Sony A7C, Konica Hexanon 35/2, Voigtlander Color-Heliar 75/2.5 Combination 外拍組合

2025.7.27

The Sony A7C is my second Sony full-frame digital camera. I bought it because its lightweight body (compared to the Sony A7III) is perfect for adapting classic RF film camera lenses, such as Leica M39 lenses or Contax/Nikon RF lenses. Pairing the silver-and-black camera with two silver lenses for outdoor shooting feels like stepping back into the 1950s — a perfect match.

Traditional RF film cameras have a physical limitation in close-up photography because the optical axis of the lens and that of the rangefinder window are not the same. As a result, most lenses are designed to focus only down to about 0.9–1 meter. Nowadays, many lens adapters are designed with a focusing helicoid, which allows the focusing range to extend by about 5 millimeters when the lens is mounted on a digital mirrorless camera, shortening the minimum focusing distance by several tens of centimeters and adding even more enjoyment to shooting.

Sony A7C 是我的第二台 Sony 全幅數位相機，購入的原因是她輕便的機身(相較於Sony A7III)非常適合轉接傳統RF底片相機的鏡頭，例如Leica M39鏡頭或Contax/Nikon RF鏡頭。銀黑色的相機搭配兩顆銀色鏡頭外拍，彷彿回到了1950年代，真是絕配啊。傳統RF底片相機由於鏡頭的光軸和測距窗的光軸並不一樣，在近距離拍攝上有物理限制，因此大部分的鏡頭在設計上僅能對焦到0.9~1米。現在很多轉接環在設計上都加入的調焦功能，當鏡頭裝在數位相機上時對焦可以再延伸約5毫米，讓最近對焦距離可以縮短數十公分，在拍攝上的樂趣就更大了。

Sony A7C and Lens Combo

Sony A7C, Konica Hexanon 35/2

Sony A7C, Konica Hexanon 35/2

Voigtlander Color-Heliar 75/2.5

Voigtlander Color-Heliar 75/2.5

Leotax T + Konishirorku Hexar 50mm f3.5 + AGFA vista+ 400 film Test (expired 10 yrs.) 過期10年底片測試

2025/3/22

The first thing that caught my attention about the Leotax camera from Japan's Showa Optical Works was its name — it sounded like a combination of LEica and cOnTAX. The Leotax T in my collection is a Leica-style rangefinder camera using the M39/L39 mount, released in 1955. At that time, three models were introduced: the F, T, and K. The main differences lay in their shutter speeds: the F had a top speed of 1/1000s, the T topped out at 1/500s, and the K further omitted the slow speeds below 1/25s — effectively making them high-end, mid-range, and entry-level models, respectively.

我第一注意到日本昭和光學的 Leotax 相機，是它的名稱很像是LEica+cOnTAX的組合。手邊收藏的這台 Leotax T 是1955年上市的仿Leica M39/L39的測距對焦相機，同時期上市的有F、T、K三種型號。主要的差別在快門速度，F最高快門為1/1000秒，T最高快門為1/500秒，K則是再移除1/25秒以下的慢速快門，剛好就是高中低階三款。

The Leotax T came bundled with the Hexar 35mm f3.5 collapsible lens, made by Konishiroku (the predecessor of Konica). It likely uses a Tessar-type 4-element, 3-group optical design. The image quality is solid and sharp, with vivid colors. Even when used on a digital camera, the lens continues to deliver pleasing color and sharpness. Below are a few test shots. The film used was AGFA Vista Plus 400, which had been refrigerated and expired for 9 years and 4 months.

Leotax T 搭售的鏡頭是Konishirorku小西六(Konica柯尼卡前身)的 Hexar 35mm f3.5 可縮藏入機身鏡頭，應該Tessar的四片三群結構，成像很紮實，顏色有很鮮豔，及使用在數位相機上，色彩和銳利度仍是非常討喜。以下是幾張測試照片，底片是冷藏保存過期9年4個月的 AGFA vista plus 400。

Sony A7 II + Konica、Voigtlander L39 Lens Test 鏡頭測試

2021.8.24-26

Recently, I've collected three L39 lenses:

1. Konica Hexanon 35/2: Derived from Konica's fixed-focus automatic camera Hexar, this lens was limited to 1000 units in 1996. It features a 7-element, 6-group design, reportedly inspired by the Leica Summicron 35/2. It has a minimum focusing distance of 0.9 meters, aperture range from 2 to 16, and a 46mm filter thread. It comes with original lens hood and front/rear caps. The one I have is numbered "853."
2. Kinishiroku Hexar 50/3.5: This lens emulates the design of the Leitz Elmar 5cm f/3.5. It has a 4-element, 3-group Zess Tessar design, with a minimum focusing distance of 3.5 feet and aperture range from 3.5 to 22. It was first sold in 1955, paired with Japanese-made cameras mimicking the Leica III (L39) such as Chiyotax, Leotax, Nicca, etc.
3. Voigtlander Color-Heliar 75/2.5: Released in 1999, this is said to be the first 75mm lens with an L39 mount after World War II. It features a 6-element, 5-group design, with a minimum focusing distance of 3.5 feet or 1 meter, and aperture range from 2.5 to 16. It has a filter thread of 43mm.

