{"id":38465,"date":"2023-04-24T07:49:14","date_gmt":"2023-04-24T06:49:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=38465"},"modified":"2026-01-14T08:29:02","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T07:29:02","slug":"konica-hexanon-ar-40mm-f1-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/konica-hexanon-ar-40mm-f1-8\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Konica Hexanon AR 40mm f\/1.8"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Konica
Konica Hexanon AR 40mm F1.8 on Nikon Z6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Konica Hexanon AR 40mm f1.8 is a pancake standard lens, it was shipped as kit lens with Konica SLR cameras during a couple of years in mid and late ’70s. While it is not an actual wide angle lens it is still wider than a normal 50mm lens, which, in my opinion, can be helpful for street photography as it allows to include more of the environment from the same camera to subject distance. It also does so without introducing the perspective distortion of a 35mm wide angle lens with equivalent speed\/aperture.
\nSometimes it’s hard to explain it but in many situations the 40mm focal length feels just right (i.e. to my taste). When it was introduced some photography magazines considered it the sharpest lens ever produced (for its time that is), there is no hard proofs on that though. You can find it very cheap at about 20-30$. Let\u2019s see if it still is justified to buy this lens today.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sample Images<\/h2>\n
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Nikon Z6 | Konica Hexanon AR 40\/1.8 | 5.6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Z6 | Konica Hexanon AR 40\/1.8 | 5.6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Z6 | Konica Hexanon AR 40mm F1.8 | 5.6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Nikon
Nikon Z6 | Konica Hexanon AR 40mm F1.8 | F8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Z6 | Konica Hexanon AR 40mm F1.8 | F1.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Z6 | Konica Hexanon AR 40mm F1.8 | F8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most of the sample images in this review and many more can be found in higher resolution here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

Specifications<\/h2>\n

Focal Length:<\/strong>\u00a040mm
\nAperture Range:\u00a0<\/strong>1.8 \u2013 22 (in full stops)
\nNumber of Aperture Blades<\/strong>: 6
\nMin Focus Distance<\/strong>: 0.45 m
\nFilter Size:<\/strong>\u00a055mm
\nLens Mount<\/strong>: Konica AR
\nWeight<\/strong>: 140g
\nLength<\/strong>: 27mm (focus ring set to infinity)
\nElements\/Group<\/strong>: 6\/5<\/p>\n

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Optical Lens Diagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Variations<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are not any variations of this lens to my knowledge, all look the same.<\/p>\n

Handling<\/span><\/h2>\n

This is a so-called pancake lens, which is very flat, only 27mm long. On small Nikon Z bodies it is not obtrusive at all, which is a big plus in everyday and street photography, where 40mm focal length is mostly used in. The lens + Nikon Z adapter is 51mm long, which is shorter than Nikon 50mm\/1.8 AF-S G lens alone (53mm long). The build quality seems to be good, all metal, focus is a little stiff, which can be due to the age and also my sample has a little throw when you rotate the focus ring in opposite directions (also due to the age I think) other samples may be free from this.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Konica Hexanon AR 40mm f1.8 compared to Nikon Nikkor AF-S 50mm 1:1.8 G on Nikon Z6\/Z7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Aperture ring clicks only at full stops rather stiffly from 1.8 to 22<\/span>. There is an extra click stop position beyond 22 on the aperture ring marked “AE” in green. This was used to automatically control the aperture on Konica cameras. If you happen to rotate the ring to that position the aperture ring gets locked and you cannot move it any more unless you push a button on the same ring but on the opposite side of the aperture value scale to release the lock and rotate the ring again.<\/p>\n

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Konica Hexanon AR 40\/2.8, AE Unlocking Button<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At the rear of the lens there is also a fin that was used to control the aperture automatically from the camera, that is useless on digital mirrorless cameras though as everything has to be handled manually.<\/p>\n

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Konica Hexanon AR 40\/2.8, AE Fin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Optical Features<\/span><\/h2>\n

Sharpness (Infinity)<\/span><\/h3>\n

For the images of the test chart (and all the other images in this review) a standard LR settings of light\/contrast and a sharpness of 40 have been used.<\/p>\n

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Sharpness Comparison at Infinity<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Infinity Sharpness Comparison Reference, Yellow Markings at Center, Midframe & Corner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At f\/1.8 soft in center, midframe and corner, still usable center sharpness. At f\/2.8 it sees a little improvement, but still soft. At f\/4.0 the center sharpness is good, the midframe and corner soft but usable. Very sharp in center at f\/5.6 and sharp in midframe and corner. At f\/8.0-f\/16 excellent sharpness across the frame, f\/22 a little less sharp thanks to diffraction. In general the contrast is low on wider apertures but good at f\/8.0 and smaller openings.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Nikon Z6 | Konica Hexanon AR 40\/1.8 | F8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sharpness (Portrait)<\/span><\/h3>\n

For portraits we look at points where it matters; center, inner center circle and outer center circle.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Points of Interest in Portraits<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

First let’s look at the center of the image!<\/p>\n