Voigtlander Heliar 4.5/83mm

[arri]

This week I finished the rehousing for my Voigtlander Heliar 4.5/83mm
The lens is out of a rare Voigtlander camera, made in 1928, I guess it is a Bessa 129 which has the frame size 5x8cm.
Here´s a picture of a similar camera in much better condition:

The lens cells are srewed in an old Compur 00 shutter which has different diameter and threads to the modern shutter. So I have to turn adapter rings to use the lens with an aperture barrel with helicoid, I used one of a Schneider Componar.
It needs an extra socket for the flange focal distance, finally I gave the lens an universal T2 mount to make it usable with nearly every camera system, analog or digital.

Today I shot film with this lens.
I used an Ilford HP5+ and the Wehner Developer.
I guess I really like this Heliar, it has a very special kind of sharpness, not really sharp as a rasor. I used f/4.5, especially the background has a unique look.
It is like descpriped in a lot of reports about this lens, it is the classic Heliar design, the later and faster f/3.5 version has a different look.

 

[Joeintoronto]

Hi,
I have also become interested in the Heliar. I have started with a Bessa 2 that is in rough shape, but until I get that restored I have been enjoying the Color Heliar 105 3.5 on my Linhof, with a leaf Aptus digital back, attached are a couple samples. I have just started on a much older Heliar 150mm that is in a compound shutter that needs some serious attention, will get back to you about that one.
I also found the sharpness to have unique qualities and the backgrounds do some interesting things, I love the way it renders colour