Konica's fast AR normal — the 50mm f/1.4 Hexanon, the system's flagship standard prime.
The Konica Hexanon AR 50mm f/1.4 was the fast standard prime for the Konica AR bayonet, the premium normal of the Autoreflex system above the f/1.8. It was Konica's flagship 50mm and has a strong following among users who rate its rendering as one of the high points of the AR line.
This manual-focus Konica AR lens has a 50mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/1.4, a full two-thirds stop brighter than the f/1.8. It is the fast standard prime of the system. Element count, filter thread and minimum focus are not verified here and are omitted rather than invented for accuracy.
At f/1.4 the lens gathers plenty of light for dim interiors and evening work, and gives a shallow plane of focus for portraits with soft background separation. Konica's fast Hexanon normals are well regarded for their combination of centre sharpness wide open and pleasing bokeh as they stop down.
The 50mm f/1.4 is the most desirable of Konica's standard primes and commands a premium over the f/1.8. Inspect closely for haze, fungus and coating scratches on the large elements, confirm the diaphragm is oil-free, and check helicoid feel. It is a favourite lens to adapt to mirrorless bodies via an AR adapter.