Production
1973 – 1979
Country
Japan
Optical
6 elements in 5 groups
Updated
Jul 18, 2026
Konica Hexanon 50mm f/1.7
Konica AR · 50mm · f/1.7
Compiled from 5 real reviews · AI-assisted · accuracy-checked · Updated 18 Jul 2026
Overview
The Konica Hexanon 50mm f/1.7 was the standard kit lens for Konica SLRs throughout the 1970s and 80s. While it lived in the shadow of the faster 57mm f/1.4, this lens earned its own following for being one of the sharpest kit lenses ever made. Konica's optical engineers took pride in their Hexanon designs, and this humble 50mm shows why. It routinely outperformed more expensive lenses from other brands.
Verdict: The sleeper kit lens. If you want sharp, clean images without the vintage character, this delivers. Excellent for documentary work, street photography, or anyone who values technical quality over 'look.' Criminally underpriced.
Optical Character
Bokeh
Pleasing background blur with excellent subject separation, but six aperture blades produce hexagonal out-of-focus highlights when stopped down.
Color
Natural, neutral, and accurate color reproduction without strong casts.
Sharpness wide open
Exceptionally sharp even wide open at f/1.7, with center detail sufficient for portraits; sharpness improves significantly when stopped down, becoming excellent from f/2.8 onward.
Flare resistance
Shooting into the sun causes flaring with bright blue flares that can cover significant portions of the image.
Contrast
High contrast, producing images with punchy midtones and a crisp, well-defined look.
Vignetting
Strong vignetting wide open that improves quickly at smaller apertures.
Community Insights
What people love
- Exceptional sharpness for a kit lens
- Very affordable
- Excellent build quality
- Compact and lightweight
- Neutral, versatile rendering
- Great value for the performance
What people dislike
- Not as fast as f/1.4
- Konica AR mount less common
- Less 'character' than some vintage lenses
- Hexagonal bokeh stopped down
Pro Tips
- Don't be afraid to shoot it wide open. You bought it for its sharpness, and it delivers at f/1.7, especially for portraits where the center is what matters most.
- For maximum sharpness across the frame, stop it down. The lens truly hits its stride from f/2.8 onwards, making it a fantastic tool for landscapes or detailed street scenes.
- Embrace the hexagons. If you're shooting at night with city lights in the background, stop down to f/2.8 or f/4 and turn those out-of-focus highlights into a geometric feature of your composition.
- Use the excellent subject separation to your advantage. Get close to your subject (within the 0.55m minimum focus distance) and shoot at f/1.7 to make them pop against a creamy, blurred background.
- Trust the focus. The manual focus is described as smooth and predictable. Take your time, nail the focus, and the lens will reward you with incredible detail.
Compatible Adapters
Real adapters from our shop that fit this lens mount.
Standard · ฿540 · In stock
Standard · ฿540 · In stock
Standard · ฿540 · In stock
Sample Photos
Sources (5)
Curated heritage archive
The sleeper kit lens. If you want sharp, clean images without the vintage character, this delivers. Excellent for documentary work, street photography, or anyone who values technical quality over 'look.' Criminally underpriced.
Web research
You should buy the Konica Hexanon AR 50mm f/1.7 if you are a photographer who values pure optical performance above all else. If you want a lens that delivers tack-sharp, high-contrast images with beautiful, natural colors and you want it for a bargain price, this is your lens. It’s for the shooter who appreciates the history and the 'sleeper' status of a kit lens that secretly outperformed the giants of its day. However, you should not buy this lens if you are a bokeh connoisseur who prioritizes perfectly round, creamy highlights above all. The hexagonal bokeh produced by its 6-bladed aperture is a dealbreaker for some. If you need a silent, smooth, de-clicked aperture for video work, this is also not the lens for you. This is a photographer's tool, a precision instrument for creating stunningly detailed still images.
https://www.myfavouritelens.com/konica-hexanon-ar-50mm-f1-7-lens-review/https://lenslegend.com/konica-hexanon-50mm-f1-7-ar-review/https://allphotolenses.com/lenses/item/c 414.html