Is the Heliar 50mm 3.5 over hyped?

raid

raid

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I am curious what the current view is on the "sharpest ever 50mm lens" from a few years ago. The lens was sold in a set consisting of a Bessa T with the Heliar and Trigger Advance. Prices ranged all over the place.

Then the Heliar 50mm/2.0 came out. For a while CQ had the Heliar 50mm/3.5 in Nikon S mount. It was rigid and not collapsible as the original Heliar. I nearly bought it [many times], but I did not likethe look of the lens as compared with the collapsible M version.

What is the conclusion now regarding the value of the Heliar 50/3.5 and the 50mm/2.0? Are there sharper 50mm lenses out there? Is the Helliar worth $1000 with the T ?

Who at RFF has used a Heliar 50/3.5 and/or Heliar 50/2?

Any information is useful.

How is the built quality of the Heliar as compared with a Summicron, say?

Is the Heliar optically overall better than other 50mm lenses you have used?

Is the set really worth it?
 
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I have seen one for sale for $575 by itself.
The CQ offer for the Heliar in Nikon S mount was a very good offer. I missed the chance.
 
I know that some people here own Heliar lenses.
Contribute please. I want to know more about hands on experience with such a lens.
Thanks.
 
I had the Bessa T 101 anniversary kit with the Heliar 50/3.5 back in 2007. Bought it for $600 or so from Yahoo auction (there were plenty for sale at that time) and used it maybe 2 month ... From my experience I have no idea what the hype is about that lens, quality is OK but nothing special and the handling of the lens (aperture dial) was awful.
 
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I don't really think there much hype about it. Not many people or forums seems to be talking about this lens. Photos from this lens aren't exactly plenty either.

I like it originally for it's quirky form factor, but subsequently I do enjoy the lens on it's own. But I must say that the lens does not feel particularly well built, unlike a Leitz Elmar in LTM. The Voigtlander Heliar 50mm f/3.5 feels lighter. But it's a breeze setting the aperture on this lens as compared to the LTM Elmar. In social situations, it's a great conversation starter. Compared to any Summicron, this lens will not rank equally in terms of built. The Heliar 50mm f/2.0 will be a closer match to the Summicron for built quality.

It's hard to compared to other 50mm lenses if they are of different aperture. But if I were to compare it with other 50mm f/3.5 lenses, this will just about be the only modern option that I can find. On a bright sunny day, I will choose this lens over faster options like f/1.2 and f/1.4.

There are definitely sharper lenses out there, I'm sure the Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH will compare well, if not better than the quirky little Voigtlander Heliar 50mm f/3.5. But sometimes, it's not about sharpness. Take the Canon 50mm f/1.5 LTM or the Nikkor 5cm f/1.4 for example.

The last few times when I saw the lens on ebay, it usually end in above US$700 and they sure disappeared quick. By the way, even though it's marketed with the Bessa T, which is a M mount camera, the Voigtlander Heliar 50mm f/3.5 is actually a LTM lens on a M mount adaptor. So you can fit it on any screw mount cameras too!!

Lastly, as a complete set, it's a great kit to start with. Has funky colors (unless you choose the black paint version). A blast to use as well! But if you already own M mount cameras and 50mm lenses, this kit may not really add towards enhancing your photography experience.

Cheers,
 
Thanks guys. Such input is very useful indeed.
I already have a Bessa T and I do not view it as a first class camera. In my view, this is a $200 camera. If the set costs $1000, then the lens and the box and the winder plus finder cost $800. This is too much.
 
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Last I checked the Nikon mount R2S with the 50/3.5 was $750 from the head bartender, and the Nikon mount lens itself was listed there for sale at $400.
 
I had one until recently.

It was really very, very sharp from wide open till f16. The pictures had that , much talked -about, '3D' look which was very nice. It was small and light and could be pocketed. On the downside, changing the aperture was a hassle as it also moved the focusing ring. It used to set the aperture and then work in aperture-priority mode to avoid that.

Here are two pictures with this lens. First at f5.6 the other at f8.

3243747487_da8ec1f1ac.jpg


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In the end I sold it, thinking that my Summilux ASPH could do all the Heliar did (weight excluded).

Horea
 
I used to have an S-mount Heliar 50/3.5 (the ugly duckling non-collapsible version). I found it to be very sharp from f3.5 (splitting hairs but it was very marginally sharper than the Millennium 50/1.4 at f3.5). It's a good little lens but I found the lack of click stops on the aperture ring annoying (aperture setting easily slips) and the f3.5 max. aperture too slow for my use. I sold it in the classifieds here for $250.
 
I have been very impressed with the image quality it can produce, sometimes with a very eerie effect that I have not found in other lenses. Sharpness is excellent, but other lenses can do as well for that. Attached shot of winter ice and sun, western shore of Lake Michigan.
LJS
 

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  • heliar 3.5 winter beach sun 023_NSneg_curves_8x10_052109.jpg
    heliar 3.5 winter beach sun 023_NSneg_curves_8x10_052109.jpg
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I had been looking for a collapsible to shoot on my II and recently found this lens used. However, I haven't spent much time with it yet. I will post some comparison pics when I get a chance.
 
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i haven't got any examples to vouch for my words, but i liked mine plenty. mostly because of its optical qualities, not necesseraly speaking sharpness since i have and have had a pile of $25 fifities that are plenty sharp, but how it handled backlight was amazing. and there was something, i can't really put my finger on what excactly, very very nice about how it rendered subjects onto film. if the subject was any good to begin with that is. and believe it or not, partly due the quirky handling, which was - i guess there's no way around it - pretty awful ,-)

i liked the collabsible tube a lot better than the one on the newer heliar, which i also had at one point. it locked, firmly in position, while the newer one didn't feel especially rigid when locked, perhaps mine was a monday sample ?

and since i'm a helpless gearaholic, at the time i was thinking i "needed" something wider, for the bokeh and such.
bahh!
 
I've got one in an R2S collectors kit, but I'm sort of afraid to use it. Doing so immediately reduces the value of the kit! I may change my mind and break it out.
 
supposedly one of the highest resolutions of any lens tested (by AP?)

But, what does this really mean? There are loads of lenses that are insanely sharp at 3.5 and although this heliar might have the edge, I doubt it means anything really. I have never read a single comment about its other imaging characteristics!

I suspect it is changing hands for silly money because of the 'sharpest lens ever' desirability. For shooters, I suspect it is a meaningless title, esp with 50mm lenses almost all of which perform exceedingly well.
 
No, but I have heard that it has high resolution and good contrast from wide open. Sounds like a very high resolving skopar, which is no bad thing.
 
notturtle, the 'sharpest lens ever' is irrelevant. like you said there are plenty supersharp fifties, at least at f3.5. but it might be (one of) the guilty factor(s) that keep its price up, if it is up that is, i haven't been checking much...
 
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