135/4.0  KONICA Zoom 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

36-18 º

13/9

Automatic

4.0 to 16 + AE

At full aperture

1.5m

Screw-in, 55mm

55mm

127mm (at 65mm)

mm (at 135mm)

66mm

600g

1971-78

2

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Optical diagram:

Comments:                                                               ●

The 65-135/4.0 is probably the best Hexanon mid-range zoom. It is a push-pull zoom that was introduced in the early seventies, alongside the 35-100/2.8 Varifocal. It produces contrasty images with vivid colors. It is also incredibly sharp for a zoom lens, nearly as sharp as Hexanon primes and sharper than that of the 70-150 lens that succeeded it. It focal range makes it an ideal lens for impromptu portrait shots, especially outdoors.

 70-150/4.0  KONICA Zoom 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

34-16°

15/12

Automatic

4.0 to 22 + AE

At full aperture

0.8m

Screw-in, 55mm

Built-in

102mm (at 70mm)

mm (at 150mm)

67mm

500g

1982-87

1

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Optical diagram:

Comments:                                                                ●

This zoom was introduced in response to Olympus, which was the first maker to offer a zoom of this focal range. It is the successor of the Hexanon 65-135/4.0. It produces very good quality images even though its optical performance is a bit inferior to that of its predecessor. The manufacturing of this zoom lens was contracted to Tokina. 

 70-230/4.5  KONICA Zoom HEXANON ARP

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

34-11°

13/8

Manual, preset

4.5 to 22

Stopped down

2.5m

Screw-in, 67mm

Screw-in, 67mm

244mm

75mm

1.3kg

1965-66

1

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Optical diagram:

Comments:                                                                ●

Preset lenses were quite common in the sixties. Most of the Hexanon AR preset lenses seem to originate from the F-mount period (1960-1965), when several lenses were offered in two versions – automatic aperture operation and manually preset aperture. All of them have an elegant high-gloss black finish and were manufactured at the time of the Auto-Reflex double-format. Their slower operation makes them well suited for unhurried and studied photography. They all have an aperture of 12 blades which form an almost perfect circle and which closes down to f22. The 70-230/4.5 was one of Konica’s very first zooms. It was the predecessor of the 80-200/3.5. Offered at the time of the Auto-Reflex double format SLR, it only exists in the high-gloss black version. It was only produced for about a year, so it is not very common. Its optical performance is quite respectable for its day. It is a two-touch zoom with a built-in tripod collar.

 80-200/3.5  KONICA Zoom 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

30-12°

17/10

Automatic

3.5 to 16 + AE

At full aperture

1.8m

Screw-in, 67mm

Screw-in, 67mm

200mm

75mm

1.2kg

1966-75

3

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Optical diagram:

Comments:                                                                ●

The 80mm to 200mm focal range is ideal for general nature, sport and travel photography. The Hexanon 80-200/3.5 is the first and one of the two best Hexanon zooms of this focal range. It produces very sharp and contrasty images. It replaced the 70-230/4.5 and is Konica’s second automatic zoom. It produces images of excellent optical quality for a zoom of that period, which is the more remarkable when one considers that its design goes back to the middle sixties. It’s a two-touch zoom with built-in tripod collar. It is a large and heavy lens whose manufacture ended with that of Konica’s large mechanical SLRs. It was replaces by the Hexanon UC 80-200/4.0. 

 80-200/4.0  KONICA UC Zoom 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

30-12°

14/10

Automatic

3.5 to 16 + AE

At full aperture

0.7m

Screw-in, 62mm

Built-in

157mm

68mm

835g

1976-83

1

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Optical diagram:

Comments:                                                                 ●

The Hexanon UC 80-200/4.0 is one of Konica’s five superior UC lenses line. UC stands for ‘ultra-compact’, ‘ultra-close’ and ‘ultra-coating’. Although, in our day, this zoom lens may not seem to live-up to the first of these promises, when it was introduced, in mid-1975, it was the most compact zoom of this range on the market. But what is most interesting about this lens is its close focusing distance, 70 cm, from one end of the zooming range to the other. In fact, it was the closest continual focusing zoom on the market when it came out. Its close-focusing capability gives it a magnification ratio of 1:2 at all focal lengths. This was quite an achievement when this lens was introduced. In addition, its superior UC coatings give it extra flare control and outstanding color rendition. This lens vies for the position of best Hexanon 80-200 zooms with the f3.5 model that preceded it. They are rivals in terms of sharpness, but the UC version has better contrast and color rendition. It is by far the more numerous of Konica’s 80-200 zooms and is the only lens of the UC line that can be bought today quite cheaply. Although compact, especially for the day, it nevertheless would have been well served by a tripod collar.

 80-200/4.0  KONICA Zoom 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

30-12°

12/9

Automatic

3.5 to 22 + AE

At full aperture

1.9 m

Screw-in, 55mm

Screw-in, 55mm

138mm (at 80mm)

mm (at 200mm)

65mm

590g

1983-85

1

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Optical diagram:

Comments:                                                                 ●

The 80mm to 200mm focal range is ideal for general nature, sport and travel photography. This is a push-pull zoom lens of quite good performance. The manufacturing of this zoom lens was contracted to Tokina, which also sold this lens in other mounts. 

 80-200/4.5  KONICA Zoom 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

30-12°

9/7

Automatic

3.5 to 22 + AE

At full aperture

1.1-1.5 m

Screw-in, 55mm

Screw-in, 55mm

133mm (at 80mm)

mm (at 200mm)

65mm

535g

1985-87

1

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Optical diagram:

Comments:                                                                ●

The 80mm to 200mm focal range is ideal for general nature, sport and travel photography. The Hexanon 80-200/4.5 is the smallest, lightest and the last of the four Hexanon zooms to be offered in this focal length. Its image quality is respectable but fails to exhibit any outstanding qualities, either in terms of sharpness or contrast. As it was in production for a short time, just prior to Konica’s abandonment of the SLR market, this lens doesn’t appear all that often but it is usually very affordable when it does. Its manufacture was contracted to Tokina, which also sold this lens in other mounts.