Konica Hexanon AR 135 mm / F2.5

Konica Hexanon AR 135 mm / F2.5

Konica Hexanon AR 135 mm / F2.5 front

Konica Hexanon AR 135 mm / F2.5
front

Konica Hexanon AR 135 mm / F2.5

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The Konica Hexanon AR 135 mm / F2.5 is Konica's fastest lens in this classic focal length. It was available relatively late, contemporary with the internal linkAutoreflex T3, when the Hexanon lenses had the final all-black appearance with rubber focusing ring. It has never been modernised to have a smallest aperture 22. Therefore, there is only one variation of this lens. All have the rubber focusing ring, a smallest aperture 16 and a green AE mark.

The Hexanon AR 135 mm / F2.5 provides very good image quality. Although not as razor-sharp as the internal linkHexanon / Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.5 or the internal linkHexanon AR 135 mm / F3.2, its sharpness is satisfying. The images have high contrast with great colour fidelity, no barrel or pincushion distortions are visible.

Of all Konica lenses with 135 mm focal length, the Hexanon AR 135 mm / F2.5 is most sensitive to front and stray light. The use of a lens hood is strongly recommended to avoid loss of contrast, like for most other telephoto lenses and their big and not recessed front elements. The Hexanon AR 135 mm / F2.5 provides a built-in lens hood, which is not adequate to protect the lens from stray light in most situations, however. It is shallower still than the built-in lens hoods of the other 135 mm lenses, despite of its front element being much larger. The use of a deeper accessory lens shade gives better results in many situations.

Due to the wide largest aperture, the Hexanon AR 135 mm / F2.5 is especially good for portraits, as the background is thrown out of focus when used wide open due to the shallow depth-of-field. The viewfinder image is noticeably brighter than with the slower lenses of the same focal length, which can be helpful in low-light situations. On the other hand, the lens is much bulkier and heavier than its slower counterparts, and it uses bigger filters with a 62 mm diameter.

At least in its early days, the lens came with a matching metal lid for the front and with a leather case.

Metal front cap Konica Hexanon AR 135 mm / F2.5

Metal front cap
Hexanon AR 135 mm / F2.5


The Hexanon AR 135 mm / F2.5 is far less common than the slower 135 mm lenses, but is offered once in a while. You have to pay more than for the other 135 mm lenses, which can be bought extremely inexpensive. But it is not on the price level of sought-after collector's items – it still can be bought in good condition for a reasonable price.

Size comparison 135 mm lenses

Size comparison of different 135 mm lenses
from left to right:
Hexanon AR 135 mm / F2.5
Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.2
Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.5 (older f16 version)
Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.5 (late f22 version)
Hexar AR 135 mm / F3.5 (right)

Lens data
Angle of view: 18°
Construction: 4 elements in 4 groups
Aperture: Fully automatic AE, smallest aperture 16
Closest focusing: 1.2 m (3 ft 111/4")
Filter thread: 62 mm
Length (at ∞): 96 mm (33/4")
Weight: 650 g (1 lb 67/8 oz)
Lens hood: built-in
Lens diagram: Lens diagram Hexanon AR 135 mm / F2.5
More pages on the Konica Hexanon and Hexar lenses:

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