Konishiroku lenses in Leica screw mount

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Konishiroku (predecessor of Konica) made three standard lenses in Leica screw mount in the 1950s. In the 1990s, before the introduction of the Hexar RF, Konica made other lenses for the same mount: see Konica lenses in Leica screw mount.

Commercially produced lenses

Announced in 1954

In October 1954, Konishiroku exhibited various products that were under development in three department stores in Tokyo; among them were four different lenses in Leica screw mount.[1] These included two Hexanon standard lenses: a 60mm f/1.2 and a 50mm f/1.9.[2] The following year, the company released a range of three standard lenses: first a 50mm f/3.5 Hexar in collapsible mount, then the two Hexanon.

Hexar 50mm f/3.5, collapsible

The Hexar 50mm f/3.5 lens has a Tessar-like formula, of four elements in three groups. The same lens was mounted on the Konica I and IIB at the same period. The version in Leica screw mount normally has a all-chrome collapsible barrel, obviously inspired by the Leitz Elmar 5cm f/3.5. The aperture scale is on the side of the front part, graduated from 3.5 to 22, and the diaphragm is positioned behind the second lens element. The focusing scale is engraved in feet, from ∞ to 3.5ft, and the actual minimum distance is reported as 3.3ft.[3] The filter diameter is 34.5mm.[4] The Hexar front cap is made of black plastic. The lens was supplied in a yellow and black box, marked HEXAR, F3.5 50m/m FOR LEICA and KONISHIROKU.

The lens was adopted as a standard lens for the Chiyotax IIIF in Summer 1955,[5] and on the Honor released in mid-1956.[6] It was also offered on some versions of the Leotax,[7] on the Melcon,[8] and reportedly on the Nicca as well.[9] It was also available alone from the Shōwa Kōgaku company which made the Leotax, for ¥11,000;[10] it seems that Konishiroku did not distribute the lens to the general public itself.[11]

Lens numbers have seven digits and are known from the 1311xxx to the 1322xxx range.[12] These are perhaps not continuous but mixed with numbers for other lenses.

Hexanon 50mm f/1.9

3236722208_d69d222c15_m_d.jpg
Hexanon 50mm f/1.9 lens, in Shashin Kōgyō February 1956. (Image rights)

The Hexanon 50mm f/1.9 has six elements in five groups. The all chrome rigid barrel has a large focusing ring, graduated in feet from ∞ to 3.5ft, and driven by a tab with an infinity lock. The actual minimum distance is reported as 3.3ft.[13] The aperture ring, at the front, is graduated from 1.9 to 22, and drives a ten-blade diaphragm. Corresponding depth-of-field indications are reported at the rear, with a red R index for use with infrared film. The filter diameter is 40.5mm.[14] The lens was supplied with a metal Hexanon front cap and a metal rear cap.

248225811_b5b43f95f7_m_d.jpg
Leotax with Hexanon 50mm f/1.9 lens. Picture by Wanderingpastel. (Image rights)

The Hexanon 50mm f/1.9 lens in Leica mount was displayed in the October 1954 exhibit mentioned above, together with a version mounted on a prototype interchangeable-lens Konica II. The lens was launched in December 1955[15] and announced in early 1956 as an alternative to the Hexar f/3.5 on the Chiyotax IIIF,[16] and on some versions of the Leotax.[17] It was available alone from Shōwa Kōgaku for ¥23,500;[18] it again seems that it was not sold directly by Konishiroku.[19] The 50mm f/1.9 was also fitted to the Honor from Autumn 1957.[20]

A substantially similar 48mm f/2 Hexanon lens was mounted from early 1956 on the Konica IIA, and would continue on the Konica III and IIIA; it was replaced by a similar 50mm f/1.8 on the late IIIA and IIIM.

