Solid as a M6
cystal clear optics even when wide open
Slides look great
hand holdable at low speeds

The manual is almost useless
I'm on my fourth lens cap
no 90 mm lens!
controls not intuitive and above mentioned manual not much help

A great all around camera for just about every situation. Can be used for travel, candids, holidays (with flash), dusk, child's recital.
Just tell the spouse to use the "Konica" and put it in "P" mode--it works every time and outperforms and other point and shoot.
Look for this camera on the used market (Cambridge, KEH, etc..)...IT IS WORTH IT.

Customer Service

Not used

Similar Products Used:

Leica M6, Leica R5
Nikon 8008, N65
Elph Jr.
Minolta CLE
Leica CL
Canon AE-1

Ergonomically very nice to hold & easy to shoot at slower shutter speeds. Fantastic viewfinder. I really like how the controls are laid out. If you have a good working knowledge of photography & have used manual rangefinders in the past, you'll really like the options it offers as far as being as manual or automatic as possible. I have a feeling alot of negative ads are from people expecting an almost automatic, idiot-proof camera. That this camera is not. If you don't know what you're doing, it will frustrate you quickly.

Only lack of exposure info (shutter speeds, apertures) in the viewfinder qualify as a weakness, but having owned a Leica M6 outfit, this is something that won't bother me as much as it might some.

I bought one of these several months ago. After using it almost exclusively for 4 months, sold it to help finance a new Pentax SLR outfit. Biggest mistake I ever made. Just bought another new one. Both I've owned are the Silver versions without the silent mode. I'm sure that would be a great feature, but this camera is great as is without the silent mode. Not only will I keep this one, but I'll probably pick another one up in the near future. This is a GREAT camera to shoot with. I've looked at all the smaller P&S type cameras to have something I can just have on me all the time that will give me the opportunity to shoot on auto if I don't have the time, then be able to go full manual or semi-manual if time permits. Those abilities, plus that great finder makes this camera unique and invaluable. I'll not be without one again. Please let me know if these are ever totally discontinued so I can pick two or three up for future use!

Customer Service

Not yet

Similar Products Used:

This camera is unique as far as I'm concerned. I've used Nikon and Pentax SLR outfits, Rollei TLR's and Leica and Fuji (MF) rangefinders.

Superbly built. Fantastic viewfinder. Marvelous lens. Versatile. 2nd curtain sync. (with other flash units, too.)

Difficulty in manual focusing. VF readout not enough. Fiddly dials. Aperture ring should have been put on the lens and the present dial used for shutter speed selection.

All in all, a winner of a small camera. Despite the top speed of 250, it can do lots in the long exposure realm. The flash is far more versatile than it's given credit for. Spot metering in addition to center weighted. A wonderful tool and investment!

Customer Service

none needed so far

Similar Products Used:

M6, M42, M3, F4, N-90, Fuji 6x7

Well constructed. Very good lens.

Having to mount the flash is a pain. Lens is very good, but not in my Leica M6 leaque.

Good build. Heavy and rather large. Lens is very good, but not great. I expected better on film performance from what I'd heard.

Similar Products Used:

None

Buildt quality is very good, picture quality excellent.
Very silent.

None

Allmost excellent, I cant wait for HR model.

Similar Products Used:

Leica m2, Minolta Hi-matic, Contax-G1

Small, great program mode, excellent lens, non-TTL metering helps with IR filters

Slow max shutter speed, non-interchangeable lenses, no way to manually verify focus.

This is my goes-everywhere camera, purchased as a replacement for the M4P +
Summicron system I could no longer justify. Points that make the Hexar a better
option (in my mind) than a point 'n shoot include:

Excellent lens -- sharp, fast, good contrast.
Center-weighted metering in program mode and aperture priority; spot metering
(4 degree) in manual.
ISO speeds can be overridden (6-6400 ISO).
Excellent program mode (you set your preferred aperture and the Camera-Shake
Critical Speed). It does the best it can, and displays either shutter speed
it's going to use (if aperture was usable) or aperture it's using (if not).
There's rarely a reason to use another mode.
Slow shutter speeds down to 30s.
Very silent (I have the Silver model).
Exposure compensation.
Incredible support for IR photography. You can tell the wavelength value
of the IR film you're shooting (850 nm for Kodak or 750 nm for Konica) and
the camera will auto-focus properly for the film you're using. Even better:
metering is not TTL, so you can use an opaque filter over the lens for full
IR effect without any inconvenience -- photograph as you mornally do.

Overall, I think it's almost perfect as a carry-along camera. It's got all
the features you could want in a camera like this except interchangeable lenses
and faster shutter speeds.
Overall this is a great camera. Not a leica by any means, but not priced like
one either.

Customer Service

(never needed anything)

Similar Products Used:

Leica M4P, Konica Auto S2, Minolta Himatic 7

Well built, easy to use compact camera with fantastic 35 mm f2 lens

- Close focus problem with filters mounted has not been corrected through four versions of this camera.
- 1/250 top shutter speed.

This is a modern electronic version of all the wonderful fixed lens rangefinder cameras that were produced in the sixties and seventies. The 35mm f2 lens rivals the 35mm lenses offered by Leica and Carl Zeiss at a fraction of the cost. The body is well finished and laid out. The camera is abouth the sizre of the Leica M6 and Contax G2 camers. This excellent little camera is ideal for photojournalism, street, and available light shooting if you can live with one lens. The camera is extremely versitle; use program mode and use it as a high quality point and shoot or go to full manual for creative control.

Nothing is perfect and on the Hexar, the list includes a top shutter speed of 1/250, qwirky operation of secondary controls, and a close focusing problem when using a filter. Contax does supply a fix for the filter problem but this should have been fixed a long time ago.

Customer Service

Very Responsive

Similar Products Used:

Contax G2 and Leica M2

Finish and feel are excellent. The lens is outstanding and negatives and slides are much better than average from this camera. It has many options built in, however you must use this camera and work with it to obtain the best results and become comfortable with its possibilities.

No problems whatsoever.

This is not a pocket point & shoot. It is a camera that repays the user with brilliant results. The size is not necessarily a handicap as many p & s cameras are difficult to hold steady due to the light weight and small size. The Hexar lends itself well to street shooting and is a wonderful travel companion.

Customer Service

No need to use so far.

Similar Products Used:

Contax G1, Nikon 35Ti