12mm Heliar

[mikemyers]

It's not something for everyday use, but I've been considering getting the 12mm Voigtlander Heliar lens. I've got a similar lens for my D3, and every so often I find it really useful.

First question - have other people here used this lens, and if so, what are your impressions?

Second question - anyone have any examples of photos you've taken with it you care to post, or provide a link so I can see them?

 

[sahe69]

see: http://www.flickr.com/groups/86731438@N00/pool/tags/VoigtlanderHeliar12mmf5.6

Not my pics but many taken with this lens.

 

[Tom A]

I have a couple of them! One for LTM/M and one for the Nikon F mount. It is a rather specialized lens, but when you need it, there is nothing else for RF.
It is "WIDE" - 126 degrees on the diagonal and you quickly learn to avoid getting body-parts in to it. Very good performance - amazingly low edge fall off for a lens this wide. It is sharp - very sharp and with a Rf body you have the advantage that you can handhold it @ 1/4 sec with some training.
The F mount feels a bit more solid, but neither one is a flimsy in any way.
With the F mount you need a mirror lock-up as the rear element protrudes deeply into the camera. I simply took one of my F's which had a badly damaged mirror on it and removed it (pair of pliers - very sophisticated operation!) and that F body is now a dedicated 12f5.6 set up.

 

[Sparrow]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/19217760@N05/sets/72157616042993759/detail/

 

[mikemyers]

Thanks for the link!

I made a mistake here - I meant to say that this was for use on an M8, so you don't get the full 12mm effect, but it's nice to see what the lens can do!

 

[bolohead]

One of my favorite lenses. Gives the same FOV on the M8 that the 15mm heliar gives on full frame. Both shots below were taken with the 12mm heliar on the M8.

handheld 1 second exposure.



from the hip, cropped.

 

[mikemyers]

Thanks for posting those; I suspect within the next few days I'll be ordering one of them.

The Voigtlander lenses (for me, from CameraQuest) are really helping to make the M8 more affordable, not to mention the fact that they're so small and light, they're easy to travel with!

 

[nome_alice]

to add a question of my own 🙂

if i was to use this lens for architectural interior shots taken on a tripod how careful do i have to be to keep the tripod legs out of the frame? and how 'indicative' is the framing as seen throw the external viewfinder?

 

[Tom A]

If you are using it on a filmcamera (full frame) you will have to watch the legs - particularly in verticals! The finder gives you and approximate view and has some wild curvature in it. However, keeping the camera straight (spirit level is almost mandatory here!) it is very good, straight rendition on the negative.
A 12 mm lens is not to be taken lightly - you are pushing the "optical envelope" here and it is a good idea to shoot a fair bit of training rolls to get the hang of it.
Of course, always check Flickr for what other people have gotten with it.

 

[back alley]

i'd like a 12 to use on the rd1, it would be like an 18, but i'm in no hurry...

 

[Viktor Sebastian]

Who are you Mike Myers?

 

[mikemyers]

If you mean "am I the movie star", the answer is no. I had the name long before he did.

I live in Miami Beach, and spend a lot of time in Asia.

I'm not sure how to answer the question "who are you?" Who is anyone here - to me, it's just a bunch of names on a bbs, and after a while you get used to which ones provide the most information.

Speaking of super wide lenses, some good advice can be found here: http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/how-to-use-ultra-wide-lenses.htm

 

[Viktor Sebastian]

Oh that’s ok then, I just thought you were some guy plugging products.