When in Silent Mode it is more than just quiet, it is barely noticeable. You may even think that you have not taken a shot, because the auto focus, shutter and film advance are all covered by the silent mode. And, if your shooting environment requires the ultimate in stealth, the film advance can be delayed after taking a shot by holding the shutter button down. Moving the camera behind your back before releasing the shutter button will assure the camera is not heard. Leica shooters know how quiet those cameras can be, but the HEXAR even trumps them. In keeping with the stealth mission, flash function is disabled when the camera is in the Silent Mode.

After a steep and sometimes frustrating learning curve, the HEXAR is an absolute delight to use. Once understood, the simplicity of the controls and features offered enable the photographer to focus on vision and craft. The camera ‘gets out of the way’ while the photographer makes images.

Hexa –“Of Six”– there are only six camera controls:

Mode: Program, Apeture priority and Manual Apeture Shutter Speed (Fiddly rocker Up/Down switch) Select Button (ISO, Exposure Compensation, Minimum Shutter) Manual Focus (Useless, except for locking focus set by Auto Focus) Self timer

The HEXAR’s silicone photodiode exposure meter is center weighted in P and A modes (15 degrees) and a spot meter in M mode (4 degrees). The metering cell is on the front near the traditional self-timer location. Care must be taken not to block the meter with errant fingers. While I use a hand-held meter when time allows, the HEXAR’s center-weighted and spot meter readings proved invaluable and very accurate when I was on the run.

While shooting the HEXAR for this article I thought more about relating to subject, the light, composition and artistic tension. I thought more about how to tell a story with each image being made. The constraints of one focal length, one ISO (per film change), no menu considerations and ...no “chimping”, were liberating.I was able to focus on setting, character, relationship and action to create a sense of story that would, hopefully, engage the imagination of the viewer. Working within the self imposed constraints by selecting the HEXAR, I was able to stay in the zone while making the images but more importantly, I was able to stay with and relate to the subject more completely.

I did challenge the HEXAR by pressing it into service for a studio portrait and for an environmental portrait made in a darkroom.