Heliar 12 question

[ncaleffi]

Hi there, I have the opportunity to test - and, in case, to buy - a used Voigtlander Ultra Wide Heliar 12mm, which, mounted on the R-D1, will give a 18mm focal lenght. The lens, which is sold with its dedicated viewfinder and an adapter, is the first version - screw mount.

I've read that, since it is not "rangefinder coupled", there are issues in focusing. What does this exactly mean? That I won't be able to focus with the camera viewfinder? I guess that focusing in pictures with a very long depth of field (with the aperture all closed), meaning with focus tab set at infinity, the problem doesn't exist at all.

But let's say that I want to take a picture with a person in the center, in the foreground, and some buildings in the background (blurred): will I able to focus that in the R-D1 viewfinder or should I use scale focusing?

And another question: the external viewfinder is needed to set the right frame, but for focusing one should use the R-D1 viewfinder?

Thanks for any help - and pardon my ignorance; I'm very interested in this lens.

 

[StaaleS]

You've got it right: On a non-coupled lens the viewfinder will only be a viewfinder and the focusing mechanism in the camera will be entirely inoperative. Ignore the RF patch altogether, it has no use. Or, in other words, you can safely ignore the camera's viewfinder entirely and just use the external one. Lenses like this is why they make special versions of RF cameras without any viewfinder at all, the Voigtländer Bessa-L and suchlike.

Good luck with getting a blurry background at 12mm f/5.6 It's not going to happen I think. Depth of field is near as dammit infinite no matter what you do. Even wide open. True, the field of view on the R-D1 will be 18mm equivalent but you also get about a stop of free DOF; 18mm f/8 ish equiv.

You can pretty much just ducttape the focus ring at hyperfocal and forget it exists.

 

[krötenblender]

All said about the focusing: it won't work, but that doesn't matter, because nearly anything will be sharp anyway.

What you should keep in mind, is that the external viewfinder of the lens will not show you, what the camera sees: the camera sees 18mm, the external viewfinder 12mm, so you see much more in the finder as on the image later. For serious use, you need another external viewfinder that fits the 18mm.

 

[gdi]

All said about the focusing: it won't work, but that doesn't matter, because nearly anything will be sharp anyway.

What you should keep in mind, is that the external viewfinder of the lens will not show you, what the camera sees: the camera sees 18mm, the external viewfinder 12mm, so you see much more in the finder as on the image later. For serious use, you need another external viewfinder that fits the 18mm.

A great solution is to get the Voigtlander 12D finder, which was made for the R-D1 and 12mm Heliar.

 

[thegman]

I worried about this when I bought my 15mm Heliar, after the first roll, I stopped worrying. Focus is a non-issue on lenses like this. I focused "near" or "far" but I think even that is unnecessary.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

It's hard to get any blur anywhere in the scene, even wide open, even if you're super close to the subject...this pear was about 12 inches away from the lens! And the hills behind are barely defocused.


Last pear by mabel.sound, on Flickr

 

[umcelinho]

the 12mm, to me, is a fantastic match for the R-D1: barely vignettes, great field of view and it's as point and shoot as it gets, even wide open at 5.6 the DOF is from 0.5m to infinity. its focus ring has two click stops for 0.5m and 1m: when in 0.5m, the DOF at 5.6 is from 0.3m to 0.5m; when in 1m it goes from .5m to infinity. so it's very easy to handle and not being rf coupled is something i have never ever missed.

what i do regarding the external viewfinder is to use a CV 12mm finder. it will show me less than 18mm, but also will leave some room for minor straightening horizon cropping when necesary. much easier to find than the 12D finder!

you wont get much blur with the 12mm, even wide open and at .3m it won't do much, just enough to give some 3D-ness


photography class by Marcelo Colmenero, on Flickr


duel by Marcelo Colmenero, on Flickr

this one was for sure at .3m and f5.6:


standup kebabomedy by Marcelo Colmenero, on Flickr

 

[mwooten]

I've since sold mine, but wish I still had it. As I recall, I would estimate the field of view as the same as one eye (use one eye, look all the way left then all the way right). But I used the 12D viewfinder for this shot.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

As I recall, I would estimate the field of view as the same as one eye (use one eye, look all the way left then all the way right).

Clever! I will try this.

 

[gliderbee]

.
what i do regarding the external viewfinder is to use a CV 12mm finder. it will show me less than 18mm, but also will leave some room for minor straightening horizon cropping when necesary. much easier to find than the 12D finder!

I think you mean the 21mm viewfinder (not 12mm), right ?

Stefan.

 

[avikrc]

I use the 15mm and the only thing about focusing I check before setting out is if I have accidentally set the focus ring to the near end. Everything is always in focus.

Forget focus, the only thing that remain with these lenses are to set the exposure correctly and keep the horizon straight. very fun lenses to shoot with.