Konica 50mm (2000–1973)

Name: Konica 50mm
Brand: Konica

A series of 50mm prime lenses made by Konica for AR and Leica M mounts, including a limited titanium edition released at Photokina 2000.

Overview

Konica made several 50mm lenses across different eras and mounts. The best known is the Konica 50mm f/1.2 Limited Edition. It has a titanium body and was announced at Photokina in September 2000 as a millennium release. Only 2,001 units were made, and one known example is serial number 1136. It was offered in Leica M mount. Separately, the Konica Hexanon AR 50mm f/1.7 was the standard kit lens bundled with the Konica Autoreflex A3 SLR, introduced in 1973. Konica also made the M-Hexanon 50mm f/2 for Leica M mount, with a 6-element, 5-group optical design and 10 aperture blades.

Specifications

Focal length	50mm
Maximum aperture	f/1.2 (Limited Edition), f/1.7 (Hexanon AR), f/2 (M-Hexanon), f/1.4 (Hexanon AR), f/1.9 (Hexanon)
Lens mount	Leica M mount (f/1.2 Limited, M-Hexanon f/2), Konica AR mount (f/1.4, f/1.7), Leica screw mount (f/1.9 Hexanon), Konica AR mount (f/1.7, f/1.4)
Optical construction	6 elements in 5 groups (M-Hexanon f/2, f/1.9 Hexanon)
Aperture blades	10 (M-Hexanon f/2)
Minimum focus distance	1.00 m (f/1.9 Hexanon)
Filter thread	40.5mm (f/1.9 Hexanon)
Weight	260g (f/1.9 Hexanon)
Production run	2,001 units (f/1.2 Limited Edition)
In production

Design

The Konica M-Hexanon 50mm f/2 is a double Gauss-type design with 6 elements in 5 groups and 10 aperture blades. The Konica 50mm f/1.9 Hexanon for Leica screw mount has a chrome barrel, manual focus and click-stop aperture controls. The f/1.7 Hexanon AR has a smooth focus helicoid, though users have noted it works best after re-greasing.

Context

The Konica 50mm f/1.7 Hexanon AR was the standard kit lens for the Konica Autoreflex A3, announced in 1973. The f/1.2 Limited Edition in titanium was unveiled at Photokina 2000 as a premium M-mount offering.

Market

The Konica M-Hexanon 50mm f/2 was listed for $529 on the Fred Miranda forums in April 2021. A Konica 50mm F2 was priced at £499 in the Summer 2021 issue of the Leica Society magazine. The f/1.7 Hexanon AR has been listed at €43.00 on kamerastore.com. The f/1.2 Limited Edition, number 1136 of 2001, appeared on the Fred Miranda forums in beautiful condition with original UV filter, hood and front cap.