Never tire of listening. Great voice for story telling.

@zenography7923

8 ай бұрын

Thanks!

I have been shooting Konica since around 2001 and picked up some very nice equipment while living in Tokyo. I have always been very happy with the 40/1.8 and the 50/1.7 and have never been inclined to go for the over-priced 50/1.4. In fact, my favourite 50mm lens these days (adapted to my Fufiilm X-T camera) is a Yashica ML 50/2.0. I think it may be sharper than my Konica lenses, the colours are great and f2.0 provides all the bokeh that I need. (I also have a couple of Canon FDs, a Jupiter 8, and an Industar 61. I like then all for different reasons but the Yashica is the one that resides in my camera bag.)

@zenography7923

8 ай бұрын

Those sound like some nice lenses - enjoy!

I love konica lenses. I have a 57mm f1.2 and a 50mm 1.7 along with the Konica Macro-Hexanon AR 55 mm f3.5. I almost picked up a 50mm f1.4 until a Minolta 45mm F/2 Rokkor came into my possession. I just didn't see the need to have another lens in this focal length at this time but the gear acquisition syndrome always wins out in the end. Thank you for another video I do enjoy them.

Nice find. I got an 8 element 50mm f1.4 Takumar a couple of weeks ago its a super lens.

@zenography7923

8 ай бұрын

Oh, that sounds nice - enjoy!

@patricasmyth4359

26 күн бұрын

Same here. I got on the Takumar bandwagon. Full line of lenses for a fraction of the cost.

I dug through my old manual lenses after finding and enjoying your channel. In the 50mm size I have the Konica Hexanon AR f1.7 and the Super Takumar f1.4 (8 element) that I’ll never part with.

Many thanks for great video! I have the Nikon 50mm f1.5 ai and shoot on both film and full frame digital. Absolutely great lens - as you say not the sharpest but surely sharp enough and the bokeh is simply incredible. Regards

I discovered your channel recently and I always find your videos very interesting for the way you deal with the topics. I am the happy owner of a Fuji XH1 and it definitely gives me more satisfaction to use it with vintage lenses. In this period I'm having fun using a "planar 1.7/50". Greetings from Italy

@zenography7923

8 ай бұрын

That sounds like a beautiful lens, Glad you're enjoying the channel.

Excelente vídeo, muchas gracias por compartir su conocimiento. Yo tengo un SMC TAKUMAR 50mm 1.4, y es realmente excelente!!! Saludos desde México!!!

Congratulations! I love the Konica AR Hexanon 50mm f1.4 AR 🙂 It's a popstar, compared to the subdued 57mm (which is also nice!) So, you have the f16 maximum aperture version. This is a radioactive lens (but not as much as the f1.2). There's also an f22 version of the 50mm f1.4. I like the 50mm Konica when it's a bright summer day, and there's water in the picture. Somehow it loves that. Turns it into gold, with the sunlight.

@zenography7923

8 ай бұрын

A popstar - yes, I think you're right!

@SebaT-us2nc

7 ай бұрын

Are you certain that Konica Hexanon AR 50 f 1.4 version is thoriated / radioactive? I searched and did not find this information anywhere else.

In my lens stock there are three of these lenses : Konica, Minolta, Canon. For my experience the Minolta Rokkor 50mm f1.4 and the Canon FD 50mm f1.4 are extraordinary lenses. They are fully usuable at open aperture !!! And i use them on film cameras, so this statement is very precious. The Konica 50mm f1.4 was beaten in my examinations by the small Konica AR 50mm f1.8 which is very sharp and contrasty.

I have a Canon FD 1.4 and was terrible impressed, very, very sharp. Superb build quality also.

I was lucky to find this Konica 50mm f1.4 on a old camera body with the 70-150mm lens. I absolutely love it. One of the sharpest vintage 50's I've used at f1.4. Love the build as well. Just looks nice.

@zenography7923

8 ай бұрын

It's lovely - enjoy!

I have the Konica 50 1.7. It i one of my favorite 50's!