Lens numbers for the 50mm f/1.9 in Leica mount have seven digits and are known from the 3121xxx to the 3124xxx range.[21] The early examples of the lens have a different barrel, with a dual row of mills on the focusing ring, and different depth-of-field indications. One is perhaps a prototype, engraved in metres, with three rows of mills of an equal width (two on the focus ring and one on the aperture ring), and all the aperture positions engraved on the depth-of-field scale.[22] Another is perhaps typical of the early production, with a larger milled row on the aperture ring, and some numbers omitted from the depth-of-field scale.[23]

Hexanon 60mm f/1.2

The Hexanon 60mm f/1.2 has eight elements in six groups.[24] The rigid barrel is predominantly black, with the frontmost and rearmost rings in chrome. The focusing ring is graduated in feet from ∞ to 3.5ft, and has no infinity lock. The aperture ring is graduated from 1.2 to 16, with uneven spacing. There are depth-of-field indications on the rear of the focusing ring, with an R index for infrared. The words Made in Japan are engraved on the rear side of the lens barrel on at least some occasions.

The lens was supplied with a metal Hexanon front cap, a dedicated viewfinder, a shade, and three filters: UV, yellow and orange. The finder is black and chrome, engraved Hexanon f=60mm at the top. It has a rotating ring on the rear, with a scale from ∞ to 3.5, controlling the angle of the shoe mount for parallax correction. The hood is predominantly square, with a Konihood engraving at the top and a cut-out at the top left, certainly to clear the field of view of the rangefinder on most Leica and Leica copies. It is slipped on the lens outer rim, and held by a tightening screw. The filters have a black rim, engraved Konifilter and UV, YI or RI on the side. The whole outfit is held in a dedicated brown leather zipped case, embossed KONISHIROKU on the lid, with space to contain an extra film canister.[25]

The Hexanon 60mm f/1.2 lens was the highlight of the October 1954 exhibit, and was released in December 1955.[26] It came after the wide-aperture offerings by Zunow (50mm f/1.1, 1953) or Fuji (50mm f/1.2, 1954). It was not sold as a standard lens on third party cameras, but directly by Konishiroku for ¥78,000.[27] In the US, it was available for $359.50, four times the price of a Konica II.[28]

Another Hexanon 60/1.2 lens was released in Leica screw mount in the second half of the 1990s, with a completely new formula and lens barrel: see Konica lenses in Leica screw mount.

Lens numbers for the original 60mm f/1.2 in Leica mount have seven digits in the 3360xxx range. It seems that very few were made, perhaps no more than 300.[29]

Bargain sale

In the 1960s, after the sales of screw mount rangefinder cameras and lenses began to plummet, it is said that these three lenses were offered for a while at a vastly reduced price by the shop U Camera of Shinbashi, Tokyo, along with Fuji 50mm and 35mm lenses.[30] The Hexar 50mm f/3.5 was offered for ¥1,500 and the Hexanon 50mm f/1.9 was at ¥5,000, indeed a huge price cut.[30]

Experimental lenses

Hexanon 50mm f/1.5

The Hexanon 50mm f/1.5 lens is known from a single picture in Kurashikku Kamera Senka, where it is said to have seven elements in five groups.[31] The barrel is all chrome, and looks slightly older than that of the early Hexanon 50mm f/1.9. The focusing ring is engraved in metres and is driven by a tab with an infinity stop. It has very fine mills in a single row, and the aperture ring has another similar row. This lens was probably tested in the first half of the 1950s, and was never put into production.

Hexanon 35mm f/2.5 and 135mm f/3.5

The Hexanon 35mm f/2.5 and Hexanon 135mm f/3.5 were perhaps the other two lenses exhibited in October 1954. They are mainly known by pictures in Kurashikku Kamera Senka.[31]

The 35mm f/2.5 is said to have six elements in five groups, and has an all chrome barrel with a focusing tab, quite similar to the 50mm f/1.9. The focusing scale is engraved in feet, the aperture scale goes from 2.5 to 22, and there is an index for infrared photography.

The 135mm f/3.5 has a black and chrome barrel, very similar to that of the 60mm f/1.2, except that the focusing ring has large knurls instead of the milled ring. The distance scale is in feet. The aperture scale goes from 3.5 to 32, and corresponding depth-of-field indications are engraved on the base of the barrel, in the black part.

