Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Heliar 150mm for 4x5 or Modern lens

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Ukraine, USA
    Posts
    8

    Heliar 150mm for 4x5 or Modern lens

    Hello
    Can anyone tell if 150mm Heliar is sutable for color photography.
    I have a Crown Graphic and it has 127mm Raptar lens wich is too wide and I wonted to buy a normal 150mm lens for this camera. Many people said that the Heliar is so special.
    But as far as I understood it is an uncoated lens and I shoot color. Or should I just get a modern lens like 150mm Apo lens
    Thanks

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Denmark
    Posts
    6,246

    Re: Heliar 150mm for 4x5 or Modern lens

    There are quite a number of post-war coated Heliars in modern shutters around - as well as the Heliar types under more fancy names (lanthro--?).
    They are not cheap and not always as well looked after as the pre-war Heliars. And they sometimes suffer from experiments in the introduction of synthetic cements. E**y in Germany usually has a selection.
    Absolutely suitable for colour.

  3. #3

    Join Date
    May 2001
    Location
    Switzerland
    Posts
    1,330

    Re: Heliar 150mm for 4x5 or Modern lens

    My uncoated Universal Heliar give e strong yellow cast to color pics which is not easy to get corrected in PS etc. so for color I prefer a modern lens or at least a single coated one!

    Cheers Armin

  4. #4
    Whatever David A. Goldfarb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2000
    Location
    Honolulu, Hawai'i
    Posts
    4,658

    Re: Heliar 150mm for 4x5 or Modern lens

    It's going to depend on the individual lens, I suspect. I'd just check it out with fresh transparency film before purchasing, if possible. I used to have a 6x9 Bessa II with a Color-Heliar (mid-1950s, single coated), and it was fine for color.

    Generally, I think Heliars look most Heliaristic when they are in the medium-long range for the format. For 4x5", if you want the "Heliar look" for portraits and still life, maybe look for a 210mm Heliar.

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Austin, TX
    Posts
    435

    Re: Heliar 150mm for 4x5 or Modern lens

    If it is coated and undamaged I'm sure that you will like it, color or b/w.

    Lynn

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula
    Posts
    5,808

    Re: Heliar 150mm for 4x5 or Modern lens

    I have no experience with Heliar, but my experience with uncoated Kodak Anastigmats has been very good with color film.

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Monterey Bay
    Posts
    84

    Re: Heliar 150mm for 4x5 or Modern lens

    Quote Originally Posted by David A. Goldfarb View Post
    It's going to depend on the individual lens, I suspect. I'd just check it out with fresh transparency film before purchasing, if possible. I used to have a 6x9 Bessa II with a Color-Heliar (mid-1950s, single coated), and it was fine for color.

    Generally, I think Heliars look most Heliaristic when they are in the medium-long range for the format. For 4x5", if you want the "Heliar look" for portraits and still life, maybe look for a 210mm Heliar.

    Agree with David... I used an uncoated and single coated from the '30's, and the color is very good; but that could have just been the samples I had on hand. Also, 127 to 150 isn't a huge jump...a 180 or 210 might be a more satisfactory length. That word 'Heliar' usually adds on 30% or so to the price...and there are indeed more modern lenses - including those with a refined Heliar design - that you should be able to pick up for similar price.

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Austin, TX
    Posts
    435

    Re: Heliar 150mm for 4x5 or Modern lens

    A little history: Heliar created by Harting of Voightlander Pat: 1900, manufactured from 1902. Dallmeyer of England made them very well as the Pentac from 1919 and often said he invented them which is certainly questionable. We think that Kodak created Lanthanum rare earth glass and started to make heliar/pentac type lenses using this new type glass and surpassed all others in the quality of these 5 element lenses in about 1930-31. The first of these was the Medalist lens, then a couple of fine quality Ektar 50mm and 75mm enlarging lenses and most of Kodak's superb apo graphic arts lenses were of this type lens. Optically they were a little hard to design and make, and when modern gausses and Rudolph's plasmats became easier to make with computer design quality, that pretty much eliminated newer heliar/pentacs.

    Lynn

Similar Threads

  1. Xenar 150mm 3,5? Why is it similar to my modern Rodenstock 150mm 5.6?
    By joshdaskew in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 35
    Last Post: 10-Apr-2009, 03:51

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •