<s>
The	O
Konica	B-Algorithm
Hexar	I-Algorithm
RF	O
is	O
a	O
35	O
mm	O
rangefinder	B-Algorithm
camera	I-Algorithm
which	O
was	O
sold	O
by	O
Konica	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
camera	O
used	O
the	O
"	O
Bayonet	O
Konica	O
KM-mount	O
"	O
,	O
a	O
copy	O
of	O
the	O
Leica	B-Algorithm
M-mount	I-Algorithm
,	O
thus	O
sharing	O
interchangeable	O
lenses	O
with	O
those	O
designed	O
for	O
Leica	O
cameras	O
and	O
others	O
compatible	O
with	O
them	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Hexar	B-Algorithm
RF	O
has	O
a	O
combined	O
rangefinder/viewfinder	O
modeled	O
on	O
that	O
of	O
Leica	O
cameras	O
,	O
a	O
similar	O
body	O
shape	O
and	O
size	O
-	O
and	O
so	O
is	O
similar	O
to	O
Leica	B-Algorithm
M-mount	I-Algorithm
cameras	O
in	O
many	O
aspects	O
of	O
operation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Konica	B-Algorithm
Hexar	I-Algorithm
RF	O
accepts	O
lenses	O
designed	O
for	O
the	O
"	O
Bayonet	O
Konica	O
KM-mount	O
"	O
a	O
copy	O
of	O
the	O
Leica	B-Algorithm
M-mount	I-Algorithm
.	O
</s>
<s>
Because	O
of	O
this	O
,	O
the	O
Hexar	B-Algorithm
RF	O
can	O
mount	O
and	O
focus	O
lenses	O
designed	O
for	O
the	O
Leica	O
and	O
other	O
compatible	O
M-mount	B-Algorithm
cameras	O
or	O
,	O
when	O
used	O
with	O
an	O
adapter	O
,	O
the	O
earlier	O
Leica	B-Algorithm
thread	I-Algorithm
mount	I-Algorithm
lenses	O
(	O
note	O
that	O
due	O
to	O
physical	O
constraints	O
there	O
is	O
no	O
adapter	O
to	O
allow	O
bayonet	O
mount	O
lenses	O
to	O
be	O
fitted	O
to	O
a	O
Leica	O
screw-mount	O
camera	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
first	O
released	O
there	O
was	O
some	O
controversy	O
and	O
discussion	O
about	O
whether	O
the	O
"	O
Bayonet	O
Konica	O
KM-mount	O
"	O
of	O
the	O
Hexar	B-Algorithm
RF	O
was	O
,	O
in	O
fact	O
,	O
fully	O
compatible	O
with	O
the	O
Leica	B-Algorithm
M-mount	I-Algorithm
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
earlier	O
testers	O
reported	O
problems	O
using	O
Leica	O
lenses	O
on	O
Hexar	B-Algorithm
RF	O
cameras	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
users	O
report	O
using	O
Leica	O
and	O
Konica	O
lenses	O
and	O
cameras	O
interchangeably	O
with	O
good	O
results	O
,	O
including	O
lenses	O
of	O
longer	O
focal	B-Algorithm
length	I-Algorithm
or	O
wider	O
maximum	O
aperture	B-General_Concept
where	O
problems	O
are	O
more	O
likely	O
to	O
be	O
encountered	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Konica	B-Algorithm
Hexar	I-Algorithm
RF	O
camera	O
uses	O
a	O
viewfinder	O
combined	O
with	O
a	O
lens-coupled	O
"	O
split-image	O
and	O
double	O
image	O
rangefinder	B-Algorithm
"	O
with	O
illuminated	O
,	O
parallax-corrected	O
,	O
brightline	O
framelines	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
such	O
it	O
is	O
very	O
similar	O
to	O
the	O
viewfinder/rangefinder	O
of	O
Leica	B-Algorithm
M-mount	I-Algorithm
cameras	O
(	O
if	O
,	O
perhaps	O
,	O
not	O
as	O
bright	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
pairings	O
are	O
the	O
same	O
as	O
those	O
used	O
for	O
later	O
Leica	B-Algorithm
M	I-Algorithm
series	I-Algorithm
camera	O
viewfinders	O
(	O
Leica	B-Algorithm
M4-P	I-Algorithm
and	O
subsequent	O
models	O