@zenography7923

8 ай бұрын

An outstanding lens, enjoy!

When it comes to Konica,Pentax,Canon....50's f/1,4 lenses, sharp enough is sharp enough. How it renders becomes as important.

@zenography7923

8 ай бұрын

Agreed!

Hello Nigel, many thanks! I've the Olympus OM Zuiko 1.4/50 mm, a nice lens indeed! Best wishes, Ralf

@zenography7923

8 ай бұрын

Hey Ralf, I hope all's well. The Zuiko 50 is lovely - enjoy!

@Magnetron692

8 ай бұрын

@@zenography7923 Yes, thanks, I'm fine. I had the Zuiko back in 2014 for my Canon 6D - image quality very good. At 1.4 there 's a soft glow, typical for this era and some vignetting.

I love the Konica Hexanon 50mm 1.7. With My Fujifilm it renders amazing

@zenography7923

8 ай бұрын

A very nice lens - enjoy!

Topcon also made a few good ones. Three 58 millimeters, one 55mm and two 50mms (with GN numbers for flash) Most Topcon owners got the 58mm RE-Topcor 1.8 I think.

@albertopalazzi2862

Ай бұрын

2 da 58 mm. 1,4 ed 1,8. Poi un 50 mm 1,4 GN .🤔

Bought a brand new Nikon f1.4 with a FE2 in 1982 I still have both, the lens is now used on my Sony A7. But in the past did sterling service professionally.

@zenography7923

8 ай бұрын

It's a really nice lens. It took me a while to appreciate its qualities but every time I look at images I've shot with it I appreciate it a little more. Enjoy!

@robmay3570

8 ай бұрын

I now have the Konica Hexanon 1.4 50mm as well

I have all three generations of the Zuiko 50/1.4, even though I prefer 40mm LOL … I can’t afford the Zuiko 40, but do have the Hexanon 40/1.8 which is just a stunning lens.

@zenography7923

8 ай бұрын

That little Hexanon 40 is one of the unsung gems of the vintage lens world - enjoy!

How does it compare to the SMC Pentaxes? I've sold all my 1.4 standard vintage lenses (including the Minolta 58/1.4 and Canon FD 50/1.4) except the SMC Pentax-M 50/1.4 because it was the sharpest. I do, however, use Konica Hexanons often, so I wonder if it would make sense to change the Pentax to a Konica and stick to a single adapter?

The great thing about Konica (and FD) lenses was that, until relatively recently, virtually nobody wanted them because you couldn't adapt them to DSLRs. So they kind of got forgotten. I picked up several while they were really cheap for my early Sony nex cameras. Think I prefer the 50 1.7. The 50mm 1.8 is not bad either (some say it's sharper) and has one advantage: It was, like the 40mm (allegedly) Tokina made and so doesn't have the bloody awful aperture rings that plague the 'proper' Hexanons (did no one say anything at the time?). Maybe I'll give the 1.4 another go.

Great information! I have the Canon, the Nikon, and the Minolta. I used to shoot the Canon a lot on a Samsung NX300. I loved the results with that combo. Sadly, Samsung withdrew from that market. Bummer.

@zenography7923

8 ай бұрын

I guess there were just too many players in the game at a point when the camera market was becoming difficult to negotiate? Are you still using the Samsung?

@UncleDansVintageVinyl

8 ай бұрын

@@zenography7923 On occasion, yes. I like its color rendering, and the menus are easier to navigate than Sony's.

@alexandercarder2281

7 ай бұрын

I used to have the Samsung GX1 which a purchased off of eBay back in 2007 but the autofocus was broken 😞 but I could still use it in manuel focus and loved the images I got from it.

A vintage lens that will give you sharpness wide open, is the Mamiya E(F) 50mm f/1.4. You need a special adapter with built in aperture though.

There's a 38mm zuiko f/1.4 fir the Pen F mount, so roughly 50 equiv on half frame (and I guess if adapted to apsc). People really rave about it (I only have the f/1.8, which I absolutely adore).

