Juan Valdenebro
Truth is beauty
For sure the best camera for the 75... I use my R3A with the Summicron 90 and focus is great at f/2, so the 75 at f/1.8 must work perfectly even for close focusing wide open... I wish a camera with dedicated 90mm framelines fulfilling a huge internal finder existed...
Cheers,
Juan
Darshan
Well-known
Leica M5 | Voigtländer Heliar Classic 75mm f1.8 | Efke KB25 | Rodinal 1:50
Beautiful eyes, and a very emotional picture.
goo0h
Well-known
Agreed. This is brilliant. Focus nailed, as somebody else said. Looks like a terrific lens.
noimmunity
scratch my niche
I like what I'm seeing for portraits here.
Tell me, is there any VF blockage?
Tell me, is there any VF blockage?
MikeL
Go Fish
Nice portraits P. Lynn Miller.
And I'm still trying to figure out what the opposite of 'realistically optimistic' is.
And I'm still trying to figure out what the opposite of 'realistically optimistic' is.
N.delaRua
Well-known
Most likely unrealistically pessimistic.
P. Lynn Miller
Well-known
A few more from the 75/1.8 from a recent shoot...
Bessa R3M | Voigtländer Heliar Classic 75mm f1.8 | Efke KB25 | Rodinal 1:50
Bessa R3M | Voigtländer Heliar Classic 75mm f1.8 | Efke KB25 | Rodinal 1:50
Bessa R3M | Voigtländer Heliar Classic 75mm f1.8 | Efke KB25 | Rodinal 1:50
Bessa R3M | Voigtländer Heliar Classic 75mm f1.8 | Efke KB25 | Rodinal 1:50
I finally managed to really cook Efke KB25... souped it in Rodinal 1:50 at 22°C for 7:30 minutes with plenty of agitation... really put some stress on the emulsion!
Been using the Bessa R3M with the 75/1.8... the dedicated 75mm frame-lines and 1:1 finder makes using the 75 a real treat. Although I must say, that at maximum aperture, care must be taken to ensure accurate focus compared to when using the M5.
As for the 75/1.8... I have found that while it does control flare well, pointing it straight into bright-light source will produce veiling flare that noticeably lowers the contrast of the negative.
I have been using the CV75/2.5 as well and I must say unless I need the speed for low-light conditions that call for a lens faster than f2.5, I am preferring the 75/2.5 over the 75/1.8 for general use. I will expand on this statement later in another post in another thread.
Bessa R3M | Voigtländer Heliar Classic 75mm f1.8 | Efke KB25 | Rodinal 1:50
Bessa R3M | Voigtländer Heliar Classic 75mm f1.8 | Efke KB25 | Rodinal 1:50
Bessa R3M | Voigtländer Heliar Classic 75mm f1.8 | Efke KB25 | Rodinal 1:50
Bessa R3M | Voigtländer Heliar Classic 75mm f1.8 | Efke KB25 | Rodinal 1:50
I finally managed to really cook Efke KB25... souped it in Rodinal 1:50 at 22°C for 7:30 minutes with plenty of agitation... really put some stress on the emulsion!
Been using the Bessa R3M with the 75/1.8... the dedicated 75mm frame-lines and 1:1 finder makes using the 75 a real treat. Although I must say, that at maximum aperture, care must be taken to ensure accurate focus compared to when using the M5.
As for the 75/1.8... I have found that while it does control flare well, pointing it straight into bright-light source will produce veiling flare that noticeably lowers the contrast of the negative.
I have been using the CV75/2.5 as well and I must say unless I need the speed for low-light conditions that call for a lens faster than f2.5, I am preferring the 75/2.5 over the 75/1.8 for general use. I will expand on this statement later in another post in another thread.
kshapero
South Florida Man
yes please expand on this.
Matus
Well-known
Interesting. Thanks. It would be nice to see how do these two lenses compare at f/2.8.
P. Lynn Miller
Well-known
A couple more from the same taken with the 75/1.8...
Bessa R3M | Voigtländer Heliar Classic 75mm f1.8 | Efke KB25 | Rodinal 1:50
This image best exhibits the 75/1.8's tendency toward veiling flare... more than I expected with my experience with other CV lenses.
Bessa R3M | Voigtländer Heliar Classic 75mm f1.8 | Efke KB25 | Rodinal 1:50
After using the 75/1.8 for about two weeks, I can say that it is a very capable lens. The build quality is of the same cloth as the Nokton 50/1.1 and 35/1.2. The lens is sharp with good contrast without being harsh or clinical. If you have ever used the Nikkor 105/2.5, then you will find this lens familiar especially for portraiture. Cosina has definitely delivered another very usable and well-performing lens.
Everything I write from here on is my personal opinion and a product of my personal shooting habits...