)	O
and	O
use	O
the	O
same	O
frameline	O
selection	O
mechanism	O
at	O
the	O
lens	O
mount	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
.60x	O
magnification	O
used	O
in	O
the	O
Hexar	B-Algorithm
RF	O
viewfinder	O
allows	O
for	O
all	O
framelines	O
to	O
be	O
easily	O
seen	O
,	O
including	O
by	O
those	O
wearing	O
eyeglasses	O
-	O
even	O
the	O
28mm	O
frameline	O
(	O
the	O
largest	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
also	O
allows	O
for	O
generous	O
amounts	O
of	O
"	O
outside	O
the	O
frame	O
"	O
space	O
in	O
the	O
viewfinder	O
for	O
other	O
focal	B-Algorithm
lengths	I-Algorithm
,	O
which	O
can	O
aid	O
photographic	O
composition	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
the	O
reduced	O
apparent	O
size	O
of	O
the	O
viewfinder	O
image	O
can	O
make	O
composing	O
and	O
accurate	O
focus	O
more	O
difficult	O
when	O
using	O
longer	O
focal	B-Algorithm
length	I-Algorithm
lenses	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
(	O
Note	O
,	O
by	O
way	O
of	O
contrast	O
,	O
that	O
the	O
"	O
standard	O
"	O
Leica	O
viewfinder	O
magnification	O
has	O
been	O
.72x	O
from	O
the	O
Leica	B-Algorithm
M2	I-Algorithm
onwards	O
,	O
with	O
.58x	O
and	O
.85x	O
as	O
options	O
on	O
more	O
recent	O
models	O
including	O
the	O
current	O
M7	B-Algorithm
and	O
MP	B-Algorithm
models	O
.	O
)	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Konica	B-Algorithm
Hexar	I-Algorithm
RF	O
is	O
similar	O
in	O
form-factor	O
to	O
Leica	B-Algorithm
M-mount	I-Algorithm
cameras	O
,	O
being	O
slightly	O
larger	O
than	O
the	O
archetypal	O
Leica	B-Algorithm
M3	I-Algorithm
design	O
in	O
all	O
dimensions	O
,	O
and	O
just	O
slightly	O
heavier	O
when	O
batteries	O
are	O
fitted	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
chassis	O
of	O
the	O
Hexar	B-Algorithm
RF	O
appears	O
to	O
be	O
identical	O
to	O
that	O
used	O
by	O
the	O
Contax	B-Algorithm
G2	I-Algorithm
,	O
with	O
different	O
top	O
and	O
bottom	O
plates	O
and	O
similar	O
but	O
not	O
identical	O
film	O
transport	O
and	O
shutter	O
mechanisms	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
Hexar	B-Algorithm
RF	O
appears	O
in	O
some	O
ways	O
similar	O
to	O
the	O
earlier	O
auto-focus	O
Konica	B-Algorithm
Hexar	I-Algorithm
camera	O
,	O
it	O
seems	O
to	O
share	O
few	O
if	O
any	O
components	O
with	O
that	O
camera	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Konica	B-Algorithm
Hexar	I-Algorithm
RF	O
has	O
a	O
hinged	O
,	O
swing-open	O
,	O
camera	O
back	O
with	O
cut-out	O
view	O
window	O
to	O
show	O
the	O
film	O
loaded	O
in	O
the	O
camera	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Film	O
transport	O
is	O
very	O
different	O
from	O
Leica	B-Algorithm
M-mount	I-Algorithm
film	O
cameras	O
,	O
which	O
require	O
manual	O
film	O
handling	O
through	O
a	O
removable	O
bottom	O
plate	O
and	O
flip-up	O
camera	O
back	O
,	O
with	O
film	O
advance	O
and	O
rewind	O
using	O
manual	O
levers	O
and	O
rewind	O
cranks	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Konica	B-Algorithm
Hexar	I-Algorithm
RF	O
has	O
a	O
metal	O
,	O
vertical	O
travel	O
,	O
focal	O
plane	O
shutter	O
with	O
digital	O
electronic	O
control	O
of	O
shutter	O
