Can any one tell me if they have used the hexanon 35-70 3.5? and what they thought of it? i guess this is kind of a backwards way to do it, but i just got one for a real steal and i was wondering what kind of results it gives. also what is a normal going price for these lenses? i read the review of lenses at Wulff Photography and it said these were a fairly late lense to the konica line and was just curious. any info is always helpful. Thanks a bunch jon potter

-- Anonymous, December 22, 1999

Answers

Jon: I have the 35-70. I have not done any tests for resolution, etc. but the sample I have is not up to Konica's usual high standards. I don't know how true it is but several people have stated that this zoom was not made by Konica. I purchased mine new and it came in a blue felt bag, instead of the hard cases of other Hexanon lenses. It is probably an OK lens for its time - or maybe I got a bad one.

-- Anonymous, December 23, 1999

Jon and Randolph, The possibility exists that the particular lens you've got is a bad example. Sorry to say, but Konica standards sorta slipped towards the end of SLR production. A prime example would be the 40mm f/1.8. I have three of 'em and one is flarey and abberant, one is perfect, and the other is OK. The main culprit for this lens is lens element mis-alignment. The same could be said for a number of the objectives in Konica's late lens line. As for an outside (third-party) manufacturer, there is conjecture that this is exactly what happened, however, I am not "in" the industry so I really have no first-hand knowledge or proof.

Jon from Deepinaharta, Georgia

-- Anonymous, December 23, 1999

Thanks

Thanks for the info, i'll let you know when i get my test roll back from the shop on how mine performed, my first instincts are that what you say about it being made by another manufaturer are true, because the focus is really loose, and the whole body is plastic, and none of my other lenses have that kind of construction, but i guess we'll just have to wait and see about the quality. Thanks for the info. Jon Potter

-- Anonymous, December 23, 1999