Konica Auto S2 vs. S1.6

Hi

 

I am in the market for another rangefinder and wondering about these

two. Is the Hexanon 1.8 on S2 or Hexanon 1.6 on S1.6 a better lens?

The small difference between f/1.8 and f/1.6 is negligible but

differences in performance at f/2-f/2.8 is not.

 

And how would you rate the rangefinders on these compares to say

Yashica Lynx5000?

 

Thanks,

 

Berk

Birk -

<p>

I love my little Yashica Lynx 5000 - great lens. Might have trouble finding one with a working meter as the meter is activated by a small button on the front and as with mine is often not working due to age and abuse. I loved my Lynx 5000 enough to send to Mark Hama and shell out $80 for a CLA. The lens is very nice.

<p>

That said, the Auto S2 is its master. That Hexanon is a bitch of a lens, really razor sharp. I don't know the differences between S2 & S1.6 - probably not much. The S2 is plenty of camera - bigger than the Lynx, but not at all unmanageable. The Auto feature on mine is dead, but the S2's meter is still usable in manual mode. Twisting the speed-ring/aperture-ring engages the meter in the VF.

<p>

Good luck to you on your choice. I think you will find that either camera is more than worthy.

<p>

CE Nelson<br>

<a href="http://www.nelsonfoto.com/phpBB2/index.php">www.nelsonfoto.com</a><p>

Hi Berk

 

I have the Konica Auto S3, with the Hexanon 38mm 1,8, it is a nice lens and a

great littel camera. But my Konica Hexar AF is just a loot better in all aspects.

Dont now if it is any help.

 

95% of all the photos on my site www.micbach.dk, is taken with the Konica

Hexar AF

 

www.micbach.dk........."Photography workshops in Spain"

I can only speak about the S2.....

 

http://wjgibson.ca/KonicaAutoS2.htm

 

my page about it with a link to some sample photos...

 

a really fine lens.

Any of those cameras (and many others) will give results that are indistinguishable from one another. The most important thing is the ergonomics - how it feels and operates in your hands. Don't get obsessive about the qualities of an individiaual lens because your results may vary. Personally, I like the Yashica Lynx.<div></div>

Thanks for all the responses.

 

I have the chance to buy either now, at the same price. This is why I was looking for a comparison.

 

I already have a Lynx 5000 and the viewfinder/rangefinder is ok. I am expecting the Konica to be similar.

 

Berk

I just got a Konica II rangefinder camera with a collapsible 50mm/2.8 Hexanon. Does anyone here have any knowledge about the performance of this lens? I will try it out this week hopefully.

Birk,

I have both, and wide open, I cannot detect any difference between the two. I think that the 1.6 is marginally sharper at 5.6 but not worth quibbling over. Buy whichever one you feel is most mechanically sound and you won't look back. Chuck

If the 1.6 is as good as the 1.8 its a very good lens. I have only shot the 1.8 version..Both have great finders on them. I always wondered how the lynx 5000 performed, I really liked the lack of shutter lag on it compared to the very long throw of the Yashica GSN.

The 45mm f1.8 is significantly superior to the f1.6 lens at all settings. But, the f1.6 usually sells for more, due to scarcity and the simple fact that faster lenses tend to sell for more.

 

The f1.6 lens is Good to Very Good. The f1.8 lens is Excellent to Outstanding - comparable to the Leica Summicron of the same generation.

45mm f1.8; Konica Auto S2 Kodachrome II, 1965. 1/60 between @F4 to 5.6 Either Fungus or UFO in England. Second photo is a clickable thumb photo, which shows more detail.<BR><BR><img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y148/ektar/KonicaAutoS2/tripods-224.jpg"><BR><BR><a href="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y148/ektar/KonicaAutoS2/tripods-225.jpg"><img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y148/ektar/KonicaAutoS2/tripods-226thumb.jpg"></a>

The second image has the levels adjusted, thus it appears somewhat different. The auto S2 here was one of the best normal lenses ever tested on a 35mm camera; ever. Ours here measured 85 line pairs per mm on film at F5.6 in the center when I tested it.

Kelly: This is very impressive indeed. I will try my Hexanon 50/2.8 today and hope that my lens also is a good one (without fungus).

I've had an Auto S2 for about thirty years and love it. The lens is as sharp as a tack and I've noticed that folks often comment on the shots I've printed from using this camera quite often as being the sharpest they've seen. The leica screw mount lenses offer great out of focus backround effects but for overall sharpness, the Hexanon mounted to this body is phenominal. I've got to say the shadow detail I get from it is often good as well.

Hi Berk sorry for this late post, but I have returned from a trip today.

 

I have a Konica Auto S1.6 and I think that is a very good camera. And the Hexanon lens are very good, see some pictures below.

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00D7Ml&tag=

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00CXD7&tag=

 

If you will buy the Auto S1.6 check the shutter mechanism.

 

My camera have a intermitent problem when I reload it for a next shoot. It simply not reload more after some pictures, this is due to aged mechanism.

 

A simple test is shoot here many times changing the position of the body, including inverting here.

<p>It's widely said that the slower lens is a lot better, but an acquaintance who's possessed both cameras says both lenses are excellent.</p><p><em>I just got a Konica II rangefinder camera with a collapsible 50mm/2.8 Hexanon. Does anyone here have any knowledge about the performance of this lens? I will try it out this week hopefully.</em></p><p>Then next week you'll know all. (And sorry, I have no idea.)</p>