Konica · Konica AR · 1978–1987
Konica only ever made one 40mm lens, and it's a true pancake, 27 mm long and about 140 g. It arrived in the late 1970s as the standard lens for the FS-1 and was also sold on the Autoreflex TC, so plenty survive. Inside are six elements in five groups, and the aperture closes to f/22. You can spot it from the front by the big red 40/1.8 around the glass, which no other Konica lens has. There's only one version, so you don't need to sort generations. On a mirrorless body the 40mm view sits between a 35 and a 50, and the lens barely sticks out past the adapter. Wide open it's soft and flares easily against the sun. Reviewers find the center gets sharp by f/2.8 and the whole frame sharp by f/5.6 to f/8. Screw on a 55mm hood when you want contrast, or leave it off and let it flare.
Known forHarsh flare
On a mirrorless camera
It’s a Konica AR lens, and its mount sits 40.5 mm from the film. Every mirrorless mount below sits closer than that, so a plain adapter ring fills the gap and the lens still focuses to infinity. On a smaller sensor it frames tighter, like a longer lens.
Versions
Only one version was made, so every copy has a green AE mark past f/22, a rectangular AE lock button (it was the first Konica lens to get one) and a big red 40/1.8 printed around the front element. No other Konica SLR lens has that red marking, which makes it easy to spot in a pile of kit lenses.
The front element sits exposed with no recess, and owners report copies with fungus and copies where a knock pushed the front plate and glass out of line. Older samples can have a stiff focus ring or a little play when you change direction.
New to old glass? How to check a used vintage lens covers haze, fungus and the rest in detail.
Buying guide
We'd buy from a US seller, like the $89 delivered copy from a 99.7% camera dealer that looks clean in the photo, or the $59 one titled sharp and working. There are at least 53 for sale and most ask $120–190 delivered, a band Japan dealers set, while US sellers ask about $60–125 for the same lens. There's only one version, and its front element sits exposed, so check in the photos that the red 40/1.8 ring sits even with no dents or tilt, and ask for a flashlight photo for fungus, haze and separation. It needs a Konica AR adapter, and the model page lists the adapters by camera; the green AE setting past f/22 locks the aperture ring, so ask the seller to show the lock button releasing it. Skip the as-is copy at $97, more than working US copies ask.
$58.65est. delivered
The lowest delivered Hexanon 40 here at $59, titled sharp and working by a 100% US seller. It's well under the band, so ask for a flashlight shot through the glass and a look at the front ring for dents.
Konica 40mm f1.8 Hexanon AR AE 40/1.8 Manual Pancake Prime Lens++SHARP+WORKS
$89.45est. delivered
A clean-looking copy in the photo, with the AE mark and scales crisp, at $89 delivered from a 99.7% US camera dealer, under the band. There are no caps in the photo, and caps cost a few dollars.
Konica Hexanon AR 40mm f1.8 AE Lens #52213
![[MINT w/Cap] Konica Hexanon AR 40mm f1.8 Pancake SLM MF Lens AR Mount From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/sHkAAeSw9mxqxEnI/s-l500.jpg)
$149.99est. delivered
Graded MINT with both Konica caps in the photo, from a 99.4% Japan dealer at $150 delivered, inside the band. Read the description for any faults the grade leaves out.
[MINT w/Cap] Konica Hexanon AR 40mm f1.8 Pancake SLM MF Lens AR Mount From JAPAN
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$58.65est. delivered
$44.95 + $13.70 shipping
Buy It Now$44.95
Good buy
Titled sharp and working. US seller.
Seller: consigntheworld
100% positive
Used$89.45est. delivered
$69.00 + $20.45 shipping
Buy It Now$69.00
Good buy
Looks clean in the photo. US camera dealer, no caps shown.
Seller: occamera
99.7% positive
Used$149.99est. delivered
$129.99 + $20.00 shipping
Buy It Now$129.99
Good buy
Dealer grade MINT, both caps in the photo.
Seller: onda03
99.4% positive
Used$64.51est. delivered
$54.99 + $9.52 shipping
Buy It Now$54.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled with caps and a Hoya filter. Haze likely names the filter type, so ask whether the glass is clear.
Seller: chipsk
100% positive
Used$88.06est. delivered
$80.95 + $7.11 shipping
Buy It Now$80.95
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled with a damaged filter ring. Ask for a photo of the front to check the glass isn't tilted.
Seller: edmar-1967
100% positive
For parts$97.08est. delivered
$89.99 + $7.09 shipping
Buy It Now$89.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Sold as is, untested, and the glass shows a spot in the photo. Working US copies ask less.
Seller: white7008
100% positive
![[N MINT w/Cap] KONICA AR 40mm f/1.8 Pancake MF Prime Lens From From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/EeIAAeSw3Lpqxk1f/s-l500.jpg)
Used$154.99est. delivered
$129.99 + $25.00 shipping
Buy It Now$129.99
Our take
Dealer grade N MINT, with a cap.
Seller: sakura_vintage_camera
100% positive
Used$354.63est. delivered
$305.63 + $49.00 shipping
Buy It Now$305.63
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
No grade in the title. About 2.2 times the median ask.
Seller: heihachi2017
99.2% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 12, 2026.
See every listing on eBay ↗eBay search