mh2000
Well-known
I would definitely agree with this... and if you like a 35mm FL get a Minox 35... superb lens and smallest lightest 35mm camera period.
alan davus
Well-known
I can recommend the Hex 50 2.4 collapsible, it's as sharp as any of my other Hex lenses (28, 50 and 90 M's and 35UC LTM) and like all Hex's built like a Sherman tank. But they are a bit like Halley's Comet, they don't appear very often. Erwin Puts compared it favourably against the last Leica Elmar 2.8.
P. Lynn Miller
Well-known
I have and use the Voigtländer Collapsible Heliar 50mm f3.5 and will say that I have never used or seen any other 35mm lens that can resolve detail like this lens. The only lens that come close is the Zeiss 45mm f2.0 that was made for the Contax G-series.
Using the Heliar with Efke 25 or Rollei Pan 25, takes you into a whole different realm of 35mm photography. I will not even attempt to post anything here as my scanner is simply not capable of capturing the detail in the negatives. Every tiny detail is rendered in perfect, simply astounding.
I have always equated a 50mm with speed, having used and owned most of the 50mm f1.4's and 1.2's in may different mounts and brands, so it took a real mental adjustment when I started to use the Heliar 50/3.5. So I know consider my Bessa T with the Heliar 50/3.5 as my highly portable large format camera. To put it simply, with Efke 25 film, the Bessa T and Heliar 50/3.5 will meet or exceed must negatives from medium format. It is that good.
Also, I also agree that by the time you add a finder and hood, you lose most of the compactness that you would think you would gain with a collapsible lens. My Bessa R2 with the Color-Skopar 50mm f2.5 is actually smaller than the Bessa T with a 50mm finder and the extended Heliar with a filter and hood. But the Bessa T will travel in a more compact kit, you just have to do a bit of assembly before deployment, sort of like a large format kit.
Here is the Bessa T with the Voigtländer Collapsible Heliar 50mm f3.5 and 50mm finder, in the transport mode...
And ready for action...
I have found using a slow, but very high quality 50mm as fun and fascinating as using a high-speed 50's. While the lenses are the same focal length, in practice they are very different lenses with their own unique photographic challenges and purposes.
Using the Heliar with Efke 25 or Rollei Pan 25, takes you into a whole different realm of 35mm photography. I will not even attempt to post anything here as my scanner is simply not capable of capturing the detail in the negatives. Every tiny detail is rendered in perfect, simply astounding.
I have always equated a 50mm with speed, having used and owned most of the 50mm f1.4's and 1.2's in may different mounts and brands, so it took a real mental adjustment when I started to use the Heliar 50/3.5. So I know consider my Bessa T with the Heliar 50/3.5 as my highly portable large format camera. To put it simply, with Efke 25 film, the Bessa T and Heliar 50/3.5 will meet or exceed must negatives from medium format. It is that good.
Also, I also agree that by the time you add a finder and hood, you lose most of the compactness that you would think you would gain with a collapsible lens. My Bessa R2 with the Color-Skopar 50mm f2.5 is actually smaller than the Bessa T with a 50mm finder and the extended Heliar with a filter and hood. But the Bessa T will travel in a more compact kit, you just have to do a bit of assembly before deployment, sort of like a large format kit.
Here is the Bessa T with the Voigtländer Collapsible Heliar 50mm f3.5 and 50mm finder, in the transport mode...
And ready for action...
I have found using a slow, but very high quality 50mm as fun and fascinating as using a high-speed 50's. While the lenses are the same focal length, in practice they are very different lenses with their own unique photographic challenges and purposes.
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Tom A
RFF Sponsor
I agree with the 50mm f3.5 Heliar as being one of the best, if not the best 50 I have ever used! Sharp and with incredible resolution - better than any film I have used (Tech Pan/Efke 25/APX 25). My other favorite compact lens is a bit of an odd ball - the M-mount 50mm f3.5 Elmar. I always found this better than the 50f2.8 Elmar, particularly wide open. It also has a nice "vintage" look to it. It is the same formula as the Red Scale Elmar in LTM, but you can change aperture without rubbing your finger on the front element.
There are times when shooting with slow film and a slow lens works well. It is a more contemplative way of taking pictures and to get maximum result - you have to work at it a bit - but it is worth it.
There are times when shooting with slow film and a slow lens works well. It is a more contemplative way of taking pictures and to get maximum result - you have to work at it a bit - but it is worth it.
Bike Tourist
Well-known
Lynn, your rig seems to be a regular black T with black finder, so that your lens must have been separated from its original body.
I certainly agree with your assessment of the lens. The reason I mentioned the lens/body combo is that I have a Leica M6 on the way and I'm thinking if I ever did part with the Heliar 101 set I would keep the lens and sell the body and finder. Probably, I'll just keep the whole rig anyway because I don't really mind working with a separate finder.
The slow and contemplative working method is something that contrasts favorably with our recently aquired run-and-gun digital habits!
I certainly agree with your assessment of the lens. The reason I mentioned the lens/body combo is that I have a Leica M6 on the way and I'm thinking if I ever did part with the Heliar 101 set I would keep the lens and sell the body and finder. Probably, I'll just keep the whole rig anyway because I don't really mind working with a separate finder.
The slow and contemplative working method is something that contrasts favorably with our recently aquired run-and-gun digital habits!
P. Lynn Miller
Well-known
Mr. Thornton,
My Voigtländer Collapsible Heliar 50mm f3.5 was never part of a set... I bought mine brand-new directly from Cosina as a standalone lens.
