The Konica Chronicles: New Glass, A Dog, and More Missed Focus

[bozaman]

Hey Folks!

I’m back for more manual focus punishment! This time, I’ve moved on from the shiny new budget lenses to some legendary vintage "Hexanon" glass.

A massive, heartfelt shout-out to fellow board member @Travis Butler , who has officially become my favorite enabler. He kindly offered me a trio of Konica Hexanon lenses—the 40mm f/1.8, the 57mm f/1.4, and the 135mm f/3.2—to add to my growing collection of "Things That Make Me Work Too Hard." I cannot thank him enough for the opportunity to play with these.

I haven't had much time for a proper outing yet, but I spent a few minutes this past weekend performing a "focus suicide mission": shooting each lens at minimum focus distance, wide open. My long-suffering (and very sleepy) dog, Arya, was the captive audience for this experiment.

The Proof of My Incompetence:

• 40mm f/1.8: Tiny, punchy, and surprisingly sharp for its age.
• 57mm f/1.4: A bokeh monster. Trying to hit a dog's eye at f/1.4 at minimum distance is basically like trying to thread a needle during an earthquake.
• 135mm f/3.2: A lovely perspective, though I had to stand in the next county to hit the minimum focus distance.

Disclaimer: These are not masterpiece pet portraits. My skill level is still firmly in the "accidental" category, but I felt obligated to show @Travis Butler that his lenses are being put to work (even if I'm currently the weak link in the chain).

With the holidays coming up, I’m excited to actually test these in the real world rather than just harassing my pets. I’m still learning, still failing, and still loving every minute of it.

Cheers and Happy Holidays!

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Konica Hexanon 40/1.8:

Arya | Portrait of a German Shepherd (2025) by Joe Boza, on Flickr

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Konica Hexanon 57/1.4:

Arya | Portrait of a German Shepherd (2025) by Joe Boza, on Flickr

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Konica Hexanon 135/3.2

Arya | Portrait of a German Shepherd (2025) by Joe Boza, on Flickr

 

[pdk42]

Very cute ! Old dog and new tricks!

 

[Travis Butler]

Poor, long-suffering Arya.

Well, if you feel like a 2-hour drive, there's always the Pima Air & Space Museum... <ducks>

But yeah, the 57/1.4 definitely takes some practice wide-open at MFD. It can be worth it.

• SIGMA SIGMA fp
• 1/60s
• ISO 400

Sigma fp, Hexanon 57/1.4

And I've posted this one here before, but it illustrates the tonality I love in Hexanons.

20251025-SDIM8678 by Travis Butler, on Flickr

I love the smooth rendering on the hood sections, the matte glow as the light plays across the curves, and the lack of distraction in the bokeh.

(And yeah, I do really wish the 135/3.2 had a shorter MFD... but I love the way it handles tonality and glossy surfaces.)