Hexanon 50mm f/3.5, collapsible

The Hexanon 50mm f/3.5 lens is known from a single example so far, mounted on an Ichicon-35, a Leica copy made by Daiichi Kōgaku and predating the Honor.[32] The lens barrel is almost the same as on the collapsible Hexar 50mm f/3.5, but the shape of the focusing tab and infinity lock is different, the focusing scale is engraved in metres, and depth-of-field indications are provided to f/16 only, despite the fact that the aperture scale goes all the way to f/22. The particular lens has serial number LB2025 – a non standard number which is a hint that the lens was experimental only.

Hexanon 50mm f/1.8, for the Konica FR

The Hexanon 50mm f/1.8 lens in Leica screw mount was developed for the Konica FR prototype rangefinder camera, in 1960–61. It has a black barrel, with a chrome aperture ring. The focusing ring has a large row of knurls, and is engraved in feet from ∞ to 3.5ft, the actual minimum distance being perhaps 3.3ft.[33] The aperture scale goes from 1.8 to 22, and corresponding depth-of-field indications are displayed on the rear, together with an index for infrared photography. The front bezel is engraved in uppercase letters: HEXANON 1:1.8 f=50mm KONISHIROKU, in a style which was also found on the fixed lens of the Konica S 35mm camera. The filter attachment is 43mm diameter.[34] The dimensions are 49mm diameter and 43.5mm length, measured to the flange, and the weight is 185g.[35]

Two examples of the lens are known to survive today, with serial numbers 1234563 and 1234565.[36] The six first digits are probably dummy, and this might indicate that at least five were made.

Other lenses

Early postwar lenses

Konishiroku might have made a handful of lenses in Leica screw mount after the war. A Hexar Ser.1 15cm f/4.5 lens (no.3417) has been observed in an all chrome barrel, presumably for 35mm cameras, most probably in Leica screw mount.[37] The focal length in cm, the mention of Ser. 1 and the Konishiroku Tokyo engraving hint to the immediate postwar period. There are unconfirmed reports of a Hexar 150mm f/4.5, which might be different.[38]

Finally, a Tele-Hexar 40cm f/5.6 lens has been observed, reportedly in 39mm screw mount.[39] Such a focal length would have been usable on a reflex housing only, such as the early Visoflex. The barrel is black and chrome, and the lens head has a slightly different black finish. The engraving on the front bezel reads Tele–Hexar 1:5.6 f=40c.m, but it seems that the serial number and the mention of the manufacturer are lacking. Three holes are visible on the bezel, at the position of the pins used to attach filters on the Tele-Hexar 40cm f/5.6 lenses made for the SK-100 aerial camera. This suggests that the lens head was originally made as a military product, and was adapted to a civilian use only later.

Hexar 50mm f/3.5 enlarging lens, modified for the Chiyoca

The Hexar 50mm f/3.5 found on the viewfinder-only Chiyoca model is a modified enlarging lens: the maker of the Chiyoca obtained various Hexar enlarging lenses and mounted them on a focusing helix they made themselves.[40] It is not known if this was made with the approval of Konishiroku or in a purely unofficial way. In any case, the Konishiroku company was not aggrieved, and later supplied official Hexar and Hexanon lenses for the Chiyotax.

Some sources say that the resulting lens has a rigid barrel,[41] but it is actually collapsible on a short travel, with a polished chrome tube between the lens head and the focusing ring.[42]

The aperture ring is that of the original enlarging lens, with a scale on the side from 3.5 to 16. The focusing scale is engraved in feet, and there are depth-of-field indications for all apertures. The finish is all chrome. Lens numbers are known in the 32xxx to 35xxx range; given the unofficial nature of the product, these are certainly not continuous.