speed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shutter	O
speeds	O
between	O
16	O
seconds	O
and	O
1/4000th	O
of	O
a	O
second	O
(	O
continuous	O
)	O
are	O
supported	O
in	O
aperture	B-Algorithm
priority	I-Algorithm
auto-exposure	O
metering	O
mode	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Konica	B-Algorithm
Hexar	I-Algorithm
RF	O
meters	O
for	O
exposure	O
either	O
by	O
aperture	B-Algorithm
priority	I-Algorithm
auto-exposure	O
(	O
with	O
AE	O
lock	O
and	O
+	O
/	O
-2EV	O
exposure	O
compensation	O
)	O
or	O
in	O
metered-manual	O
mode	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aperture	B-Algorithm
priority	I-Algorithm
is	O
selected	O
by	O
setting	O
the	O
shutter	O
speed	O
dial	O
to	O
either	O
the	O
AE	O
or	O
AE	O
lock	O
position	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Exposure	O
metering	O
is	O
through-the-lens	O
(	O
TTL	O
)	O
and	O
thus	O
accounts	O
for	O
the	O
aperture	B-General_Concept
set	O
on	O
the	O
lens	O
in	O
use	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
(	O
Unlike	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
lenses	O
,	O
where	O
the	O
diaphragm	O
controlling	O
lens	O
aperture	B-General_Concept
is	O
generally	O
closed	O
only	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
of	O
shutter	O
release	O
,	O
rangefinder	B-Algorithm
camera	I-Algorithm
lenses	O
close	O
or	O
open	O
the	O
diaphragm	O
directly	O
as	O
the	O
aperture	B-General_Concept
control	O
is	O
applied	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Konica	B-Algorithm
Hexar	I-Algorithm
RF	O
has	O
an	O
ISO	O
518-compatible	O
hot	B-Algorithm
shoe	I-Algorithm
with	O
X	O
flash	O
synchronisation	O
for	O
an	O
electronic	O
flash	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Konica	B-Algorithm
Hexar	I-Algorithm
RF	O
was	O
sold	O
either	O
"	O
body	O
only	O
"	O
or	O
as	O
a	O
set	O
in	O
a	O
presentation	O
box	O
containing	O
the	O
Konica	B-Algorithm
Hexar	I-Algorithm
RF	O
camera	O
,	O
an	O
M-Hexanon	O
50mm	O
f2	O
lens	O
and	O
an	O
HX-18	O
electronic	O
flash	O
unit	O
(	O
along	O
with	O
a	O
manual	O
and	O
accessories	O
including	O
a	O
camera	O
strap	O
,	O
body	O
cap	O
and	O
front	O
and	O
rear	O
lens	O
caps	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
original	O
release	O
of	O
the	O
Konica	B-Algorithm
Hexar	I-Algorithm
RF	O
camera	O
was	O
accompanied	O
by	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
three	O
"	O
Konica	O
KM-bayonet	O
mount	O
"	O
lenses	O
for	O
use	O
on	O
Konica	O
RF	O
cameras	O
and	O
others	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Leica	O
,	O
with	O
compatible	O
lens	B-Algorithm
mounts	I-Algorithm
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
lenses	O
were	O
in	O
50mm	O
,	O
28mm	O
and	O
90mm	O
focal	B-Algorithm
lengths	I-Algorithm
.	O
</s>
<s>
Subsequently	O
,	O
in	O
2001	O
,	O
an	O
M-Hexanon	O
35mm	O
f2	O
lens	O
was	O
released	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
new-model	O
50mm	O
f1.2	O
lens	O
was	O
produced	O
,	O
for	O
release	O
only	O
with	O
a	O
2001-release	O
limited-edition	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
Hexar	B-Algorithm
RF	O
camera	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2002	O
a	O
dual	O
