AR Hexanons, specifically the 35/2

[f/otographer]

Can anyone share their experiences with AR Hexanon lenses? Im thinking about getting a few for the a7. Im specifically interested in the 35/2 but would like to hear anything about the primes from 85mm and under. Image quality, build quality, etc. Especially if you have used them on any NEX or A camera.

Thanks.

 

[Michiel Schierbeek]

I must admit i do have quiet a few of them.
24/2.8 nice sharp but hard to correct distortion in upper corners
28/3.5 very good sharp lens but slow. There is a F2 one, hard to find and expensive.
no 35
40/1.8 good and small
50/1.4 nice and fast
50/1.7 sharper, so better as the 1.4
50/1.8 the worst of the 50mm range
Then there is the 57/1.2, which I don't have, but seems to be wonderfull for portraits.
85/1.8 one of my favourite lenses for portraits as well for landscapes.
100 I don't know
I have three 135 of which the 3.2 is the best.
200mm Oké but so are so many.

 

[Michiel Schierbeek]

BTW for the 85 you need an all black adapter. It has inner reflections which causes ghostlights.
The buildquality of these lenses is allright, they don't feel very sturdy but till know no one of these lenses went wrong with me.

some random examples

Windowdres229 by Michiel Schierbeek, on Flickr


Paysage1 by Michiel Schierbeek, on Flickr


Wandainparis by Michiel Schierbeek, on Flickr


Gracht1 by Michiel Schierbeek, on Flickr


Notrerouen4 by Michiel Schierbeek, on Flickr​

 

[Guy Mancuso]

Michiel can you put your list in the sticky thread of lenses that work on the top of the Sony forum. Great data here

 

[Michiel Schierbeek]

Guy, I would if I knew how

 

[Guy Mancuso]

Ill copy and paste it

 

[jlindstrom]

Nice work Michiel and amazing photos too!

Guy: please fix the copy & paste by mentioning also that you're referencing the AR. At least I didn't notice that bit of info in the sticky thread,

//Juha

 

[Guy Mancuso]

Will do

 

[Michiel Schierbeek]

Guy, I see, I could have done that. Thought you ment a new sticky thread.

 

[Guy Mancuso]

No no no. It's okay we have it documented now with your name. Thanks for posting in
The first place. That thread will be a nice reference for folks.

 

[f/otographer]

Michiel, thanks you so much for the information and the wonderful examples. I have read many good things about Hexanons and your images are confirmation of that. One reason I am attracted to them is that the AR flange to focal distance is the shortest of all the traditional Japanese SLR's. Its just about the shortest adapter you can get before you start getting into rangefinder glass so that will help keep any adapter/lens combo nice and compact yet not run into the normal corner and smearing issues you sometimes do with RF lenses.

Thanks again for the post.