I did own a Bessa T 101 set for a while but never used it or even took it out of the box. I sold the 101 set to a CV collector as soon as I got the Heliar 50/3.5. I did not want to subject a collectable to the abuse that I dish out on my cameras on a daily basis.
But what a lens!
My Voigtländer Collapsible Heliar 50mm f3.5 was never part of a set... I bought mine brand-new directly from Cosina as a standalone lens.
I did own a Bessa T 101 set for a while but never used it or even took it out of the box. I sold the 101 set to a CV collector as soon as I got the Heliar 50/3.5. I did not want to subject a collectable to the abuse that I dish out on my cameras on a daily basis.
But what a lens!
Bike Tourist
Well-known
Interesting, Mr Miller —
They have always told us (in the US) that the Heliar was not available as a stand-alone purchase. Obviously, that was not the situation in the world at large. However aquired, it is a great little lens.
Thanks for the information!
They have always told us (in the US) that the Heliar was not available as a stand-alone purchase. Obviously, that was not the situation in the world at large. However aquired, it is a great little lens.
Thanks for the information!
Hephaestus
Established
Forgive me for changing the rules but if the objective is a small, light RF with a sharp and compact 50mm-ish lens then why not a Leica CL + Minolta 40/2.0?
-R
-R
bastian a.
Well-known
IIIg + red scale Elmar 3.5/50mm!
Very compact because you don't "need" a separate finder with the IIIg ... and the red scale Elmar is excellent stopped down to f8 and very small (collapsed), even with a hood (FISON).
B.
Very compact because you don't "need" a separate finder with the IIIg ... and the red scale Elmar is excellent stopped down to f8 and very small (collapsed), even with a hood (FISON).
B.
bastian a.
Well-known
.... or every m body with the red scale Elmar 
raid
Dad Photographer
Lynn,
This is news to me since I thought that the Heliar was only sold within a set. What was the cost for the collapsible lens when purchased directly from the company?
The set sold for about $1000.
David Murphy
Veteran
Check out the Canon 50mm F2.8 in LTM - astonishingly sharp and compact - a bit hard to find though.
raid
Dad Photographer
I sold such a lens a while ago here. It is not expensive, David.
David Murphy
Veteran
Agreed, not too expensive. I think $100-$150 for a good one. There were apparently different versions, not sure which one mine was. Here's a link to a thread I started on this lens:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62467
Another superb and fairly compact small 50 that comes to mind (and Raid I'm sure you will agree) is the Nikkor 5cm F2 H-C in LTM, perhaps $200-$250 for a good one.
sanmich
Veteran
Tom, how would you rate the red scale elmar resolution/sharpness compared to the heliar?
Is the red scale elmar different than any post-war elmar?
P. Lynn Miller
Well-known
Raid,
The Heliar is normally only sold with the Bessa T 101 set...
But let's just say I did a special favor for someone who in return did a special favor for me and they know someone that would do a special favor for them!
And so I became the owner of a solo Collapsible Heliar direct from Mr. Kobayashi & Co.
But what a lens...
raid
Dad Photographer
Lynn,
Good for you.
I once had the chance to buy a set, but I only wanted the lens, and at that time I did not feel tht the Heliar was worth so much money. What you and others are saying is that the lens is actually worth it.
Maybe Mr. Kobayashi reads this [which I seriously doubt] and he will send me a Heliar for "testing"!
A new test of 50mm lenses with aperture smaller than 2.0?
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sanmich
Veteran
Lynn,
Good for you.
I once had the chance to buy a set, but I only wanted the lens, and at that time I did not feel tht the Heliar was worth so much money. What you and others are saying is that the lens is actually worth it.
Maybe Mr. Kobayashi reads this [which I seriously doubt] and send me a Heliar for testing!
A new test of 50mm lenses with aperture smaller than 2.0?
If Mr K is listening...
can you produce again the Heliar? as a regular item??
Pleeaaasssee....
Michael
sanmich
Veteran
Say, how much would sell a set WITHOUT the heliar (only T, trigger and finder).
If you see what I mean....
If you see what I mean....
P. Lynn Miller
Well-known
Michael,
I really do not know what the Heliar would cost as a standalone lens, as I said, I received mine in as a sort of 'gift'.
But looking at the prices of other CV lenses and price of the rigid Heliar in the Nikon rf mount, which is still available at a clearance price of $300USD from CameraQuest, I would reckon the collapsible Heliar would sell for about $450USD. That is taking in account the extra work to make the collapsible parts, chrome finish, and the small production numbers.
The cheapest way to get a Heliar is to purchase a Bessa R2S NHS set from CameraQuest for $700USD.
As for the Bessa T 101 set, it is probably the best way to acquire a the collapsible Heliar because the Bessa T is handy little camera to have even though it does take some 'getting use to'.
I really do not know what the Heliar would cost as a standalone lens, as I said, I received mine in as a sort of 'gift'.
But looking at the prices of other CV lenses and price of the rigid Heliar in the Nikon rf mount, which is still available at a clearance price of $300USD from CameraQuest, I would reckon the collapsible Heliar would sell for about $450USD. That is taking in account the extra work to make the collapsible parts, chrome finish, and the small production numbers.
The cheapest way to get a Heliar is to purchase a Bessa R2S NHS set from CameraQuest for $700USD.
As for the Bessa T 101 set, it is probably the best way to acquire a the collapsible Heliar because the Bessa T is handy little camera to have even though it does take some 'getting use to'.