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Just received the lens from Popflash. Ordered it online and instead of them immediately processing, they sent me an email stating "

 Due to a couple returns we had for this lens (on this model, not the specific lens to be shipped), which were returned due to the Soft Focus which is what this lens was designed for.  If you’re looking for a sharp focusing lens let us know and we can recommend something different, or if the soft focus is ok and you’d like to proceed with the order please let us know and we’ll take it from there. Thanks!"

I called them and let them know I was aware of the lens characteristics. I've not really had much time with it but took it for for a very chilly walk in Las Vegas early on January 1st (I was there for work, not the party...) It is pretty much what I was expecting. I have done a little adjustment o the following sample shots, most notably I used a "soft image3" sharpening preset in Capture One 22 and the files behaved really nicely! This definitely has that "vintage look" and its nice but I think it must be used sparingly and not grouped with pix from more modern formulations.

This following pix are not high art but some test shots of static subjects on a very windy and cold morning (3C/38f)! in Las Vegas. Need to try it on people next.

All shot on M10R

 

 

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  • 2 months later...

Storm clouds over Scalpay.

I watched Mr Leica's YouTube review of this lens where he dismissed it as "rubbish".  :D

Well, I have news for you, Mr Leica:  The Voigtlander 50mm f1.5 Heliar Classic is far from rubbish, although I see you have tried to wriggle out of your initial verdict about the 50mm Heliar Classic by backtracking on your comments in a subsequent video.  Egg on your face? ;) 

I think it's one of the more interesting 50mm lenses in current production in M mount.  The 50mm Heliar Classic f1.5 isn't just about the soap bubble and doughnut bokeh effect with background highlights or the soft, glowy  and smooth transition to out of focus at maximum aperture.  It's also a  sharp lens when stopped down to f8, but a retains a gentle contrast and a muted palette.  It also seems to be reasonably flare resistant despite being single coated. 

It's a beautifully-made lens and looks good, especially so on a black paint M.  It's light in weight, nicely balanced on the camera and it's a relative bargain in M mount 50mm lenses. 

It's a lens you can have a lot of fun with.   

Rubbish?  Definitely not!

M10-R BP

CV 50mm f1.5 Heliar Classic

 

 

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Edited by Ouroboros
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  • 6 months later...

Compressor shut-off valve to the old fog horn at Eilean Glas lighthouse, Scalpay.

M10-R BP

Voigtlander 50mm f1.5 Heliar Classic at f1.5

 

 

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7 hours ago, Ouroboros said:

Compressor shut-off valve to the old fog horn at Eilean Glas lighthouse, Scalpay.

M10-R BP

Voigtlander 50mm f1.5 Heliar Classic at f1.5

 

 

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I wish these things were still in service - they added so much character to the coast.

( Recording I made many years ago of the Point Reyes foghorn reverberating around the cliff tops 

https://soundcloud.com/frozensounds/point-reyes-fog-horn?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing#t=0%3A20 )

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  • 6 months later...

It is a nice lens indeed that one. Wishing was smaller though.

Just wondering if the glow wide open can be compared to the summilux 35 pre-asph or the steel rim reissue. Have heard some good stuff on the wide open rendering being made by those old school lenses. 

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50mm Heliar wide open on M10M

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Overall flaring seems well controlled.

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Plenty of local glow in high contrast lighting.

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  • 2 years later...
On 10/7/2021 at 1:39 AM, SteveAsclepius said:

Heliar Classic 50mm f1.5 @ 1.5

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OMG - My soap-bubble quote is now full. And also: How on earth can a mortal human get that action focus at f/1.2?!! 

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Posted (edited)

The photos and commentary on this thread encouraged me to try out the Voigtlander 50mm f/1.5 Heliar Classic VM for my Leica MP. The first roll of film (Kodak Portra 160) is back and I'm very pleased, especially with those signature "onion rings" that stay mostly round throughout the frame.  And I even got some good focus at f/1.5 by planting the focus dial to 0.7 and moving back and forth until the images lined up.

The plant is a Santa Cruz buckwheat, native to California.

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Edited by gtownby
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Heliar 50/1.5 , Tri-X , MP

Low distortion; stopped down - looks just like any other 50 mm 

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On 8/10/2025 at 2:41 PM, FrozenInTime said:

Heliar 50/1.5 , Tri-X , MP

Low distortion; stopped down - looks just like any other 50 mm 

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Yes, that brings it into the realm of "one-camera-one-lens" for vacations, walkabouts, etc.

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More examples of the bokeh on the CV Heliar 50/1.5 wide open. I like the hard-edged "soap bubbles" for a character lens. Also, I'm pleased that background edges (as in #2) are not "busy."

(Sorry for posting with a Nikon, but I'm between digital Leicas at the moment.)

The plant is the Echevaria Elegans; AKA Mexican Snowball.

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And here is how very retro you can get when combining this lens with color film and strong lighting. Leica MP, CV 50mm f/1.5 Heliar Classic, Portrait 160, both at f/11 and 1/250 second at Venice Beach, CA:

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