CV Heliar 75/1.8... I Am Realistically Optimistic

[P. Lynn Miller]

After my experience with the CV Nokton 50/1.1... I am keeping my excitement in check and being very realistic about the newly released Voigtländer Heliar Classic 75mm f1.8. I have no real expectations as this is the first time I have ventured into 75mm territory on any photographic platform.

One of the primary reasons that I never bought a 75mm is because my M5 does not have 75mm frame-lines and the only 75mm that I had really looked at twice was the Summilux 75, simply because it is a big-aperture lens.

So I now have the Voigtländer Heliar 75mm f1.8 and my M5 still does not have 75mm frame-lines, so I decided that it was time to press the Bessa T into service with one of the Voigtländer's beautiful metal bright-line finders...

Bessa T | Voigtländer Heliar Classic 75mm f1.8 | Voigtländer 75mm Finder

Not sure you can get a more complete Cosina set-up, even the strap is Voigtländer branded!

I will be using the CV Heliar 75/1.8(as shall be known from now on) extensively over the next few weeks. And I will be posting my thoughts and images into this thread.

So after having the lens in hand for two days, what are my initial impressions...

Well... I really like the 75mm view-point and that is a good start. I found the Bessa T and the 75/1.8 to be a splendid combination to use. I have also been using the 75/1.8 on the M5 as well along with a little guessing about where the 75mm frame-line should be.

The first negatives will be on the light-box tomorrow, both B&W and colour. So time will tell how this lens fits into my working system.

And yes, I do have a few pet peeves already... yep... you guessed... why in the world did Cosina stop focusing at 0.9m... Argghhhh... and the lens hood works better on the CV Nokton 50/1.5 than the 75/1.8... so far I have found the hood to be more of an annoyance than anything else.

Warned you there was not going to be any hype from me about this lens...

 

[former member]

> why in the world did Cosina stop focusing at 0.9m... Argghhhh

So when are you taking it apart?

3ft with the 75 is more like 2ft with a 50. The Nikon F-Mount 85/2 stops at about the same distance, I do not think it gets closer than 3ft, 3.5ft maybe?. I will look when i get home. But... My Micro-Nikkor 105/2.8 does get close.

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

Brian,

This lens is not coming apart for awhile. I want to spend some time using it and deciding if it really is a lens that makes a difference in my photography. Plus I need to finish the mod for the Nokton 50/1.1 before tackling another lens. And as you would know, modifying a 75mm will never be as easy as a 50mm.

 

[helen.HH]

Looks GREAT...Beautiful Set up there...tres Sexy

I very much like the 75 POV...and the 2.5 heliar is FANTASTIC
I eagerly await your 1.8 Journey..🙂

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

Helen,

Thanks! I have really fallen for the 75mm POV... so much so that I am thinking of getting a CV 75/2.5 for my Bessa R2... or speaking of modifying... how about a 75/1.8 LTM... now that would be useful... or not.

75mm... just abit longer than 50mm... but not as long as 85/90mm... won't replace my 50mm's, but I am definitely looking forward to seeing the results of a couple of upcoming portrait sittings.

 

[Krosya]

Its a good looking lens. I do wonder why Cosina didnt make a "slide-out" hood. One it comes with looks a bit odd on this lens. Will be awaiting your results with it!

 

[helen.HH]

For me 50's are my FAV's....most of the Time

75 & 21 20% of the Time
😀

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

For me 50's are my FAV's....most of the Time

75 & 21 20% of the Time
😀

and the other 10%? 😀

 

[helen.HH]

and the other 10%? 😀

Ooops...lets change the Ratio
give the 10% to rhe 75
10% rto the 21
80% to the 50's
😛....😀

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

Its a good looking lens. I do wonder why Cosina didnt make a "slide-out" hood. One it comes with looks a bit odd on this lens. Will be awaiting your results with it!

Cosina seems to be all over the shop with lens hood design...

