Is the Heliar 50mm 3.5 over hyped?

Ko.Fe. said:
It is true retro, LTM lens for focus throw. Just like Elmar 50 3.5 or Industar 22/50 3.5. Very usable on the street and quick to focus between infinity and two meters. Then, starting from two meters to one this is where it gets very long.
On M mount bodies 50mm lenses like these at one meter will have focus tab up and close to VF window. Usually it is not an issue for common street photography. Only if you are after Gulden/Cohen close ups. But 50mm is not for it anyway.
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Thanks KoFe, that’s what I assumed looking at pictures. The focus throw looked exactly like the old Elmars.

With a fifty in the streets I’m mostly at 2 meters all the time anyway.
 
Huss said:
I'll be getting my new cone head version today. Will see how it checks out.



https://flic.kr/p/22bNvsL
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It came in and looks much better in hand. Still quirky..
Comparing it (to memory) to the limited edition (I think nickel plated) collapsible one I had, the cone head version has incredibly silky smooth and perfectly damped focus and aperture rings. Just on the right side of heavy.
Interestingly the aperture ring is now clickless, but the weighting of it means it will never accidentally move. The old rattly aperture ring is long gone!

The fly in the ointment? I bought this used and I noticed there is a small bit of something dead center in the lens behind the front element. It will not effect pics but B&H never disclosed that..
I'll take a closer look to see what it is (I'm assuming a dust particle) and decide a course of action.
 
B&H freakin' sent me a lens (rated 9+) with either a dead bug or fungus in the middle. This pic is the best I can do with my phone, but using a loop it is one or the other..


I requested an RMA.
 
Fungus or bug is very unlikely for recently made lens like this. But even classic bubble is not for 9+ lens these days.
 
It provides character!

:D

You need to use it more. That way the bugs don't have time to move in and lay eggs.
 
Character would be fine if this lens was cheap. But for them to describe it as 9+ and not have it that much cheaper than new. Nope.

;)
 
Ko.Fe. said:
Fungus or bug is very unlikely for recently made lens like this. But even classic bubble is not for 9+ lens these days.
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And yet that's what they shipped to me. I can't tell if it's legs or filaments which is why it is either a bug or fungus.
Anyway, it's on its way back to them.
 
Huss said:
And yet that's what they shipped to me. I can't tell if it's legs or filaments which is why it is either a bug or fungus.
Anyway, it's on its way back to them.
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What is even more amusing, the optics of this lens claimed to be bugs free!
 
It's obviously a fluke, and the mechanics of this lens are just superb. The smoothness of the focus ring is unreal. The couple of test pics I snapped (with bug!) did show really nice rendering so I may pony up and get a new one. I already ordered the goofy 27 mm UV filter before this happened..
 
aizan said:
would they clean the lens for free?
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There was an option of the return form to clean/repair the item (but it was a generic return form so they have refused). Still seeing how much sloppy workmanship is out there, I'd prefer to pay the extra $$ and get a new one. Instead of having one possibly returned with damaged inner lenses etc.
This is/was pretty much a new lens!
 
I just got a new nickel plated anniversary edition in the mail. To my own question about the focus throw, it’s definitely long.

KoFe was right though, on the streets the actual “working” focus throw is pretty quick. I shot a couple rolls yesterday and it’s pretty quick. I never felt like it was a problem.

Definitely a beautifully built lens. I don’t think the ergonomics are that funky. The aperture ring is easier than I expected based on what I read online. The fact that it rotates with focus is weird, but in a day of hard shooting I didn’t even notice it.

Haven’t seen the results yet, I’m out of town away from my dark room, but so far I’m pretty happy with it. A slower lens like this is definitely a bit of a challenge, but on M10/240 with high iso i would imagine it’s not too bad. I was making it Work last night with HP5 pushed to 800 and it was ok. Not easy, but I was still out there taking shots, so it’s not impossible.

Anyway, so far, definitely like this lens in use. Will try to come back and post some results when I Get in darkroom.
 
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