I have ordered a later hexanon ar 50 1.4 that stops down to f22 and has 8 aperture blades, the condition should be very good. Gonna try and use it with Lumix S5ii full frame camera, just waiting for an adapter to arrive is gonna take a while. I had a prior experience with vintage lenses but mostly on crop sensor cameras, i had minolta MD 50 1.4 on micro four thirds camera and still have SMC Pentax 55mm f 1.8 for K-Mount that i used on fujifilm, and now it's on Pentax MX SLR body. By all accounts the hexanon should be a league above, also curious about sharpness with Full Frame sensor with no AA filter.

Hi genuine question, when you talk about the colour achieved on a vintage lens are you talking about film or digital or both? If Film what determines the colour more the lens or the film or the developer and how do you combine these. If digital can’t you reproduce the colour achieved by a lens in post production and make lens presets? I currently shoot b&w film, but will one day try colour when I can afford the developing equipment and the film!

Beautiful compositions as usual. Really like the way you use a lens's full potential. If you haven't already, please share your experience with the Canon Dream Lens 50mm f0.95

@zenography7923

8 ай бұрын

I'd love to try a Canon 50 0.95! Maybe in my dreams?

@DethronerX

8 ай бұрын

@@zenography7923 In the real world for sure.

I do love the colours produced by Konica lenses, but don't as yet have the f1.4. I do have the f1.8 but it doesn't get used much atm. I have a lot of Rokkor lenses among which are the 50mm f1.4, 55mm f1.7, 58mm f1.4 all excellent for rendering beautiful colours. I have a Takumar 50mm f1.4 and Mamiya 55mm f1.4 and 58mm f1.7 which are equally good with dreamy out of focus blur. I did have a Canon fd 50mm f1.4 which I sold as the rendering didn't enough character as the others.

@hoverboverer

8 ай бұрын

The (50mm) 1.8 is said to be Tokina made (like the 40mm). It's a good lens IMO but I only have the (metal) early one. You can pick up the 1.7 for about the same money. The earlier version is better (serial number on front ring) as it has half stops and (if memory serves) a shorter MFD. How do you like the MC 55mm 1.7? I've tried four and every one has had a milky haze on the back element so just assumed all of them suffer from this.

@stephenreynolds6414

8 ай бұрын

@@hoverboverer my copy of the MC 55mm has a stuck aperture at f1.7, which is a common problem. I like it but as I have so many lenses time has been limited so not had a chance to fully appreciate it's abilities.

I remember, an old friend of mine said to me, that his Konica 1,4/50mm lens did not make sharp images! I took the lens off, and I had seen a thin layer of grease on the rear lens! After cleaning it, the lens was O.K. but not better as other of this 1,4/50mm glasses!

@zenography7923

8 ай бұрын

That layer of grease can't have helped - perhaps there was some inside the lens too?

Nice lens. I've got the later one with 8 blades and f22 minimum but I think that they're otherwise the same lens. One major thing that I really don't like about my lens is that I sometimes get horrible reflections from my camera sensor. Edit For me this is only a problem when used with studio lights.

@zenography7923

8 ай бұрын

That can often happen with mirrorless cameras, especially when shooting in low light. I've seen it happen occasionally on my Sony A7 but it happens so rarely it doesn't trouble me. Is it happening often with your camera?

@perin99

8 ай бұрын

​@@zenography7923 It usually occurs when I'm using studio lights and, in that situation, it ruins the photo - totally dominates an otherwise well exposed shot. In fairness, as an everyday lens it is fine. On the odd time that I've seen it in say a night shot, it hasn't detracted much from the photo and could be mistaken for slight flare or Coma. I have a Sony mirrorless with the same sized sensor as yours. Interestingly my lens isn't affected by CA very much so maybe there is a slight difference to the coatings. If I didn't like studio portraits it would be my best lens hands down and I often use it when I'm out for a walk.

@hoverboverer

8 ай бұрын

@@zenography7923 My favourite lens from the film days was my Tamron 90mm macro/portrait lens. I was so pleased, on the advent of mirrorless, at the prospect of using it again - but what a disappointment! Nasty purple spot in the centre of the image. Most noticeable at small apertures but it is there throughout the range. I must have used over a hundred different film era lenses since but it remains the only one I've ever had a problem with.

