Konica Hexanon AR 28mm f/3.5

The Konica Hexanon AR 28mm F 3.5 adapted to the Fujifilm X-E1

I didn’t expect much from this lens when I first ordered it. When I first got my X-E1, I had my eye on the somewhat trendy Konica Hexanon 40mm f1.8 pancake (which I will do a review for soon). However, I couldn’t find one for a good price, so I decided to pick up this 28mm f3.5 for just $30 while I waited to find a good deal. I’m really glad I did, as this unassuming lens has become one of my favorite lenses that I own.

The lens when attached to the Fotasy KR-FX adapter

This is an older copy of the lens featuring a hefty all-metal construction and an EE marking on the aperture ring. The build quality is solid, but the extra weight of the metal could be a downside for some compared to the newer plastic versions of the lens. I can’t speak for the image quality between the different versions, but from my research I believe they do feature some changes to the optical formula. The focus ring turns very smoothly and is a joy to use. The aperture ring can be a bit sticky but otherwise is perfectly functional. I have found the lens to focus a little past infinity when the focus ring is turned all the way. I don’t really use the zone focus markings other than to sometimes set the hyperfocal distance, which seems to be accurate enough in my use. With an adapter, the lens definitely protrudes a decent amount but is by no means a large lens even with the extra length. I have grown to enjoy the size and feel of the lens on the small body of the X-E1 a lot.

I didn’t expect much from the image quality of the lens. With the widest aperture at 3.5, I didn’t expect to get much subject separation either. I ended up being pleasantly surprised on both counts. The sharpness is sufficient enough for me, though I have never done any rigorous testing. The lens certainly has some character that is common for old vintage lenses. There is a distinct flaring when shooting into a light source, which some people really like. I find that highlights and light sources are rendered rather well. Stopped down, the lens can create some star-shaped highlights. Wide open, the background blur is actually quite pleasant to my eye.

I also shot most of my Florida Photo Project with this lens, along with some pictures with the Konica Hexanon 40mm f1.8 and the XF 18mm f2. The most important aspect of this lens that I haven’t spoken about yet is the focal length. After spending a lot of time with this lens, I can say that the 27mm or 28mm focal length on APSC is my favorite everyday focal length. This is approximately equal to a 40mm focal length on full frame. It’s just wide enough for me to capture a whole scene without needing to be especially close to the subject in order for it to be interesting. I find that the 50mm focal length is just a bit too tight for my personal preference for an everyday lens.

For a similar field of view, the XF 27mm f2.8 is another great option that I have used that is incredibly sharp and even brighter than this lens, with the added bonus of being a true pancake lens. This Konica Hexanon 28mm f3.5 is a lot cheaper though, and I actually find the manual focus to be a plus compared to the slower autofocus of the Fuji pancake. There are some other options out there as well, such as the Thypoch Simera 28mm f1.4 that boasts an impressively bright aperture and wonderful build quality while still being manual focus. If you can afford the extra cost, one of these other lens options might be a better choice for you. If you are on a tight budget and want to spend less than $50 on a lens and adapter to start taking some great pictures, I can highly recommend this version of the Konica Hexanon 28mm f3.5.