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Agreed...there are other manufacturers that make equally good lenses. I've yet to shoot with a lens that I consider better than the Rollei or Hasselblad 110/2. But I do think that Leica probably has the best current lineup of top notch glass. If the marketplace is an accurate indicator... I'm not the only one who thinks so.As much as I love the Leica M system more than anything else, I am not a believer in the 'Leica look' being superior to everything else.
I just put my 50 hex on my (new) M9 - it seems to severely backfocus over 12 ft or so (OOF at f4) It backfocuses just a bit (3/4") at 1M. Raining today, but I'll check out infinity on a clear day.I highly recommend the Konica M-Hexanon 50mm f2.
I had the same issue with a 35/2 Hex I once bought and immediately returned. Its a fairly known issue that sometimes you can get away with. In this case its a real shame. You can calibrate your M9 to work with the lens, but it may be inaccurate for other lenses.I just put my 50 hex on my (new) M9 - it seems to severely backfocus over 12 ft or so (OOF at f4) It backfocuses just a bit (3/4") at 1M. Raining today, but I'll check out infinity on a clear day.
Is your 50 Hex focusing accurately?
I used Konica 50/2 on my M8 without any focus problems. But I no longer own that lens. I still have two Konica lenses, 50/2.5 (LTM) and 35/2 (LTM). None of them has focus problems on my M8.I just put my 50 hex on my (new) M9 - it seems to severely backfocus over 12 ft or so (OOF at f4) It backfocuses just a bit (3/4") at 1M. Raining today, but I'll check out infinity on a clear day.
Is your 50 Hex focusing accurately?
It is true that the Konica Hexar and Leica M lines have slightly different standards for focus calibration (I haven't come across a credible explanation for why Konica made the difference), but my understanding is that Hexar lenses can be calibrated to Leica M standards by someone like DAG. Having said that, I personally have steered clear of Hexar lenses in order to avoid the hassle of getting them to work on M bodies. YMMV.When the Hexar RF was 1st released in the States, I had the initial trio of lenses they offered. They focused perfectly on the Hexar Body (examined chromes on the light table under loupe).... but severly misfocused on the Leica film body I was using at the time. The Leica lenses I owned focused perfectly on the Leica body...but unfortunately misfocused on the Hexar body. This told me at the time that it appeared the registry for these two cameras/lens systems slightly differed. Later on I repeated the same test with a new Hexar RF kit and lenses and another Leica film body...basically the same results. Konica at the time (very early on) mentioned to me that this would be the case and that depth fo field when on wide end (using their 28mm f2.8) would probably mask some ofthe issue.
Dave (D&A)
If you are looking for a great lens to use with the M9, I would recommend the Voigtlander Nokton ASPH 50mm f1.5 lens. It is a LTM lens and requires an adaptor. The lens is available new at a price of 699.00 plus 59.00 for the LTM to M adaptor.
Check out Cameraquest or Photovillage for availability. You can also find them used and save a couple of hundred dollars.
Good luck with your search.
When I shot film, I do remember never getting a 70/ summilux to work on my Hexar RF, but it worked fine on my M6 and (eventually) M7. I settled with wides on the hexar, and 50/1 75/1.4 90/2.8 reserved for the M. Got the .85 M7 for that reason. Hexar is around .58, just about a full 24mm frame in the viewfinder.It is true that the Konica Hexar and Leica M lines have slightly different standards for focus calibration (I haven't come across a credible explanation for why Konica made the difference), but my understanding is that Hexar lenses can be calibrated to Leica M standards by someone like DAG. Having said that, I personally have steered clear of Hexar lenses in order to avoid the hassle of getting them to work on M bodies. YMMV.
Mike
. . . . . the LTM adaptor does not detract from the lens. I use the Voigtlander LTM to M adaptors with the 50/1.5 and 28/1.9 lens with the M9. If you subscribe to Sean Reid reviews you will see that he speaks highly of the 28/1/9, 35/1.7 and 50/1.5 Voigtlander lens.Thanks all for the insight so far! It certainly hasn't cleared anything up in terms of simple choices, but the information is great and the variety is half(most) of the fun anyway, right?
As for the LTM vs. M point...does the adaptor detract anything from the lens, or is it simply mechanical and a non-factor once on the lens?
Thanks again,
Jeff