The Two 50mm Heliar Lenses: Any Tests Done?

The Two 50mm Heliar Lenses: Any Tests Done?

  • I choose the 50/2.0

    Votes: 86 62.8%

  • I choose the 50/3.5

    Votes: 51 37.2%
  • Total voters
    137
  • Poll closed .
I had the Hexanon 50f2.4 many years ago. I did compare it to the Elmar 50f2.8 II and found it it's equal with an "edge" to the Hexanon at f2.8. Both of these lenses pale in comparison with the Heliar 50f3.5 though.
 
Tom A said:
I had the Hexanon 50f2.4 many years ago. I did compare it to the Elmar 50f2.8 II and found it it's equal with an "edge" to the Hexanon at f2.8. Both of these lenses pale in comparison with the Heliar 50f3.5 though.
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Thanks for your input, Tom. I am glad that I bought the Heliar 50/3.5.
 
Robert,
Not everyone seems to like the Heliar 50/2.0, but I find it to be a very pleasing lens when used wide open.
 
I now have both of the Limited Edition Heliars. The finish is very nice - almost pretty. The 50f3.5 collapses, just as its predecessor from the T 101 series. The Heliar 50f2 doesn't - though it looks like it should. No big deal anyway as I never bothered doing that as it only reduced the size by 8-9 mm anyway.
Only have put about 5 rolls through them so far - but they look just as good as the previous versions. Both are LTM and come with back caps with the 50mm adapter ring and really nice back caps for when put away as screw-mounts. Heavy nickel plated brass with nice blue velvet padding.
Of course, now I am thinking - I should strip one M2 and a IIIf and have them nickel plated to match - and some lizard skin covering! Nah, sounds to much like being a collector.
 
bello !

bello !

I like the F2 on my bessa R ! I hope to be able to test it in the next days !
robert
PS photo taken with my mob phone...
 
Congrats, Robert. I have also a black Bessa R, and I have on loan [to buy!] an original Heliar 50/2 collapsible in black.
 
Unfortunately I have been (slightly) sick in the last days and because of low external temperature my wife forbid me to go out ! Not yet any chance to test it Hope for the next weekend, but not sure if slides or B&W, m7 or Bessa R ...
rob
 
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Get well soon, Robert.
I now have both Heliar lenses, but none in Nickel.
I am planning to use the 50/2 with a Bessa R on my next trip.
 
It is clear to me that a higher proportion of RFF members prefers the faster Heliar than the sharper Heliar. Get both!
 
Tom,
I just sent payment for the original 50/2 Heliar to Ferguson. He allowed me to use his lens for several months. I got hooked on it in the end. The 50/2 is a great lens for portraits when used betwen 2.0~4.0, while the Heliar 50 3.5 is ...a great lens.

I could use the 50/2 on M bodies while the 50/3.5 can be used on LTM or M.
 
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I've had the black f/2 Heliar Classic for a while, then sent it off with several other lenses to DAG for 6-bit coding and focus adjustment for use on the M8. After it came back in Sept I did some tests with it on an M8 to see how it would do, as I was considering taking it along on vacation.

These four photos may illustrate some of its character. First the piny foliage at f/4 with focus on the berries. The next two were at f/2.8; these are the election sign & bike, and the leaves on the car top (focus on the further leaf). Lastly, the cabbage-looking plant in the window of City Hall was shot wide open at f/2. Sorry for the discrepancy in size display in the thread, but the first two had never been uploaded online before so show as thumbnails; clicking them will show the full-size image.

After the DAG adjustment, there's perhaps a tendency to front focus a little at f/4, nice sharpness. Focus seems right on at f/2.8, also nice sharpness. Focus right on at f/2 I think, but hard to say for sure. All lovely bokeh, maybe slightly undercorrected spherical aberration and slightly concave focusing surface.

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Hello Doug,
I also love the bokeh of the [original black] Heliar 50 2.0 when used at 2.0-4.0.
I bought the lens from Fergus and he bought a new Nickel version one.

If I ever get a digital M camera, will I have to adjust all my 30 or so 50mm lenses? That would be a nightmare.
 
Hi Raid -- M8 seems pickier about focus than film, or maybe it's just that I don't scan my film with enough resolution to be as picky! I think the need for focus adjustment is a matter of the individual lens. I sent DAG three 50mm lenses mostly for the 6-bit coding, and suggested he check focus as a side issue while he had them. I was satisfied with the f/2.8 optimization of the C-Sonnar but he was able to fiddle that a bit to improve focus at wider apertures. The Planar ZM didn't need any adjustment, and I'm not surprised.

But the Heliar Classic has some focus shift, as reported by Reid Reviews. So DAG did some fine-tuning on that lens as well as the Sonnar. Really, all three lenses were quite satisfactory - happily usable - without any adjustment, which was minor anyway. Hope you'll continue to enjoy your Heliar too!

FWIW, I chose to take the Heliar Classic to Hawaii over Thanksgiving, along with the 25 Biogon ZM. Man, that 25 is crisp! But I mostly used the Heliar, quite pleased with the results.

Now I'm curious about the 35 'Lux ASPH which should be sharper on its initial use, need to do some testing... and this model is known to have some focus shift as well!
 
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