Konica Hexanon AR 40mm 1:1.8

Most people who purchase a legacy 35mm camera lens these days do it to adapt onto a mirrorless camera system, like Micro Four Thirds or Sony NEX. I have a M4/3 camera along with the requisite adapter, but I'm a bit of an anomaly because I also have a 35mm Konica camera from the early 80's (the FS-1).Adapted lenses have different characteristics on modern systems than they did on their native systems. This particular lens, I've found, needs to be stopped down a bit to get a sharp, contrasty image. Wide open (and anywhere south of f/2.8, really) it washes out contrast, and shows considerable fringing on high-contrast edges in an image. So, don't buy this expecting a cheap f/1.8-aperture solution. Buy a native lens for your system for using maximum aperture values.On the FS-1, however, this lens really shines. It's beautifully sharp and contrasty, the 40mm focal length is wider than the typical 50mm prime, and of course you get razor thin depth of field on a 35mm film 'sensor'!Another nice thing about this lens is its size. It's not a "pancake" lens, but it is very small for a 35mm-format lens, so even with the adapter it won't be too massive on a mirrorless camera. Konica's Hexanon lenses are really impeccable for their build quality, the lens being not too heavy but a sturdy metal lens body and mount, with a knurled plastic focus ring.The best part about Hexanon lenses is the price. Where some legacy lenses will set you back hundreds, many Hexanon lenses can be had for under $50, and the performance for the price you get is very good. I have two copies, one of which I found on its own for a little over $30 in good condition on the popular bidding site, the other was on a used Konica FS-1 body, that whole package set me back $40. These are both what I would consider good prices - don't pay a lot more (I've seen copies running anywhere from $70-$150, that's too much to pay when there are better prices all over). Full disclosure: the copy currently available on Amazon is mine, however I wrote this review before I decided to sell one.