[Leica] Hexar RF - interesting

["Wilfred von Dauster" <vondauster@earthlink.net>]

Hi All,

In my spare time (ha!) I do the web site for Jerrys Camera in Denver. While
there yesterday morning I had the chance to play with the Hexar RF kit,
which I'll have up on the site tomorrow. After handling the outfit for a
while, I agree with most of  what others have posted on it here, but thought
I'd add a few more impressions.

1. The look, build, and feel of the camera and 50mm lens is good, not
dissimilar to the old Hexar. The 50mm M-Hexanon f2.0 in particular, strikes
me as better made and finished than the Voigtlander/Cosina lenses I've seen
thus far (the 15 and 25).
2. The rangefinder layout is so similar to Leica's that the genesis must be
related, IMO. It is a good viewfinder/rangefinder combination.
3. It is quiet for a motor driven camera.
4. The shutter appears very similar to that on the G2.
5. For my taste, it appears to be a nice compliment to an M6, but no
substitute for one - especially with the lack of a TTL flash capability,
which would have been very useful with a faster shutter sinc speed. Pity.

Next week, if the camera is still there, I'll try my M Leica lenses on it,
and run a bit of Provia F behind the 50mm M-Hexanon on my M6 to see how it
looks. The kit comes in a red satin box with a tiny, non-dedicated flash,
lens, body, strap, and case for the lens, but no ERC for the body (?).
Jerrys (www.jerryscamera.com) is asking $2199 for the kit.

Will von Dauster