List of lenses

  • 35mm f/2.5 Hexanon, 6 elements in 5 groups, rigid, all chrome, focusing tab, experimental only
  • 50mm f/3.5 Hexar, 4 elements in 3 groups, collapsible, all chrome, focusing tab, ¥11,000
  • 50mm f/3.5 Hexar, 4 elements in 3 groups, all chrome, unofficial modified enlarging lens, on the viewfinder-only Chiyoca
  • 50mm f/3.5 Hexanon, collapsible, all chrome, focusing tab: experimental only, on an Ichicon-35
  • 50mm f/1.9 Hexanon, 6 elements in 5 groups, all chrome, focusing tab, ¥23,500
  • 50mm f/1.8 Hexanon, black and chrome, experimental only, for the Konica FR
  • 50mm f/1.5 Hexanon, 7 elements in 5 groups, all chrome, focusing tab, experimental only
  • 60mm f/1.2 Hexanon, 8 elements in 6 groups, black and chrome, ¥78,000
  • 75mm f/3.5 Hexanon, unconfirmed[38]
  • 135mm f/3.5 Hexanon, black and chrome, experimental only
  • 15cm f/4.5 Hexar Ser.1, all chrome, lens mount unconfirmed
  • 150mm f/4.5 Hexar, unconfirmed[38]
  • 40cm f/5.6 Tele-Hexar, maybe for a 39mm LTM reflex housing

Notes

  1. ↑ Hagiya, p.130 of Sekai no Raika renzu.
  2. ↑ Hagiya, pp.130 and 186 of Sekai no Raika renzu.
  3. ↑ Minimum distance of 3.3ft: Hagiya, p.128 of Sekai no Raika renzu.
  4. ↑ Hagiya, p.128 of Sekai no Raika renzu.
  5. ↑ See the page on Chiyoca and Chiyotax for the various sources. Hagiya, p.128 of Sekai no Raika renzu, says Spring 1955 for the release of the Hexar, but this is perhaps a bit early.
  6. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.379, and advertisement in Shashin Salon November 1956, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.225.
  7. ↑ Advertisement in Asahi Camera March 1956, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.324.
  8. ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Hagiya, p.187 of Sekai no Raika renzu.
  9. ↑ Nicca: Hagiya, p.128 of Sekai no Raika renzu.
  10. ↑ Advertisement by Shōwa Kōgaku reproduced in Hagiya, p.185 of Sekai no Raika renzu.
  11. ↑ Hagiya, p.128 of Sekai no Raika renzu, says that the lens does not appear on Konishiroku advertisements.
  12. ↑ More specifically 1311xxx, 1312xxx, 1313xxx, 1315xxx, and all those from 1317xxx to 1322xxx. Lowest is 1311027 and highest is 1322259.
  13. ↑ Minimum distance of 3.3ft: Hagiya, p.130 of Sekai no Raika renzu.
  14. ↑ Hagiya, p.130 of Sekai no Raika renzu.
  15. ↑ Miyazaki, p.169. Hagiya, p.130 of Sekai no Raika renzu, says Summer 1955 but this is perhaps a bit early.
  16. ↑ See the page on Chiyoca and Chiyotax for the various sources.
  17. ↑ Advertisement in Asahi Camera March 1956, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.324.
  18. ↑ Advertisement by Shōwa Kōgaku reproduced in Hagiya, p.185 of Sekai no Raika renzu.
  19. ↑ Hagiya, p.130 of Sekai no Raika renzu, says that the lens does not appear on Konishiroku advertisements.
  20. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.379.
  21. ↑ Lowest is 3121063 and highest is 3124468.
  22. ↑ Lens pictured in Hishida, p.157 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10.
  23. ↑ Lens sold on a Honor SL as lot no.357 of Westlicht auction no.7 (May 21, 2005).
  24. ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Hagiya, p.187 of Sekai no Raika renzu. Eight elements are also mentioned in the English-language advertisement reproduced in this page at Photostream. Hishida, p.157 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10, says seven elements in six groups, presumably by mistake.
  25. ↑ Extra film canister: caption in Miyazaki, p.170.
  26. ↑ December 1955: Miyazaki, p.169.
  27. ↑ Price: Miyazaki, p.169.
  28. ↑ Advertisement reproduced in this page at Photostream.
  29. ↑ Lowest is 3360006, pictured in Hagiya, p.83 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.58. Highest is perhaps 33602x1, pictured in Miyazaki, p.170 (the number is hardly legible).
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Hagiya, p.129 of Sekai no Raika renzu.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Hishida, p.157 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10.
  32. ↑ Example pictured in HPR, pp.185–6.
  33. ↑ Minimum distance of 3.3ft reported in Hagiya, p.82 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.58.
  34. ↑ Hagiya, p.82 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.58.
  35. ↑ Hagiya, p.82 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.58.
  36. ↑ Lens pictured in Hishida, p.82 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.10 (no.1234563), and lens pictured in Hagiya, pp.80–2 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.58 (no.1234565). The latter was property of the Konica company at the time of the article (2001).
  37. ↑ Lens pictured in this page at mflenses.com.
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 See the talk page.
  39. ↑ Lens sold in an online auction. The watermark on the pictures shows that this lens was sold by the same seller which sold the 15cm f/4.5 lens no.3417.
  40. ↑ Sugiyama, item 3214, and this page by Nekosan.
  41. ↑ The rigid barrel is mentioned in HPR, p.180, and repeated in this page by Ian Norris. The lens is described as collapsible in McKeown, p.205.
  42. ↑ Compare the pictures of the lens in extended position in HPR, p.179 or in this page at Pacific Rim and in retracted position in the Christies auction catalogue dated June 8, 1995 (lot no.28).