最近收集了三顆L39鏡頭: 

1. Konica Hexanon 35/2 源自Konica的定焦自動相機Hexar的鏡頭，在1996年限量銷售1000顆，鏡組是7片6群的結構，據說是源自Leica Summicron 35/2的設計，最近對焦距離為0.9米，光圈為2~16，濾鏡口徑46mm，附有原廠遮光罩與鏡頭前後蓋，我手邊的這顆是編號"853"。
2. Kinishiroku Hexar 50/3.5 模仿 Leitz Elmar 5cm f/3.5 設計的鏡頭，鏡組同樣是是4片3群的Zess Tessar設計，最近對焦距離為3.5英呎，光圈為3.5~22，濾鏡口徑34.5mm。首次銷售是在1955年，搭載一樣是模仿Leica III (L39)相機的日本製相機，如Chiyotax、Leotax、Nicca等品牌。
3. Voigtlander Color-Heliar 75/2.5 1999年上市，據說是二次世界大戰後的第一顆L39接環的75mm鏡頭，鏡組是6片5群的結構，最近對焦距離為3.5英呎/1米，光圈為2.5~16，濾鏡口徑43mm。

The 1955 Kinishiroku Hexar 50/3.5 lens, paired with the 2015 Sony A7 II, demonstrates how the advent of full-frame mirrorless digital cameras has revived many vintage lenses in the digital imaging era. Additionally, it's suggested to consider versions of Leica L39 to Sony E mount adapters with close focusing functionality, allowing traditional rangefinder lenses with limited focusing to focus closer than 1 meter.

1955年的 Kinishiroku Hexar 50/3.5 老鏡搭上 2015年的 Sony A7 II，多虧全幅無反數位相機的問世，讓許多老鏡可以在數位影像時代重生。另外，也建議Leica L39 轉 Sony E接環的版本可以選購有微距條焦功能的版本，可讓傳統只能對焦到1米左右的測距相機鏡頭可以近拍到1米以內。



Sony A7 II with Kinishiroku Hexar 50/3.5



Leotax K with Kinishiroku Hexar 50/3.5



Left to right: Konica Hexanon 35/2, Kinishiroku Hexar 50/3.5
and Voigtlander Color-Heliar 75/2.5



Left to right: Konica Hexanon 35/2, Kinishiroku Hexar 50/3.5
and Voigtlander Color-Heliar 75/2.5


In late August 2021, as the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in Taipei gradually subsided, restrictions began to ease, and kids' soccer training resumed. During a few days when I had spare time while accompanying my child to classes at Da Jia Riverside Park, I took a stroll nearby with these three L39 lenses and the Sony A7 II camera, capturing some test shots.


2021年8月下旬，台北第一波Covid-19重大疫情逐漸消退，大家也開始解封，小孩的足球集訓也展開了。趁著幾天到大直迎風河濱公園陪小孩上課的空檔，我帶這這三顆L39鏡頭和Sony A7 II相機在附近逛了一圈，留下一些測試相片。



Konica Hexanon 35/2



Konica Hexanon 35/2



Voigtlander Color-Heliar 75/2.5



Voigtlander Color-Heliar 75/2.5



Kinishiroku Hexar 50/3.5



Kinishiroku Hexar 50/3.5



Kinishiroku Hexar 50/3.5



Kinishiroku Hexar 50/3.5

Japanese RF Cameras in 60's

The 1960s can be considered the glorious era of RF (rangefinder) cameras, especially with the Japanese camera industry gradually posing a threat to Western camera brands during this period. When you pick up these cameras for appreciation in the 21st century, you'll undoubtedly be captivated by the solid feel of the metal body and the image quality of the large aperture standard lenses. If you're interested, you can easily collect these cameras on online auction websites.

The two cameras I want to introduce here are the YASHICA LYNX-5000 and the KONICA auto S1.6. The YASHICA LYNX-5000 was a gift to my grandfather from someone in Japan. It wasn't until I graduated from graduate school, and my grandfather found out about my interest in photography, that he took out this camera from the cabinet. At that time, the viewfinder had some mold, but the lens was still clean. The KONICA auto S1.6, on the other hand, was my father's camera, accompanying our family for over a decade until it retired with the rise of point-and-shoot cameras. Currently, both cameras are waiting for the right moment in my humidity-proof box.

