Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/11/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]hmm. there is a bit more to the Heliar story. it's hardly surprising the Voigtlander 50/2 Heliar is not as sharp as the Voigtlander 50/3.5 Heliar, since Leica has never made a lens that sharp either -- at least according to Popular Photography which found the 50/3.5 Heliar the sharpest lens Pop Photo labs had ever tested. BTW, the 50/3.5 Heliar was produced only in limited edition Leica screw mount and Nikon rangefinder sets. the 50/2 Heliar is really unusual for an f/2 lens because it has only five elements. the two fewer lens surfaces in the five element Heliar designed compared to the standard 6 element 50/2 translates to higher contrast and increased flare resistance. Take a look at the just released December 2006 issue of Popular Photography, page 59. Burt Keppler's article is essentially about the 50/2 Heliar. Quoting "The Heliar turned out to be incredibly good, comparable at all apertures to the 50mm f/2 Leica Summicron-M we'd tested in 1996." Cosina did it with "Newly developed super high-index glass (that) reduces all aberrations." Keep in mind the only two camera makers in Japan that produce their own glass are Cosina and Nikon. When Tom Abrahamasson and I discussed a new Heliar at the factory with Mr. K in 2004, he was not not at all sure a satisfactory modern 50/2.8 Heliar could be produced. It would not surprise me if Mr K had this high index glass developed just for the new Heliar. Something else about the Voigtlander Heliars. Both are the classic five element Heliar design and give a look which seems more three dimensional (at least in some shots) than traditional six element designs. Why? beats me. But that is part of the reason the classic Heliar optical design was so prized. I am sure Marc Small can provide the details on the vintage Heliars. Stephen GREG LORENZO wrote: >Thanks Jeffery, just what I was looking for. > >I wondered if VC could pull off a lens as sharp as the slow 50/3.5 in this >optical formula. Sounds like they didn't make it. > >Greg J. Lorenzo >Calgary, Alberta > >----- Original Message ----- >From: Jeffery Smith <jsmith342@cox.net> >Date: Sunday, November 12, 2006 3:13 pm >Subject: RE: [Leica] Voigtlander 50/2 Heliar Lens? > > > >>I posted a few shots from it on my blog. >>http://400tx.blogspot.com/ >> >>The build quality comes close to Leica. The optical quality does >>not match >>the 50/3.5. It is a bit soft wide open, but improves with stopping >>down.Bokeh is nice. Reminds me a bit of a 50/2 Jupiter. I need to >>use it more. >> >>Jeffery Smith >>New Orleans, LA >>http://www.400tx.com >>http://400tx.blogspot.com/ >> >> >> >>-----Original Message----- >>From: lug-bounces+jsmith342=cox.net@leica-users.org >>[mailto:lug-bounces+jsmith342=cox.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf >>Of GREG >>LORENZO >>Sent: Sunday, November 12, 2006 3:59 PM >>To: Leica Users Group LUG >>Subject: [Leica] Voigtlander 50/2 Heliar Lens? >> >> >>Anyone got a link to on-line photos taken with this lens? >> >>Anyone bought one? If so, what do you think of it? Optics, build >>quality,value for the money? >> >>TIA. >> >>Greg J. Lorenzo >>Calgary, Alberta >> >>