olegn Posted December 26, 2020 Share #1 Posted December 26, 2020 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) I want a long-focus lens to make some shots from a distance + to use it as a portrature lens + for some artistic pictures with bokeh. While i have a 35mm and a 21mm lenses i decide that 75mm could be nice comlement for my kit. (And i tested 90mm and found it a little bit uncomfortable for me.) Its not going to be my main lens (i think), so i dont want it to cost a lot. Plus as i understood from reviews leica's modern 75mm cron is too sharp for a close portraits (especially when you dont like too much retouching). So after some searching on internet for a lens that fits my needs i found a Voightlender 75mm 1.8 + found a good deal for it just near my place. And i'm close to buy it, but the reviews for it are quite contradictory. I want to ask if someone could comment my decision? Maybe there is something i should know about this lens before buying? Could it be any problems with it on my M9M, M10M and M-D? Thanks Edited December 26, 2020 by olegn Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 26, 2020 Posted December 26, 2020 Hi olegn, Take a look here Voightlander Heliar Classic 75mm 1.8 - do you have an opinion in that lens?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
adan Posted December 26, 2020 Share #2 Posted December 26, 2020 (edited) It is an interesting lens, based optically on Leica's own 7.3cm Hektor f/1.9 - from 1931! 6 elements in 3 groups. The original Hektor: Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! But the Heliar has modern multicoating, in addition to the small number of air/glass surfaces, so quite a lot more contrast than the 89-year-old Hektor, and generally very flare-resistant (and it is actually about 73mm - an ever-so-slightly wider view than Leica's own 75s). Key feature - very strong curvature of field. The corners of a picture will be focused significantly in front of the center. Requires stopping down to about f/5.6-8 to get reasonable sharpness across the whole picture in the same plane. Now, that also creates more blur in large-aperture portrait background corners (they are even more out of focus), which can be a good thing. But not so good if you want across-the-picture sharpness at wider apertures. It also lacks the Summicron's floating element, so the resolution drops a bit at closer distances. (Again, maybe good for portraits). Yet at the same time, the contrast can make even slightly-fuzzy small details/catchlights still "pop." And the center actually is quite sharp even at f/1.8, although not quite as "steely" as the 75 APO-Summicron. The color is a bit warmer than the Summicron, as well. The bokeh is generally soft-edged "cotton balls," despite the contrast. I had one on and off over 2 years. But ultimately, for me, half the value of a 75mm is the ability to close-focus to 0.70m and frame very tightly, as the Leicas do (studio still-lifes). The Heliar Classic only gets to 0.9m or so. So I eventually got the Heliar's new "Big Brother," the 75mm f/1.5 Nokton. But outside of those limitations, I found the Heliar f/1.8 quite copacetic to shoot. So if they don't apply to you - go for it! Edited December 26, 2020 by adan 3 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! But the Heliar has modern multicoating, in addition to the small number of air/glass surfaces, so quite a lot more contrast than the 89-year-old Hektor, and generally very flare-resistant (and it is actually about 73mm - an ever-so-slightly wider view than Leica's own 75s). Key feature - very strong curvature of field. The corners of a picture will be focused significantly in front of the center. Requires stopping down to about f/5.6-8 to get reasonable sharpness across the whole picture in the same plane. Now, that also creates more blur in large-aperture portrait background corners (they are even more out of focus), which can be a good thing. But not so good if you want across-the-picture sharpness at wider apertures. It also lacks the Summicron's floating element, so the resolution drops a bit at closer distances. (Again, maybe good for portraits). Yet at the same time, the contrast can make even slightly-fuzzy small details/catchlights still "pop." And the center actually is quite sharp even at f/1.8, although not quite as "steely" as the 75 APO-Summicron. The color is a bit warmer than the Summicron, as well. The bokeh is generally soft-edged "cotton balls," despite the contrast. I had one on and off over 2 years. But ultimately, for me, half the value of a 75mm is the ability to close-focus to 0.70m and frame very tightly, as the Leicas do (studio still-lifes). The Heliar Classic only gets to 0.9m or so. So I eventually got the Heliar's new "Big Brother," the 75mm f/1.5 Nokton. But outside of those limitations, I found the Heliar f/1.8 quite copacetic to shoot. So if they don't apply to you - go for it! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/316419-voightlander-heliar-classic-75mm-18-do-you-have-an-opinion-in-that-lens/?do=findComment&comment=4105881'>More sharing options...
olegn Posted December 26, 2020 Author Share #3 Posted December 26, 2020 6 hours ago, adan said: It is an interesting lens, based optically on Leica's own 7.3cm Hektor f/1.9 - from 1931! 6 elements in 3 groups. The original Hektor: Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! But the Heliar has modern multicoating, in addition to the small number of air/glass surfaces, so quite a lot more contrast than the 89-year-old Hektor, and generally very flare-resistant (and it is actually about 73mm - an ever-so-slightly wider view than Leica's own 75s). Key feature - very strong curvature of field. The corners of a picture will be focused significantly in front of the center. Requires stopping down to about f/5.6-8 to get reasonable sharpness across the whole picture in the same plane. Now, that also creates more blur in large-aperture portrait background corners (they are even more out of focus), which can be a good thing. But not so good if you want across-the-picture sharpness at wider apertures. It also lacks the Summicron's floating element, so the resolution drops a bit at closer distances. (Again, maybe good for portraits). Yet at the same time, the contrast can make even slightly-fuzzy small details/catchlights still "pop." And the center actually is quite sharp even at f/1.8, although not quite as "steely" as the 75 APO-Summicron. The color is a bit warmer than the Summicron, as well. The bokeh is generally soft-edged "cotton balls," despite the contrast. I had one on and off over 2 years. But ultimately, for me, half the value of a 75mm is the ability to close-focus to 0.70m and frame very tightly, as the Leicas do (studio still-lifes). The Heliar Classic only gets to 0.9m or so. So I eventually got the Heliar's new "Big Brother," the 75mm f/1.5 Nokton. But outside of those limitations, I found the Heliar f/1.8 quite copacetic to shoot. So if they don't apply to you - go for it! Thank you so much. It is very helpfull review and exactly what i was looking for. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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