Bibliography

  • Christies auction catalogues:
    • Leica, Nikon and Canon, Leica copies and 35mm cameras, June 8, 1995, lot no.28 (Hexar 50mm f/3.5 enlarging lens on a Chiyoca I).
    • Cameras and Optical Toys, April 17, 1997, lot no.110 (Hexanon 50mm f/1.9 on a Chiyotax IIIF).
  • Hagiya Takeshi (萩谷剛). "Konika FR" (コニカFR, Konica FR). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.58, March 2001. ISBN 4-257-13032-6. Tokushū: Raika bukku '01 Raika kenkyū (特集:ライカブック'01・ライカ研究, Leica book '01: Leica research). Pp.80–3.
  • Hagiya Takeshi (萩谷剛). Articles in Sekai no Raika renzu (世界のライカレンズ, Leica lenses of the world) Part 1. Tokyo: Shashinkogyo Syuppan-sha, 2003. ISBN 4-87956-061-8.
    • "Hexanon 50mm F1.9". Pp.130–1.
    • "Hexar 50mm F3.5". Pp.128–9.
    • "Raika to sekai no raika-yō renzu" (ライカと世界のライカ用レンズ, Leica and other Leica-mount lenses). Pp.178–88.
  • Hishida Kōshirō (菱田耕四郎). "Konica history 10. Sengo no kamera." (Konica history 10. 戦後のカメラ. Postwar cameras.) Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.10, September 1987. No ISBN number. Konishiroku kamera no rekishi (小西六カメラの歴史, special issue on Konishiroku). Pp.60–75 and 156–7.
  • Hishida Kōshirō (菱田耕四郎). "Konica History 11: Maboroshi no kamera to tokushu kamera" (幻のカメラと特殊カメラ, Phantom cameras and special cameras). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.10, September 1987. No ISBN number. Konishiroku kamera no rekishi (小西六カメラの歴史, special issue on Konishiroku). Pp.81–2.
  • HPR. Leica Copies. London: Classic Collection Publications, 1994. ISBN 1-874485-05-4.
  • Miyazaki Shigemoto (宮崎繁幹). Konika kamera no 50nen: Konika I-gata kara Hekisā RF e (コニカカメラの50年：コニカI型からヘキサーRFへ, Fifty years of Konica cameras: From the Konica I to the Hexar RF). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 2003. ISBN 4-257-12038-X. Pp.10, 13, 169–70.
  • Sugiyama, Kōichi (杉山浩一); Naoi, Hiroaki (直井浩明); Bullock, John R. The Collector's Guide to Japanese Cameras. 国産カメラ図鑑 (Kokusan kamera zukan). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1985. ISBN 4-257-03187-5.

Links

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In Japanese:

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