Konica Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.2
Lens data | Variations | Lens overview
The Konica Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.2 was built only for a relatively short span of time. Introduced sometime around the model change from Autoreflex T2 to Autoreflex T3, it was dropped some years later from the lens line-up. Therefore, there are not too many different variations of this lens.
The Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.2 provides a very good image quality and renders very sharp and contrasty images with great colour fidelity, no barrel or pincushion distortions are visible.
Compared to other telephoto lenses, it is relatively insensitive to front or stray light. However, like with most other telephoto lenses and their big and not recessed front elements, the consequent use of a lens hood is recommended to avoid loss of contrast. The Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.2 does provide a built-in lens shade, but this hood is a bit too shallow, not giving good protection in any situation. The use of a deeper accessory lens shade gives better results in many lighting conditions.
The biggest advantage of the Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.2 over the other Konica lenses of the same focal length is the shorter closest focusing distance of 1m (3 ft 3"), it is therefore better suited for close-ups. The Hexanon / Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.5 can focus down to a minimum of 1.5 m (4 ft 11"), the Hexanon AR 135 mm / F2.5 to a minimum of 1.2 m (3 ft 11").
Compared to the Hexanon / Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.5 the larger maximum aperture gives a slightly brighter viewfinder image and a shallower depth-of-field when used wide open. Thus with portraits the background is blurred more and does not distract as much. On the other side the lens is slightly bigger and heavier as the slower one.
The still faster Hexanon AR 135 mm / F2.5 is much bulkier (in diameter, not in length) and above all more than one and a half times as heavy.
Like most Konica SLR lenses, the Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.2 came with a leather case. At least in its early days, the lens also came with a matching metal lid for the front.
The Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.2 is neither rare nor extremely common, it is being offered for sale once in a while. Used it is a bit more expensive than the extremely cheap Hexanon AR 135 mm / F3.5, but it is possible to get one in good condition very cheaply.
Variations
- (Upper image above)
Hexanon AR
Rubberized focusing ring
Chrome ring
yellow EE mark - (Middle image above)
Hexanon AR
Rubber focusing ring
all black
yellow EE mark - (Lower image above)
Hexanon AR
Rubber focusing ring
all black
green AE mark
Lens data
Angle of view: | 18° |
Construction: | 5 elements in 4 groups |
Aperture: | Fully automatic AE, smallest aperture 16 |
Closest focusing: | 1 m (3 ft 3") |
Filter thread: | 55 mm |
Length (at ∞): | 95 mm (33/4") |
Weight: | 390 g (132/3 oz) |
Lens hood: | built-in |
Lens diagram: |
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