Bart,
Thank you for another helpful reply, I had no intention to derail this thread, but solid information about the 40 Heliar is thin on the ground, and I hope that perhaps others might find your feedback useful too. In answer to what put me off the lens :
I thought the corner performance and noted moustache shape-shifting plane of focus demonstrated in Fred Miranda's review made for a truly ugly lens rendition. The black M mount version suggests unacceptable resistance to coding, the choice of 43mm filter thread is an unnecessarily crass choice given that [e.g.] B+W filters start at 37mm, and a more 'normal' choice of 39mm would still give a small footprint lens [such as the 28mm LTM Colour Skopar f3.5 does –– I have one]. The cramped haptics of the focus action and revolving aperture ring are not endearing, neither is work-around purchase of the LTM version to bypass coding issues with the black M mount version. And the lens, like other Voigtlander cone shaped lenses is an ugly shape.
I am one of those experienced workers who just knows that 40mm is my Goldilocks focal length. If 35mm or 40 mm are right for others then they have a fantastic range of lenses to choose from, but we 40 workers are left with a lamentable choice of half century old issue-lenses or Voigtlander's heavy brick lens, or the well past retirement other Voigtlander f1.4 [I have the f1.2 big brick lens]. For years I have craved a modern, slowish, 40mm lens, say, something akin to the performance of an APO Lanther or modernised 40 mm Summicron. The 40mm Heliar suggested to me I will never see my craved lens as Voigtlander design priorities lie in another direction, and I have given up hope of that revamped 40 Summicron in my remaining lifetime. And yet, and yet; your posts have made me reconsider ............
Voigtlander should be embarrassed by the bodging attempts [in the F.M. review] to fit filters on the 40mm Heliar, [I have my own bodge fit of a 486 IR/UV-cut filter in mind post-purchase]. And yes 50mm framelines is usual, hence my intended LTM to M mount adapter ring which will give me 35mm framelines and coding.
No more questions. My apologies to others for any thread derailing. My thanks to you Bart.
................ Chris
