Re: [Leica] The new Konica hexar RF; take a look

["David W. Almy" <dalmy@mindspring.com>]

FWIW, here's the AltaVista bablefish translation of the CDi story:

After having made run much ink, Konica with interchangeable objectives
finally comes to be revealed. It names Hexar RF and has all the paces of
a clone of Leica M6. All the details until you wait... 
The apparatus in short 

Apparatus with telemetric aiming, of design close to that to M6.
Objectives to bayonet Konica km, officially " owner ", but in fact
compatible Leica Mr. Pas of autofocus. Engine integrated for the advance
of film. Manual exposure, semi-car or automatic priority diaphragm, with
or without memorizing. Measure central light TTL balanced. Optional
flash Konica HX-18W on standard claw with central control. Coding DX
(disengageable). 

More details... 

- - Concept:  Aesthetically, the RF resembles M6 much and takes again same
architecture, the same general line, with a comparable completion but
with a caouchouté sleeving intended to improve the catch in hands.  

- - Objectives:  Technically, the RF is characterized initially by a
mounting from objectives to bayonet. **time-out** officially, this
bayonet himself name Konica km Officially, it s' be d' a mounting "
owner ", the apparatus be reserve with some objective Konica and the
objective be reserve with some apparatus Konica…But semi-officially, the
compatibility with the bayonet of Leica M seem total and it be thus
possible, even if Konica himself refuse to it say, to mix optical and
case of two mark.  Initially, Konica Hexar RF will be deliverable with
three objectives:  - the 28mm f/2,8 M-Hexanon (8 lenses in 7 groups,
development of 70cm ad infinitum, diaph of f/2,8 with f/22, diameter of
filter 46mm, 230 grams). Delivered with superb a paresoleil whose
cuttings and drawing point out a certain German design.  - the 50mm f/2
M-Hexanon (6 lenses in 5 groups, development of 70cm ad infinitum, diaph
of f/2 with f/16, diameter of filter 40,5mm, 255g).  - the 90mm f/2,8
M-Hexanon (5 lenses in 4 groups, development of 1m ad infinitum, opening
of f/2,8 with f/22, 330 G).  Konica did not envisage a 35mm… 

 - the rangefinder:  Directly inspired, not to say " pumped " of Leica
M! Frameworks of aiming, bases of rangefinder of 69,2mm, all is there!
Compatible with the objectives 28, 35, 50, 75, 90 and 135mm and
automatic correction of parallax of 70cm ad infinitum. 

 - the exposure:  The RF is equipped with an electronic obturator which
turns of 16s to 1/4000s, with synchro-flash until the 1/125s. The system
of measurement is of central type balanced with measurement of the light
on the curtain of the obturator (painted in white).  There are two car
modes: AE or AEL, according to whether one wishes or not memorizing with
the release. In car mode, one turns in priority diaphragm: choose the
opening on the objective, the apparatus determines speed necessary. One
can also work in semi-car mode or handbook, with choice the speed (of
1/4000s with 1s + poses B) on the barrel, and display in the sight
(scale speeds on the left).  One also has of a corrector of exposure
(from +2 to -2 IT per third of values) but not a spot measurement. 
Sensitivity of film by coding DX from 25 to 5000 ISO or handbook from 6
to 6400 ISO. 

 - the engine:  Mode seen by sight or gives rhythm, up to 2,5
images/secondes, but NO QUIET MODE…what constitutes the major reproach
to address to the RF, since this one succeeds in the exploit to be
noisier than a EOS. Moreover, the presence of this engine requires a
feeding by two piles lithium CR2 (announced autonomy of 140 reels) with
absence of any operation in the event of breakdown of energy. 

 - the remainder:  Ben, one said all on the apparatus. Very basic, one
quickly made the turn of it and there are not functions hidden apart
from a key to force rewinding before the end of film and a catch for
electric or mechanical release, both located on the left side. 

 - Dates and price  I knew well that you await that…In waiting of the
official tariff, here the probable prices: 11.000F for the naked
apparatus, 16.000F with the 50mm. A superb sheathed box of red will mark
the launching of the product: the RF Kit and will be composed of one 50
mm f/2, the flash and, obviously, the apparatus.  The output of this
apparatus in France is planned for the end of November. 

 - subsidiary Questions...  Compatibility with the bayonet Leica M and
the similarity between architecture of the RF and that of M6 raises a
true question which nobody, neither at Leica, nor at Konica, really
answers: is the RF N act of hacking or the fruit of a collaboration
between the two firms?  Indeed, if M6 keeps the advantage (determinant)
silence of operation, the price of the RF, the excellent quality of its
telemetric aiming and its obturator are likely to give wire to retordre
with Leica. In the same way, the results of the tests concerning the
three Hexanon will say if they constitute an alternative interesting for
those which would wish to preserve a case M.  With less, obviously, that
the RF is not that the first part of a new adventure

DWA
Annapolis