focal	B-Algorithm
length	I-Algorithm
lens	O
,	O
the	O
"	O
M-Hexanon	O
Dual	O
Lens	O
21-35mm/F3.4	O
-4	O
"	O
was	O
introduced	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Konica	O
's	O
Leica-mount	O
Hexanon	O
lenses	O
(	O
whether	O
Leica	B-Algorithm
M-mount	I-Algorithm
or	O
Leica	B-Algorithm
thread	I-Algorithm
mount	I-Algorithm
)	O
are	O
considered	O
to	O
have	O
optical	O
and	O
build	O
qualities	O
of	O
a	O
high	O
standard	O
:	O
not	O
dissimilar	O
to	O
those	O
produced	O
by	O
Leica	O
and	O
Carl	O
Zeiss	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Production	O
of	O
M-Hexanon	O
lenses	O
seems	O
to	O
have	O
ceased	O
around	O
the	O
same	O
time	O
as	O
Konica	O
's	O
Hexar	B-Algorithm
RF	O
production	O
was	O
terminated	O
(	O
2003	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Konica	O
produced	O
rangefinder	B-Algorithm
lenses	O
for	O
the	O
Leica	O
mount	O
in	O
the	O
1950s	O
and	O
produced	O
a	O
series	O
of	O
so-called	O
"	O
L-mount	O
"	O
lenses	O
,	O
in	O
limited	O
quantities	O
,	O
for	O
the	O
same	O
mount	O
in	O
the	O
late	O
1990s	O
through	O
2001	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
range	O
of	O
Leica	B-Algorithm
thread	I-Algorithm
mount	I-Algorithm
lenses	O
produced	O
by	O
Konica	O
includes	O
:	O
</s>
<s>
Konica	O
produced	O
a	O
chrome-finish	O
Hexar	B-Algorithm
RF	O
Limited	O
camera	O
,	O
targeted	O
for	O
the	O
year	O
2001	O
(	O
the	O
new	O
millennium	O
)	O
in	O
a	O
limited	O
release	O
of	O
2001	O
units	O
,	O
supplied	O
in	O
a	O
boxed	O
set	O
including	O
a	O
new	O
M-Hexanon	O
50mm	O
f1.2	O
lens	O
and	O
HX-18	O
flash	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
some	O
phase	O
of	O
the	O
production	O
of	O
the	O
Hexar	B-Algorithm
RF	O
,	O
Konica	O
made	O
50	O
units	O
of	O
a	O
half-frame	O
variant	O
of	O
the	O
camera	O
named	O
Hexar	B-Algorithm
72	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Production	O
of	O
the	O
Konica	B-Algorithm
Hexar	I-Algorithm
RF	O
camera	O
was	O
discontinued	O
,	O
without	O
official	O
announcement	O
,	O
some	O
time	O
before	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
2003	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Konica	O
and	O
Minolta	O
(	O
who	O
had	O
previously	O
manufactured	O
the	O
Leitz/Minolta	B-Algorithm
CL	I-Algorithm
and	O
Minolta	B-Algorithm
CLE	I-Algorithm
M-mount	B-Algorithm
cameras	O
)	O
merged	O
to	O
form	O
Konica	O
Minolta	O
in	O
2003	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
targets	O
of	O
the	O
acquisition	O
by	O
Sony	O
were	O
the	O
designs	O
and	O
tooling	O
for	O
Minolta/Konica	O
Minolta	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
cameras	I-Algorithm
and	O
accessories	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
not	O
known	O
whether	O
Sony	O
acquired	O
other	O
photographic	O
assets	O
such	O
as	O
rangefinder	B-Algorithm
camera	I-Algorithm
designs	O
or	O
whether	O
those	O
are	O
retained	O
by	O
Konica	O
Minolta	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Whatever	O
the	O
case	O
,	O
none	O
of	O
the	O
involved	O
companies	O
has	O
expressed	O
any	O
interest	O
in	O
renewed	O
production	O
of	O
rangefinder	B-Algorithm
cameras	I-Algorithm
or	O
lenses	O
.	O
</s>