@2:30 May I ask where you read about the Japanese navy/army and the Hexanon 50mm f1.7? Great review. Thanks. :)

@zenography7923

6 ай бұрын

Not sure where I heard it, but this lage may be a good place to start: www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4494748 They say: "The Japanese government needed photographic equipment for certain projects, this was in the eighties or so. So, all the big ones from Japan could offer their gear for comparison by technical specialists from the government. Pentax, Nikon, Minolta, Konica, Canon etc. These specialists chose KONICA! Why? They performed best! Hexanon lenses are often referred to as "Japanese Zeiss". For a reason. Their lenses are top notch."

You should have included the Takumar 50mm F1.4 in the line up. I am particularly fond of the SMC variation.

@zenography7923

8 ай бұрын

Yes, a very nice lens indeed. Should have included it!

@scrptwic

8 ай бұрын

Yes you should have my favorite 50mm1.4 lens

@trivothien7987

8 ай бұрын

@@zenography7923 do you like takumar or konica?

You missed the Pentax 50mm f1.4. Who was the photo journalist 20 yrs ago who wrote that article “Tne best fast fifty by far” and that lens? There was some great Takumars as well

good!

Ive been shopping around for a Jupiter 9 most ive seen are listed as LOMZ a few as KMZ but ive no idea what LOMZ stands for.

@zenography7923

8 ай бұрын

The nicest versions of any of the FSU lenses are usually, in my experience, made by KMZ. Not sure what the 'LO' in LOMZ stands for but the 'MZ' means 'mechanichevski zavod', literally 'mechanical factory' or engineering works. I've had mixed results with manufacturers other than KMZ.

The glass on your Nikon appears to have a yellow cast in the video. Is it one of the ones which uses radioactive glass? I recently bought a Nikkor-s 1.4 which is distinctly yellow from the radioactive glass, and I’ve been debating whether to treat it with UV to get rid of the yellowing, or to keep it as-is. I’m wondering whether your lens is similar, and if so, whether this is the reason for the distinctive colour palate.

There appears to be something special about Konica and Minolta lenses in the very wide apertures of this period. I understand that a lot of them were supplied by Tomioka, who had a stock of glass that just imparted a little bit of magic in the lenses that they made for other manufacturers. Are these Konicas really Tomiokas? who can tell, data is sketchy to say the least. I know that I have definitely got a Tomioka special in my collection, and it gives images like no other lens does. If you are lucky to get your hands on a genuine Tomioka lens you will see what I mean, it's not easy to describe, colours, bokeh, contrast, all seem just that little bit different, elusive, magical., ethereal, almost other-worldly. Get one, try it, you'll never look at a camera lens in the same way again. George

@zenography7923

8 ай бұрын

Hey George, hope all's well. I think I may have one - someone mentioned the Chinon f1.9 (or f2) from the late '60s was made by Tomioka - not sure if that's correct though. It's interesting to hear that the Konica lenses may be Tomiokas, it would certainly explain their special look! Thanks for watching mon ami.

@opadaaf

8 ай бұрын

While there are lots of stories about lenses made by Tomioka, I never heard that in relation to Konica or Minolta. They definitely produced for Yashica, and their 55/1.4 and 55/1.2 for a number of vendors like Chinon, Rikoh, Sears, Revue, Porst etc.

I have a minolta 50 mm 1.4, not the 58 mm. Its really nice

My Konica Hexanon AR 50/1.4 is 8 bladed. Must be there were both 6 and 8 blade version. And it was cheap. Porst / Revuenon price range.

I just purchased a Konica 45mm 1.8 lens. Yes, you read that correctly. It was not intended to be an interchangeable lens but was carefully removed from its original camera. Then a rear piece was made from a 3D printer which can accommodate an e-mount adapter. I don't have it yet but have seen sample images. Anxious to try it out.

What about the Zeiss planar 1.4?

