For Want of an Eyepiece
October 25th, 2006
I lost the eyepiece to one of my Hexar’s yesterday. Unlike a lot of cameras in which the standard diopter is just a clear piece of glass, the eyepiece of the Hexar forms an integral part of the RF. Without it, you can’t see through the viewfinder. Of course, only Hexar eyepieces fit. And of course, since the Hexar RF is a long out production camera originally made by a company that’s changed hands a few times now, locating a replacement part is a pain in the butt.
This is one of the downsides to using abandonware. When it gives up the ghost, you are pretty much on your own. I’ve emailed Greg Weber, the only recognized Konica repair resource in the states and asked on photo.net where, oddly enough, somone else had just lost the same piece off their Hexar. I’ve also bought up KEH’s supply of corrective diopters for the Hexar thinking that if those don’t work for me perhaps I can trade them.
If the Hexar RF didn’t have such completely brilliant ergonomics, it wouldn’t be worth the trouble, but it’s the best designed camera I’ve ever used, much better than an M in many ways. The other day I was looking over Sean Reid’s review of the new M8 and thinking how much they could have improved its ergonomics by adopting the shutter speed dial off the Hexar. Using the Hexar’s exposure compensation dial would have been a good idea as well. Heck, why didn’t they just stuff a sensor into all those Hexar bodies that Sony has got sitting in a warehouse in Germany? But that’s a topic for another day.
Update: Folks looking to replace the eyepiece on their own Hexar RF, should look at this post, in which I detail building your own replacement eyepiece. With some tinkering this could also be a good way to get diopter correction or an increased mag VF. For those wanting to buying a diopter, check out KEH and http://www.photostop.net/Hexar.html.
October 25th, 2006
I’ve got a Contax 645 with a broken finder. Sigh. I ‘ve recently decided against a Mamiya 7, despite the heavy discounts, because come this time next year, nobody is going to want to know about parts for it.
Technology. Who’d have it?
October 25th, 2006
It’s funny that you mention both the Contax 645 and the Mamiya 7. I’ve looked seriously at both in part because their abandoned status has driven down prices. You can buy a used Mamiya 6 or 7 with standard lens for about $1000 if you look around. The Contax 645 isn’t as cheap, but it’s arguably a more flexible system. But what does one do if they break?
BTW, I thought the Contax 645 had a removable finder?
October 26th, 2006
(-1) dipoter plus (+1) diopter = regular eyepiece? jk….good luck finding a replacement
October 26th, 2006
Yes, Contax 645s have a removable finder, and the regular finders are easy to come by. However, I’ve always used the camera with a waist level finder and these are pretty scarce. I’ve just bought a newly new replacement for my broken one and this too is showing signs of going at exactly the same point. I’m now into serious glue and bodgit mode…..
Robert White in the UK is selling off Mamiya gear. A new 7II plus standard lens is GBP 975 (which looks good against the usual B&H benchmark of USD 2500.)
October 26th, 2006
I’m not sure that you could rig Konica diopters in series like that since the eyepiece does something beyond just the diopter correction. It’s an odd design. Although maybe I could use one of the Hexar diopters -3 diopters I have on order with a + diopter from another camera. Good idea. Thanks.
$2500 is definitely too much for the 7II. I think I’ve seem them on KEH in LN condition for something like $1200-$1500. The Mamiya rangefinders are intriguing. After playing with one for a bit in a Tokyo camera store, I could see alot of possibilities for the system. In my case, I’d need to add the price of a medium format scanner, which has always been what holds me back.
October 26th, 2006
A good used Mam7 with lens (described as mint-) from a reputable dealer GBP645
An acceptable used Mam 7 without lens (Exc+) GBP 340 from a dealer that I’ve at least heard of.
I already have the scanner.
I must stop buying cameras I must stop buying cameras I must stop buying cameras. I must.
October 27th, 2006
I just tripped over webercamera.com as a specialist Konica repair outfit on a thread on rangefinderforum.com
No knowledge etc. but if it is a new name to you they might be worth a call.
October 27th, 2006
oops, just seen that you’ve already referred to weber. Never mind.
October 27th, 2006
I actually just got an email from George Weber. It doesn’t sound like he has a reliable parts source for Hexars. I’m hopeful that stacking a - Hexar diopter with + from another camera will solve the issue.
If the budget allows it, I see no reason not buy as many cameras - and lenses - as you want. There’s worse ways to spend ones money.
November 1st, 2006
Let me see what the jewel shops in Shinjuku have for you.
November 1st, 2006
So many things in life would be easier with a place like Shinjuku just down the subway line. Thanks.
With the help of my dads optical expertise, I’ve figured out the focal length of the Hexar’s eyepiece lens. A little poking around on the internet found a few places that sell lenses by focal length and diameter for cheap, so I’ve ordered a couple. They should be here in a week or so.
December 25th, 2006
Matt, hi there!
Long live your Hexar RF, and hopefully mine too. I just bought the thing today after 6 months of hesitation, you are the one who made me do it ;) The photos of your wife are simply stunning, and I dig your other stuff as well
Cheers and best of luck
December 26th, 2006
Thanks for the kind words Basil. I hope you enjoy the Hexar RF as much as I have. From looking at your Flickr page, it looks you will be able to put it to good use.
January 6th, 2007
Hello Matt,
you have written that you bought up KEH’s supply of corrective diopters for the Hexar thinking that if those don’t work for you, you can trade them.
Are there any diopters especially +0.5 and/or +1.0 available.
Thanks for your reply.
Kind regards,
Hanjo Heismann
(Germany)
January 6th, 2007
Hanjo,
After learning that the diopters wouldn’t work for my purposes, I sent them back to KEH. So you might try there. You also might try http://www.photostop.net/Hexar.html. They seem to have new old stock Hexar stuff on hand.
good luck,
Matt