50/2.0 Heliar Arrived Yesterday

[mark_unlisted]

I just purchased a 50mm f=2.0 Silver Heliar from Rich at PhotoVillage. $550

plus $10 for a rear cap and $25 for two day shipping. Steve at Cameraquest

has the lenses separate from the kit as well but Steve would only sell black

(as of a week ago when I emailed him) while Rich would sell either.

 

No pictures yet, but I am pleased with the heft of the lens and the overall

build quality. The lens extends smoothly and then rotates about 1/5 turn

clockwise (when viewed from the front of the camera) and positively locks into

place. It was well thought out as the index dot for the aperture is pointing

straight up when the lens is locked in place. The sliding barrel also

features a small keyway which does not allow the lens to rotate once you are

collapsing it. This is a nice touch. An old Red Scale Elmar I had with a 1F

would rotate once collapsed and would also lock into the extended position in

any one of three positions. It was not a problem with that Elmar as the

aperture control was on the front of the lens barrel as opposed to the top on

the Heliar.

 

The lens looks great on a silver Bessa T - will probably look fine on my

Silver M-6 as well but I suspect it will look small - sort of like a 40/2.0

Summicron on my M-5.

 

Why did I buy this lens when I already have 6 fixed 50mm lenses and a Tri-

Elmar with a 50mm setting? I ask myself that at times (and God forbid, please

do not ask my wife). My interest in the lens was that it had only 5 elements

in 3 groups, thus only 6 air to glass interfaces - far less than some lenses

although the 50/2.0 ZM-Plannar only has 8 such transitions. I do not recall

the optical design of the latest Summicron. With only two interfaces, the

lens should be capable of higher contrast and be less sensitive to flare, but

then those characteristics depend heavily upon the anti-reflection coatings,

types of glass, general performance of the design and many other factors as

well. I guess I just wanted it.

[Ian Taylor]

It will look fine.

 

Go use it.

[mark_unlisted]

My wife just informed me that the 40/2.0 Summicron-C is now for sale. I would conservatively rate it as EX++. It has the original cap and hood (which is still soft and flexible). I have never been convinced this lens focusses correctly on my M- bodies but it worked beautiful on my CL bodies when I still had them. Therefore, I cannot stand behind the focussing action of this lens. $250 + S/I from Albuquerque NM.

[stuart_richardson]

I am not sure the number of air to glass surfaces is a determining factor in lens design these

days. Since coatings are so advanced, the loss from transition is more than counterbalanced

by the advantage of more elements to correct lens aberrations. This is why some of the best

zoom lenses can reach levels higher than most prime lenses. For example, the 28-90mm

ASPH has 11 elements in 8 groups, and it outperforms the 50/2 summicron R at equal

apertures. But anyway, that's not really the point. Different lenses look different and it is fun

to experiment with how they draw differently. I am sure the Heliar will be a lot of fun. Post

some shots with it when you get a chance!

[eliot_rosen1]

Sounds like a lot for a C/V 50/2 lens: leica-like prices :-) You mean a $ 550 lens doesn't come with a rear cap and you have to pay extra? I'm sure it's a very good lens.

 

As far as zoom lens performance equalling that of a single focal length, it's true that a zoom can equal or exceed the performance of a single FL lens at one particular focal length but not at all focal lengths. Generally a zoom will be weaker than a single FL lens at some focal lengths. In addition, they tend to have higher levels of distortion at some or all focal lengths and tend to be more flare-prone due to the larger number of lens elements. Even the best coatings cannot compensate for a large number of air-glass interfaces. There are always compromises in the design of a lens that provides multiple focal lengths.

 

That's why the best zooms generally have the most narrow focal length range.