This is the first time I have ever worked with a 75mm lens, so I am still finding out how it fits into the scheme of things. I look at the 75/1.8 as a very specialised lens, not a general use lens. Let me explain...
At a maximum aperture of f1.8, it is not what I consider a fast lens. Fast lenses that I reach for when shooting low-light or no light are always f1.4/1.5 or faster. So the 75/1.8 is not a lens that I would carry for a night of shooting on the streets. On the flip side, because of its size, I would not carry it as a second lens, preferring to the use the CV 75/2.5, which has found a very special place in my heart. This is not a first, I had a Summicron 90, which I found pretty much unuseful as it was too slow for low-light work and too big for general use, again I preferred the CV 90/3.5 as a second day-time lens. I know that the 75/1.8 is the fastest 75 in production, but I cannot help but say that I would find the 75 Lux more useful simply because it could be used in low-light with its f1.4 maximum aperture. So the 75/1.8 will not be in my bag as a low-light or a general-use lens.
Where the 75/1.8 really shines is as a portrait lens. The rendition and draw of the lens is very similar to my vintage Nikkor-P 105/2.5, which is a portrait lens of legendary proportions. But to be honest, when in actual use as a portrait lens, I find that I prefer the DOF of f2.0 - f2.8 over the very thin f1.8. So I am again reaching for the gorgeous little 75/2.5, which has been yielding better and more consistent results for me than the 75/1.8. Why... because I tend to shoot a lot of back-lit portraits, stopping the 75/1.8 down to f2.0 or f2.8 hardens and shapes the highlights compared to the 75/2.5 wide-open. Also the size of the 75/1.8 makes for some frame-line intrusion, especially with the hood mounted, where as the 75/2.5 has no intrusion, allowing for full view of the 75mm frame-line. So here again the 75mm loses out as the 75/2.5 mounted on the Bessa R is just too sweet for studio work.
The 75/1.8 has become a very specialised portraiture lens for me, where I am working in natural light as it gives me a full-stop gain over the 75/2.5. I found that I particularly like the 75mm POV, it provides just that little more reach than a 50mm without the compression of an 85/90 lens. So I am finding that I reach for the 75mm quite often in situations of candid, natural light portraiture instead of the 50/1.5 or 50/1.1, as long as there is sufficient light. Here the 75/1.8 is an invaluable addition to my lens stock and will become a heavily used lens in my collection.
The 75/1.8 has far exceeded my expectations although I must admit was not expecting too much!
Bessa R3M | Voigtländer Heliar Classic 75mm f1.8 | Efke KB25 | Rodinal 1:50
This image best exhibits the 75/1.8's tendency toward veiling flare... more than I expected with my experience with other CV lenses.
Bessa R3M | Voigtländer Heliar Classic 75mm f1.8 | Efke KB25 | Rodinal 1:50
After using the 75/1.8 for about two weeks, I can say that it is a very capable lens. The build quality is of the same cloth as the Nokton 50/1.1 and 35/1.2. The lens is sharp with good contrast without being harsh or clinical. If you have ever used the Nikkor 105/2.5, then you will find this lens familiar especially for portraiture. Cosina has definitely delivered another very usable and well-performing lens.
Everything I write from here on is my personal opinion and a product of my personal shooting habits...
This is the first time I have ever worked with a 75mm lens, so I am still finding out how it fits into the scheme of things. I look at the 75/1.8 as a very specialised lens, not a general use lens. Let me explain...
At a maximum aperture of f1.8, it is not what I consider a fast lens. Fast lenses that I reach for when shooting low-light or no light are always f1.4/1.5 or faster. So the 75/1.8 is not a lens that I would carry for a night of shooting on the streets. On the flip side, because of its size, I would not carry it as a second lens, preferring to the use the CV 75/2.5, which has found a very special place in my heart. This is not a first, I had a Summicron 90, which I found pretty much unuseful as it was too slow for low-light work and too big for general use, again I preferred the CV 90/3.5 as a second day-time lens. I know that the 75/1.8 is the fastest 75 in production, but I cannot help but say that I would find the 75 Lux more useful simply because it could be used in low-light with its f1.4 maximum aperture. So the 75/1.8 will not be in my bag as a low-light or a general-use lens.
Where the 75/1.8 really shines is as a portrait lens. The rendition and draw of the lens is very similar to my vintage Nikkor-P 105/2.5, which is a portrait lens of legendary proportions. But to be honest, when in actual use as a portrait lens, I find that I prefer the DOF of f2.0 - f2.8 over the very thin f1.8. So I am again reaching for the gorgeous little 75/2.5, which has been yielding better and more consistent results for me than the 75/1.8. Why... because I tend to shoot a lot of back-lit portraits, stopping the 75/1.8 down to f2.0 or f2.8 hardens and shapes the highlights compared to the 75/2.5 wide-open. Also the size of the 75/1.8 makes for some frame-line intrusion, especially with the hood mounted, where as the 75/2.5 has no intrusion, allowing for full view of the 75mm frame-line. So here again the 75mm loses out as the 75/2.5 mounted on the Bessa R is just too sweet for studio work.