60年代可說是RF測距式相機的輝煌時期，尤其是日本的相機工業更是在這個時期逐漸威脅到西方品牌的相機。在二十一世紀的今天再度拿起這些相機賞玩時，絕對會著迷於那金屬相機的扎實感與大光圈標準鏡頭的成像品質。有興趣的話上上拍賣網站，很容易就可收藏這些相機喔。

這裡要介紹的兩部相機分別是YASHICA LYNX-5000與KONICA auto S1.6。YASHICA LYNX-5000是祖父的日本有人送他的，直到我研究所畢業，祖父知道我喜歡攝影才從櫥櫃中找出這台相機，當時看機況，觀景窗有些發霉，鏡頭到還乾淨。KONICA auto S1.6則是父親使用的相機，陪過我們家五口有十幾年的時間，直到傻瓜相機開始流行後才退休。目前兩部相機都在我的防潮箱中等待時機重出江湖。

YASHICA LYNX-5000

During the era when RF rangefinder cameras were popular, YASHICA launched the flagship model LYNX-14, boasting a 1.4 large aperture lens. Subsequently, they released more affordable cameras such as the LYNX-1000 and LYNX-5000. The LYNX-5000 in hand features a 45mm f1.8 standard lens. Like the typical structure of RF rangefinder cameras, starting from the front of the lens, there are the shutter ring, aperture ring, and focus ring in sequence. The body has only the shutter button and the film advance/rewind mechanism. Even the film sensitivity adjustment and self-timer are designed on the lens barrel, giving the body a clean and minimalist appearance. The metering uses a non-coupled external metering system, requiring a PX-625A battery for operation. The rangefinder patch in the viewfinder is circular, providing a quick and clear focusing experience.

YASHICA在RF測距相機流行的時代，推出了旗艦機種LYNX-14，標榜了1.4大光圈的鏡頭，之後陸續推出了LYNX-1000與LYNX-5000等較平價的相機，手邊的LYNX-5000採45mm f1.8的標準鏡頭。如一般RF測距相機的結構類似，由鏡頭前方起算，依次是快門轉環、光圈轉環與對焦環，機身則僅有快門鈕與過/回片機構。就連底片感光調整與自拍計時器也都設計在鏡筒上，機身看起來相當簡潔。測光採用非連動式外部測光，需要一顆PX-625A的電池來驅動。觀鏡窗內的疊影區域是圓形的，對焦感覺快速且清晰。 

YASHICA LYNX-5000 上視圖


YASHINON 1:1.8 f=4.5cm


KONICA auto S1.6 

In the late 1960s, Konica also produced an RF rangefinder camera with a large aperture, similar in structure to most cameras of this type but incorporating what is commonly known as an "electric eye (EE)" automatic exposure system. The operation mode involves (1) using the shutter ring to link the size of the incoming light to the metering component (the slower the shutter, the larger the incoming light), (2) generating a current based on the size of the incoming light (larger incoming light results in a larger current), and (3) using the generated current to drive the aperture magnetic valve (larger current leads to a smaller aperture). The combined action of (1), (2), and (3) achieves a metering effect where the slower the shutter, the smaller the aperture, or the faster the shutter, the larger the aperture – a precursor to shutter priority functionality.

60年代末期Konica也堆出了標榜大光圈的的RF測，距式相機，結構上與大部分這類型的相機類似，但卻加入了俗稱「電眼(EE)」的自動曝光系統。其操作模式是 (1) 利用快門轉環連動測光元件的進光口大小(快門越慢進光口越大)，(2)利用進光量的大小來產生電流(進光量越大電流越大) (3) 利用產生的電流來驅動光圈磁閥(電流越大光圈越縮小)。綜合(1)(2)(3)的動作，即可達到快門越慢光圈越小或快門越快光圈越大的測光效果，可說是快門優先功能的起源。

KONICA auto s1.6 上視圖 

HEXANON 1:1.6 f=45mm

機身規格

詳細機身 規格比較
機身	YASHICA LYNX-5000	KONICA auto S1.6
生產者	Yashica Japan	Konica Japan
發售年	1962 年	1967 年
底片型式	24mm x 36mm	24mm x 36mm
鏡頭	YASHINON 45mm F1.8 (6群7枚)	HEXANON 45mm F1.6 (5群7枚)
快門型式	鏡間快門	鏡間快門
快門速度	B-1-2-4-8-15-30-60-125-250-500-1000	B-1-2-4-8-15-30-60-125-250-500
對焦方式	手動測距式疊影對焦	手動測距式疊影對焦
測光	外部測光	外部測光+EE光圈連動
自拍器	有，機械式	有，機械式
閃燈同步	所有快門	所有快門
閃燈接點	有，X接點	有，PC/X接點
機身高度	86mm	82mm
機身寬度	127mm	138mm
機身深度	74mm	74mm
重量	710g	770g