Nokton 35mm f1.2 | Nokton 50mm f1.1 | Heliar 75mm f1.8 | Nokton 50mm f1.5

The 35/1.2 has a clamp-on hood... both Nokton 50's have screw-on unvented hoods... and 75/1.8 has vented screw-on/clamp-on hood... go figure.

Cosina does offer vented hoods for the 35/1.2 - LH-3, which also fits the Nokton 50/1.5 and then there is the LH-7 for the Nokton 50/1.1. I think instead of offering a basic hood for the 75/1.8, they included the LH-3 or derivative with it. Where as you have to buy the vented hoods as an accessory for the other lenses.

I agree I would have liked to seen a simple screw-in hood or a sliding hood, like the Summicron 75.

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

I see the use of the 75 as essentially a long 50, as such I find the close focussing of the 75 Summicron essential.

I have hit that limit already... although only when using the M5... the Bessa T only couples down to 0.9m... I will see at some point if the 75/1.8 can be modified to focus to 0.7m.

Good luck with the Heliar, I look forward to some images. If you do any faces, wide open and close-up, please share. I think facial rendering wide open will be the primary consideration of this lens for many.

My first roll of B&W will have some candid portraits taken at maximum aperture. To be honest, I am abit suspicious of the 'soft focus' hype... I would prefer a sharp lens.... we shall see.

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

Here is the very first scan from the CV Heliar 75/1.8...

Leica M5 | Voigtländer Heliar Classic 75mm f1.8 | Efke KB25 | Rodinal 1:50

This is straight off the scanner... only resized and sized as a .jpeg file. I am very impressed with the negatives, very sharp with moderate contrast.

Of course, someone is going to say that the image is out of focus and etc... well... actually... I was shooting at 1/8sec at f1.8 and he was not holding still at all. I still think this is a great start for the Heliar 75/1.8.

 

[Krosya]

/Well, lucky owners of this new Voigtlander 75/1.8 lens - hopeto see more pics from ya all. 😉 Wonder how it compares to CV 75/2.5, in case if anyone has both?

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

Another image from the 75/1.8...

Leica M5 | Voigtländer Heliar Classic 75mm f1.8 | Efke KB25 | Rodinal 1:50

More to follow...

And I just acquired a 75/2.5 to compare with the 75/1.8.

 

[keeds]

I'm very happy with mine, just arrived today...

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

Finally catching up on the scanning... will let the pictures do the talking.

Leica M5 | Voigtländer Heliar Classic 75mm f1.8 | Efke KB25 | Rodinal 1:50

Leica M5 | Voigtländer Heliar Classic 75mm f1.8 | Efke KB25 | Rodinal 1:50

Leica M5 | Voigtländer Heliar Classic 75mm f1.8 | Efke KB25 | Rodinal 1:50

Leica M5 | Voigtländer Heliar Classic 75mm f1.8 | Efke KB25 | Rodinal 1:50

Leica M5 | Voigtländer Heliar Classic 75mm f1.8 | Efke KB25 | Rodinal 1:50

Leica M5 | Voigtländer Heliar Classic 75mm f1.8 | Efke KB25 | Rodinal 1:50

Leica M5 | Voigtländer Heliar Classic 75mm f1.8 | Efke KB25 | Rodinal 1:50

All photos were taken at maximum aperture... f1.8... shutter speeds varied from 1/8sec to 1/30sec.

The 75mm has definitely made is presence known in my photography. Simply a magnificent portrait lens.

 

[former member]

Those look great! Nailed the focus.

"The Eyes Have It".

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

Thanks, Brian.

I now want an M5 with a dedicated 75mm frame-line... it could be permanent for all I care! I just picked-up a Bessa R3M, which is perfect for the 75mm... 1.1 finder and dedicated 75mm frame-line.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

A great portraiture lens with very nice bokeh, it seems...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[former member]

Youxin Ye, or someone else, could probably swap out the frameline mask in the M5 for you. I would check on it.