@zenography7923

8 ай бұрын

I'd love to try one!

Is it better than the SMC Takumar?

@zenography7923

6 ай бұрын

It's subjective of course. I had a Pentax 50 f1.4 and didn't rate it particularly highly as it happens. I prefer the Nikon and the Olympus. But I have to say, internet opinion would differ!

What about the famous pancolar?

@zenography7923

8 ай бұрын

The Pancolar is a stunning lens, but it's not an f1.4 so couldn't appear today!

@TheNewArtSchool

8 ай бұрын

@@zenography7923 ofcourse! Thank you for yet another excellent video. There is a rare 1.4 version but it’s way too obscure. Thank you 😊

@opadaaf

8 ай бұрын

​@@zenography7923THE famous Pancolar is actually the very rare and expensive 55/1.4 that came with the Pentacon Super at the end of the 1960's. It's a stunning lens (happen to own one) with very special bokeh and sharpness wide open. The Petri 55/1.4 (with Petri breechlock mount) is said to be the 'poor man's Pancolar' as it has the same optical scheme and comparable sharpness and is much cheaper, but different bokeh. Both are rather exotic lenses, but I would love to see your review in case you could get your hands on them.

The title says the best 50 mm F1.4 of the vintages, the answer is no, it has many merits but it cannot compete in areas such as buke or image quality, both the Canon FD 50 1.4 is better and the Olympus too. The quality of blur is something subjective of course but in my subjectivity the blur of the Konica seems too nervous, in my taste of course, the Minolta 3rd generation MD 50 mm F1.4 looks a lot like the Konica but in my opinion it is more sharp For portraits the Minolta 58mm F1.4 is better than the others.

I've never really needed a lens faster then f/2 or f/1.7. The f/1.4 Lenses were heavier, bulkier and more expensive. The only photographs that I know that used them, borrowed them for their Company or Employer. They NEVER bought them with their own cash.

@zenography7923

8 ай бұрын

I guess the vintage 1.4s were primarily low light lenses, at a time when very few people used film over 400 iso. They're fun to play with as bokeh beasts today though!

@hoverboverer

8 ай бұрын

@@zenography7923 My recollection of the film days was that the advantage of a fast lens was being able to see while focusing.

Great & interesting prog; thnx for sharing! but how about offering credit also where it's due kind and wise Sir? Super Takumar 50mm f/1. 4 (the proper version, wink wink) comes to mind. Immediately. AND. top photo experts seem to be agreement? historically, speaking and right up this this moment in time? Super Takumar 50mm f/1. 4 (the proper version, wink wink). Blessings.

@zenography7923

8 ай бұрын

I guess the proper version would be the 8 element lens, rather than the 7? I had a 7 a couple of years ago and while it was nice, I didn't find it as nice as its reputation suggested. I'd love to try an 8 element lens though!

@cwkronenberg9838

8 ай бұрын

Thx. how about a nice contest between Hexanon 50mm f/1.4 & S Takko 50 f/1.4? only those two? wow it would be really great; a nice diversion from the dark horrors of human bloodshed. @@zenography7923

Are you really surprised by the 6 bladed design of the lens , it is in the name of the lens ,right ?

@zenography7923

8 ай бұрын

Of course, the penny didn't drop until you mentioned it! Thanks.

@mrdasboot45

8 ай бұрын

@@zenography7923 don’t be too hard on your self. I’ve been thinking to after my response and I thought maybe the hexagon references the lens coating or lens manufacturing. Do you know if Fluor was used making these lenses ? Fluor crystals make hexagon structures if I’m correct

@opadaaf

8 ай бұрын

True, even the old Konishiroku Hexanons for Konica F-mount have 6 aperture blades.

@perin99

8 ай бұрын

I've got a Hexanon with 12 blades and another with 8 so it must mean something else.

@opadaaf

8 ай бұрын

@@perin99 Ah yes, I forgot about the LTM Hexanons. Is there another explanation for the Hexanon name?

👮🏾‍♂

@zenography7923

8 ай бұрын

👍