Advice on 15cm Heliar

[seandavid]

I'm looking at this lens for 4x5

-The seller says it's from 1933. Would that make it coated or un-coated?

-I'll be using the lens outside. Would I need a coated version?

-Do these lenses take (modern) filters?

-Coverage on 4x5?


163621

[karl french]

Uncoated.
It's just fine to use outside. Just try to shade the lens well in order to avoid flare.
It may or may not take modern filters. There is a lot of variation with these.
It covers 4x5 fine, though not with much room for movements.
I have one of a similar vintage (1928), I love it.

[seandavid]

Karl, thanks so much for the info!

[pjd]

My guess is that it takes 42mm slip on (aufsteck) filters. You could ask the seller to measure the outer diameter of the front cell to confirm. There are enough slip on hoods and filters around, though I don't think modern filters will fit the threads in the front cell (haven't tried though), unless you are lucky.

You could find a slip on filter, remove the glass and glue a step up adapter to it, if you really wanted to use modern accessories.

[seandavid]

My guess is that it takes 42mm slip on (aufsteck) filters. You could ask the seller to measure the outer diameter of the front cell to confirm. There are enough slip on hoods and filters around, though I don't think modern filters will fit the threads in the front cell (haven't tried though), unless you are lucky.

You could find a slip on filter, remove the glass and glue a step up adapter to it, if you really wanted to use modern accessories.

Thanks, Peter!

[SergeiR]

You can hack filter solution on by using step up/down rings and plastic ring made from some medical bottle ;) (i done with with other wee old lenses)

[Jim Galli]

Stepping rings can be an elegant solution for these. Regular filters can cut into your usable entrance aperture and cause vignette. These are fairly tight on 4X5 so you don't want to lose any circle to extension. But a stepping ring custom fit to the outside diameter of the barrel at the front will locate just the glass in front of the lens with no image circle loss. Also a Heliar fan but my remaining Heliars are languishing unused these days.