50mm Heliar and Color Skopar, side by side

[Larry H-L]

I happened to have both a C/V 50mm f2 Heliar Classic, and a C/V 50mm f2.5 Color Skopar with me the other day, so I shot side by side frames to compare the two lenses. Hand held, not scientific.

Shot with a C/V Bessa R3a, Foma 400, Pyrocat-HD 1:1:128, about 12 minutes. Scanned on an Epson flatbed, both frames together.

I see very little difference, the Heliar might be slightly sharper and have a bit more contrast. Both lenses shot at f2.8, 1/60 sec.

This is my first post attempting to add a photo, so if it doesn't work, here is a link:

http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~hamel-la/photo/Hot_Dog_test_sml_2.jpg

If you want to see a really big file, send me a PM.

We always seem to anguish over lens choices, maybe we shouldn't, both look good to me.

 

[mh2000]

thanks for the post! since they don't make the Heliar Classic in LTM the choice was easy for me... but I would rather have f2 when I needed it instead of f2.5... but the Color Skopar 50/2.5 is turning into one of my favorite lenses anyway... looks like a nice combination of classic look and modern performance to my eyes.

 

[Larry H-L]

The Color Skopar is much better than is often reported; some say it is "soft" and a "dog." Not so.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Well, if you were to do that a second time with a lot of bokeh in the frame, the two would likely look really different. What's special about the Heliar Classic lives outside the part that's in focus.

 

[Doug]

Yes, Larry; another comparison please with bokeh. 🙂 Thanks for the above, though it's hard to see sharpness differences at this size but the Heliar does look a tad bit crisper for whatever reason. Don't see any linear distortion or perceptible vignetting in either...

 

[Larry H-L]

If you look closely, you'll see a touch of that bokeh difference in the window reflection. The out-of-focus tree branches are softer looking in the Heliar shot. Click on the link, the file is larger.

I was mainly looking for sharpness issues, as the Skopar is often dismissed as soft.

 

[Doug]

I was curious about the Skopar too, and found a used one offered at low price due to buyer reluctance. I'd seen some good results, so wanted to try for myself. There are some 50mm Skopar shots in my gallery here with associated 100% crops, should come up if you search my gallery on "Skopar". I also have the Heliar Classic, not yet used very much, and I haven't made direct comparisons.

 

[back alley]

no great art but it was shot with a cv 50/2.5

i agree that the lens is under rated.

joe

 

[summilux]

the brass alone on the 50/2.5 color skopar is worth its asking price. perfect fit on those LTM babies.

 

[J J Kapsberger]

In the dark areas, the Color Skopar image has more details. Better tonal separation therefore in the shadows?