Production
1975
Country
Japan
Optical
6 elements in 5 groups
Updated
Jul 18, 2026
Konica Hexanon 40mm f/1.8
Konica AR · 40mm · f/1.8
Compiled from 3 real reviews · AI-assisted · accuracy-checked · Updated 18 Jul 2026
Overview
The Konica Hexanon 40mm f/1.8 is a pancake lens ahead of its time. In an era of chunky SLR lenses, Konica created this slim, fast 40mm that could practically fit in a pocket. The 40mm focal length predates the modern pancake trend by decades, offering a natural field of view that's wider than 50mm but not as extreme as 35mm. It became a favorite for street photographers who valued discretion.
Verdict: A gem for street shooters and compact kit lovers. The 40mm focal length is uniquely natural, and the pancake size makes it invisible. Pricier due to rarity, but worth it if you value a compact, fast, sharp lens.
Optical Character
Bokeh
Strong background blur at f/1.8 up to 2–2.5m, generally smooth at close distances with slight vintage swirl and cat's-eye shapes at the edges; at f/2.8 and f/4 the six-bladed aperture's jagged edges produce sawtoothed hexagonal bokeh balls.
Color
Slightly warm color tone, often described as cinematic, especially in video.
Sharpness wide open
Soft wide open with spherical aberrations and low micro-contrast; center becomes clean and sharp by f/2.8 and improves noticeably at f/4.
Flare resistance
Flare resistance is a known weakness; the lens is prone to flare from strong light sources.
Contrast
Gentle global contrast; low contrast and micro-contrast wide open, improving as the lens is stopped down.
Community Insights
What people love
- Ultra-compact pancake design
- Natural 40mm field of view
- Fast f/1.8 aperture
- Sharp and well-corrected
- Perfect for street photography
- Lightweight and unobtrusive
What people dislike
- Rare and expensive
- Konica AR mount limits compatibility
- 40mm can feel 'between' 35 and 50
- Small size makes handling tricky
Pro Tips
- Shoot at f/2.8 or f/4 when you need the center to snap into clean sharpness — wide open is soft with low contrast, and f/4 is where the lens really starts to come together
- Embrace f/1.8 for close-range portraits within about 2–2.5 meters, where the background blur is strongest and the rendering is at its most cinematic
- Avoid f/2.8 and f/4 if smooth bokeh balls matter to your shot — the jagged aperture edges at those stops turn highlights into sawtoothed hexagons; f/1.8 or smaller stops render cleaner shapes
- Shield the front element from strong light sources — flare resistance is weak, so a hood or careful framing against the light protects your contrast
- Don't fight the 45cm minimum focus — this lens is about environmental context, not close-ups, so use the 40mm field of view to layer subject and background
- Be mindful of the AE lock position past f/22; if the ring locks, press the release button on the opposite side of the scale to free it
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 (3)
Myfavouritelens
Curated heritage archive
A gem for street shooters and compact kit lovers. The 40mm focal length is uniquely natural, and the pancake size makes it invisible. Pricier due to rarity, but worth it if you value a compact, fast, sharp lens.
Web research
Buy this lens if you want a genuinely pocketable pancake with a fast f/1.8 aperture and a 40mm field of view that feels made for street and everyday shooting — and if you value a warm, gentle, cinematic rendering over clinical sharpness. It costs next to nothing and delivers real background blur and vintage character at close range. Do not buy it if you need crisp wide-open performance, clean bokeh at every aperture, strong flare resistance, or close-focusing ability; modern lenses do all of those things better. This is a lens for photographers who shoot for mood and feel, who will stop down to f/4 when sharpness matters and lean into the softness and warmth when it doesn't.
https://phillipreeve.net/blog/konica-hexanon-ar-40mm-f1-8/https://en.fotografmania.com/konica-hexanon-40mm-f1-8-review/https://lenslegend.com/konica-hexanon-ar-40mm-f1-8/https://www.dpreview.com/forums/threads/arkive-ph-konica-hexanon-ar-40mm-f-1-8.4294482/https://dutchthrift.com/blogs/gear/konica-hexanon-ar-40mm-f1-8-a-compact-vintage-gem