Voigtlander 50mm lenses

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Let's talk about these three lenses:

- COLOR-SKOPAR 50mm F2.5
- HELIAR-CLASSIC 50mm F2
- NOKTON 50mm F1.5

Which one is you favorite? Which one you have? Which one you want? Which is sharper? Which one is more ergonomic? Which one is better constructed? Which one is more beautiful? Which one you use for what? Which one? Which one? Which one?... Black or silver?...

 

[gavinlg]

I quite fancy the color-heliar for the reason that the pics I have seen from it have a very beautiful look which seems to be pretty unique to the lens. I don't know why they aren't more popular personally.

 

[Photog9001]

Let's talk about (..) lenses:

 

[BrianPhotog]

The Nokton. I have more then a few photos with it that I wouldn't have gotten if not for it's speed. In fact, one photo taken wide open with the 50 Nokton recently won me a 40/1.4 Nokton!

It's also very, very sharp at f4.

The downside is ergonomics. It's large, heavy, and slower to focus, while the skopar fits in a pants pocket.

 

[Iggy]

I have the 50 f2 Colour Heliar. Ergonomically it's fine. Just taken my first roll and hope to pick up the prints/CD today so will post a couple of pics as soon as.

 

[oscroft]

I've got the 50/2.5, and I find it very sharp and with high contrast. It's also very well made mechanically - I like it a lot. I can't compare it with the others, though, and so I can't really vote, because it's the only one I've tried.

 

[Abbazz]

To me, the Color Heliar is clearly the most interesting of the bunch. No the sharpest at f/2.0 and not the most contrasty lens but its very nice tone rendering and great bokeh give a classic touch to the pictures. A fine lens.

Cheers!

Abbazz

 

[ocean7]

I have the Heliar and I am waiting for my first roll with this lens to come back from the lab but I can already said I am very impressed with the build quality! Ergonomics are fine too.

 

[wlewisiii]

I've always liked the look from the Color-Skopar and hope to get one in the not too distant future.

William

 

[RHaroldP]

I like the Color-Skopar 50mm f2.5. It's not up to Leica standards, but it's a good well-built compact lens that has a nice look.

Color-Skopar 50mm f2.5, Wide open, 1/60sec

100% crop
PanF 50 developed in Rodinal 1:50.

 

[kalokeri]

I got the Color-Heliar with the R2M. As Abbazz said, a very fine lens. It´s well build, tiny and gives a - at least in my opinion - very nice bokeh.

Thomas

 

[Bobfrance]

Just own the Skopar so didn't vote, but I really like the ergonomiics and my first roll from it looks pretty good.

 

[Avotius]

really cant go wrong with that 1.5, the only thing that kept me from buying one is I wanted to zeiss 2.0 instead. Either way, great lens.

 

[photophorous]

I've only used and handled the Heliar 50/2, but I love it. From what I've read about the other two, it seems to be the best in terms of build quality. It is very solid. I don't know which one is the sharpest, but the Heliar is very sharp...in my non-scientific appraisal, I find it to be sharper than the 35 PII. I also prefer it's ergonomics over the 35 PII. The bokeh is beautiful and to my eye at least, it has a unique look. I can't imagine ever parting with this lens.

 

[Sonnar2]

Note: The f/2 lens is called HELIAR CLASSIC not COLOR-HELIAR. It has 5 elements in 3 groups like the lens invented by Harting 1900. You might see the diagram at http://www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras/Bessa_RF_histo.html#HELIAR

It's superbly build and very special, at f/2 usable but not the sharpest. Color rendition is excellent, reminding to the original Apo-Lanthar from Voigtlaender Braunschweig, but 1 1/2 stops faster and for 35mm film. I don't have the other lenses but the 50/1.5, despite beeing bellied for a RF lens, has an excellent reputation for sharpness, equally to the last Non-aspheric version of the Summilux.

 

[raid]

I have only the Nokton for the Prominent. It is an excellent lens and is very sharp.

Take a look at the face details:
http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5584645&size=lg

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5584691&size=lg

 

[Photog9001]

not having tried but one of the above, my fav was and is the 50/3.5. unfortuneatly sold, but that's going to happen to my current one too (50/2) because as nice as it is, i'm keeping the dr!

what i like "best" about it, is the inverted barrel distortion... , -)
a refreshing take on lens distortion these days, though my uneducated mind did think that with symmetrical design like this, it should have been quite possible to practically eliminate distortions altogether...

 

[Iggy]

Three from my first roll with the M7 & 50mm Heliar

Three from my first roll with the M7 & 50mm Heliar

superia 400 on a pretty grim September day.

 

[Iggy]

and a couple more...

and a couple more...

As you can see, there are tram lines on the negative and I'm hoping against hope that it was the D&P and not, please God, not the M7. Have to finish another roll quick and get that D&P'd elsewhere. Fingers crossed.

 

[vincentbenoit]

I'm in the market for a user black 50/2.5 as a more compact, less valuable (cost-wise) complement to my Summicron.

I used to have a Nokton but eventually got put off by the bulk and lack of a focussing tab (in spite of the more than adequate optical performance).

Vincent