The 75/1.8 has become a very specialised portraiture lens for me, where I am working in natural light as it gives me a full-stop gain over the 75/2.5. I found that I particularly like the 75mm POV, it provides just that little more reach than a 50mm without the compression of an 85/90 lens. So I am finding that I reach for the 75mm quite often in situations of candid, natural light portraiture instead of the 50/1.5 or 50/1.1, as long as there is sufficient light. Here the 75/1.8 is an invaluable addition to my lens stock and will become a heavily used lens in my collection.
The 75/1.8 has far exceeded my expectations although I must admit was not expecting too much!
gliderbee
Well-known
After
Where did you get a black Bessa T with black dials ? Much nicer then the ones with silver dials ... (I want one
)squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
Got mine a few days ago but only got a chance to shoot today. These are from the M8, minimally processed except for the B&W portrait of my son, which I sharpened and added some fake grain to. It's not entirely in focus. But I am digging the way this lens renders. No UV/IR cut, by the way, so don't get on my case about the colors. All pics wide open.
Pitchfork by mabel.sound, on Flickr
Post by mabel.sound, on Flickr
Fallen leaves by mabel.sound, on Flickr
Owen mods a cube by mabel.sound, on Flickr
Pitchfork by mabel.sound, on Flickr
Post by mabel.sound, on Flickr
Fallen leaves by mabel.sound, on Flickr
Owen mods a cube by mabel.sound, on Flickr
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
Whoa, that's a helluva grain for efke kb25!!
you really cooked it
I like the second series more.
The first one has nice portraits but all of them have some motion blur. I didn't know before, that motion blur can bother me so much.
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
that would be me, Mike.
noimmunity
scratch my niche
Some very nice examples of what this lens can do here. But I just noticed it is the longest lens in the CV stable by far.
Sharing the same filter size as the Beastly Nok, the two would seem to make a beastly fine pair Plus there is something about the new Heliar that reminds me of the Big Nok.
I would like to now how much difference in real life shooting there is between the f/1.8 on this lens and the f/1.4 on the other 75? Is there really one stop difference of actual light-gathering capability?
Sharing the same filter size as the Beastly Nok, the two would seem to make a beastly fine pair
Plus there is something about the new Heliar that reminds me of the Big Nok. I would like to now how much difference in real life shooting there is between the f/1.8 on this lens and the f/1.4 on the other 75? Is there really one stop difference of actual light-gathering capability?
ferider
Veteran
2/3rd of a stop, Jon. I have found apertures of both modern Leica and CV lenses (measurements) to be reliably representative of their true transmission.
The biggest difference between the two lenses seems to be in corner resolution, the Summilux is as sharp as it gets in the corners already starting at f2. The Heliar becomes a "general purpose lens" at f4 or so. Also, similar to comparing 1.1 Nokton to the Noctilux, while both have almost identical transmission at the same f stop, the Heliar seems to have visibly more DOF than the Summilux.
Nice shots, Lynn. The Heliar shines in your hands.
I feel it's great that the Heliar brings more interest to RF teles in general, and the 75 FOV in particular, one of my favorites.
Roland.
The biggest difference between the two lenses seems to be in corner resolution, the Summilux is as sharp as it gets in the corners already starting at f2. The Heliar becomes a "general purpose lens" at f4 or so. Also, similar to comparing 1.1 Nokton to the Noctilux, while both have almost identical transmission at the same f stop, the Heliar seems to have visibly more DOF than the Summilux.
Nice shots, Lynn. The Heliar shines in your hands.
I feel it's great that the Heliar brings more interest to RF teles in general, and the 75 FOV in particular, one of my favorites.
Roland.
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tbarker13
shooter of stuff
Studio shot with the 75. Color and a B&W conversion. F/5.6 with a softbox.
noimmunity
scratch my niche
So the difference between f/1.4 and f/1.8 isn't all that crucial *for me*. Thanks Roland.
Distinctly less corner sharpness can be a really big plus in the overall rendition of a lens. It's one of the things that makes the 40/2.8 Rollei Sonnar such a fun lens to use. It's such a sharp lens on center, with a beautiful fall-off.
There are really only two things left for me concerning this CV lens: to try it in hand, mounted on a ZI, and to think about whether I could now accept 0.9 meters as MFD after the luxury of the cron's 0.7?
I do like very much what I see coming out of the CV 75/1.8!!! Thanks to Lynn and others for posting!