Voigtlander Heliar Classic 50mm f1.5
- Thread starter Erik van Straten
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p.giannakis
Pan Giannakis
Erik, whenever I see your pictures, an interview with the great Bill Brandt comes to mind. The interviewer asked him why he never places the main subject in the middle of the frame and Brandt was so surprised to hear it that he started going through his pictures - he never noticed it before but it was sort of his photographic signature.
When I was reading photography magazines in the 90, they were urging people to use the "Rule of thirds" to make composition more interesting. I never managed it as AF SLRs had the AF sensors mostly in the centre. All my pictures therefore have the main subject in the centre of the frame.
You have been using rangefinders for so long that gave you this freedom to compose and you have mastered it without knowing. For me, it is kind of your signatures when I see a picture.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
Thank you, Pan. Focusing and composing are automatic with me. I try to do it without thinking, as a kind of meditation. Only when I want lines parallel, I carefully compose. I don't like it when photos are skewed especially as this is very distracting when you see the photos online. I also don't like it either when the negative is cut off when printing,
I like the statement of Robert Capa: "Get close. Then, get closer."
Erik.
I like the statement of Robert Capa: "Get close. Then, get closer."
Erik.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
gelatin silver print (heliar 50mm f1.5) leica mp
This is my first shot with the lens stopped down a bit.
This is my first shot with the lens stopped down a bit.
Bingley
Veteran
Wow. Great work, Erik! My copy has arrived. I have already started to shoot w/ it and will post some samples in a week or so.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
Thanks! I can't wait to see your photos, Steve!
Erik.
Erik.
p.giannakis
Pan Giannakis
gelatin silver print (heliar 50mm f1.5) leica mp
This is my first shot with the lens stopped down a bit.
This is brilliant work Erik - well done!
Erik van Straten
Veteran
Thank you, Pan ... you should see the original print.
Erik.
Erik.
raid
Dad Photographer
Show us your work here! I am getting interested in buying this lens ...
raid
Dad Photographer
gelatin silver print (heliar 50mm f1.5) leica mp
This is my first shot with the lens stopped down a bit.
Wonderful image, Erik. Simple composition, but powerful effect. I can "feel" the stretching out in the cold.
oldwino
Well-known
Erik van Straten These photos have a Summar look to them (or maybe Summitar?), but with a more modern contrast. Very charming effect.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
gelatin silver print (heliar classic 50mm f1.5) leica mp
Erik.
Erik.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
Thank you very much! More like the Summitar. The Summitar has some distortion too but the Summar has not. But this lens is almost a whole stop faster and is better coated.
Erik.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
Thank you, Raid; the strong light from the left on the white clothes gives a striking effect on the original print that unfortunately cannot be copied on the scan.
Erik.
raid
Dad Photographer
Which exact model of the 50 1.5 Heliar are you using? There are several CV 50 1.5 lenses now.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
Yes, but they are not all Heliars. There are Noktons too. The lens I use is the Heliar Classic 50mm f1.5.
Erik.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
gelatin silver print (heliar 50mm f1.5) leica mp
Erik.
Erik.
raid
Dad Photographer
Have you tried out the Heliar 50/2? I wonder how the 50/1.5 @ 2.0 behaves differently from the 50/2 @ 2, say.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
Raid, I do have the Heliar 50mm f/2 (collapsible black); I really like the lens optically (no distortion at all), but I hate the way the shade is mounted (bayonet in bright chrome), so I didn't use it very much. I keep it because it is the only collapsible Leica lens in black. This lens does not have the - consciously applied - quirk of the 50mm f/1.5 of imperfect correction for use at full aperture wich makes the 50mm f/1.5 unique amongst modern lenses.
Erik.
gelatin silver print (heliar collapsible 50mm f2) leica mp
Erik.
gelatin silver print (heliar collapsible 50mm f2) leica mp
Erik van Straten
Veteran
gelatin silver print (heliar 50mm f1.5) leica mp
Erik.
Erik.
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