Any comments on the Voigtlander 50 ƒ/3.5 Heliar for Leica M mount?

[Kodachromeguy]

Hi everyone, have any of you used the Voigtlander 50 ƒ/3.5 Heliar lens, the unusual-looking cone-shaped lens in M mount? Easy to use, clumsy, "sharp," dull, no different than 50 other 50s on the market? Thanks!!

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[250swb]

If it's the same one I'm thinking about you've found a very rare lens and a very good lens, according to Cameraquest the 'Popular Photography' magazine in 2002 declared it 'the best lens they had ever tested

50/3.5 Voigtlander Heliar: a limited edition lens introduced in 2000, sold only with the Voigtlander 101 Heliar Anniversary Bessa T set. well made lens a bit like the classic 50/3.5 Leitz Elmar in appearance, tested by Popular Photography in March 2002 and found to be the "best lens" Popular Photography had ever tested 60 mm

 

[RezaLoghme]

Hi everyone, have any of you used the Voigtlander 50 ƒ/3.5 Heliar lens, the unusual-looking cone-shaped lens in M mount? Easy to use, clumsy, "sharp," dull, no different than 50 other 50s on the market? Thanks!!

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I have not owned one but tried a pre-owned example at a Leica shop. TBH I found no reason to buy it. In the end I went for the collapsible Elmar 50mm from 1990s. Sharp, small, quirky.

 

[craigclu]

I have one and have used it quite a bit over time. I like its results and it fits my shooting well. Some reviewers fumble a bit with the aperture setting but I tend to set the aperture that I need and adjust shutter speeds to coordinate. Sharpness is very good and I am a bit judgemental in that regard. I have some pricier 50's and if they're any sharper, it would take loupes and test targets to discern. I originally got it as a compact(ish) 50 for a CL but over time, it's made a good combo on an M3. I'm 95% black & white on 35mm but I've read positive things about its color renditions.

 

[RezaLoghme]

In defence of the Japanese...its nice that they offer something in this nostalgic retro look, these lenses look good on chrome bodies. And also that they kept the German brand name.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

Thanks, everyone. Voigtlander has issued a newer 50mm ƒ/3.5 Apo-Lanthar that is a bit more conventional in shape (about $550 in USA as of Feb. 2026). For me, the ƒ/3.5 aperture would be a bit limiting because I usually use slow speed films. Possibly I will look for a modern larger aperture 50. However, I have a 50 ƒ/2 Type 4 Summicron, and there is little need to replicate its capacity.

 

[RezaLoghme]

It is not completely clear what they are trying to achieve. For a proper "retro" image, shouldnt they also offer uncoated glass?

 

[GregY]

It's reputed to be a very sharp lens. Classic Heliars have a very nice out of focus character. The retro part is with regard to their look, not image character. That's the case with many modern Voigtlander lenses. Retro appearance....modern image character. (The 40mm Heliar is another good example)

 

[JPD]

That lens kept the original Heliar layout, and the test images I've seen show some of the Heliar character with the "almost 3D" rendering, which I liked. The original Heliar from yore wasn't known to be the sharpest of lenses, but then we are talking large and medium format versions. Cosina tweaked this new version for sharpness, and it should be a nice, sharp, allround lens with an important part of the Heliar character.

It's important to remember that Cosina uses the old Voigtländer names for totally different, modern, constructions as well.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

I found an interesting (if you are into lens technology) comparison by Fred Miranda of this 3.5 Heliar with two Apo lenses, the 2.0 and the brand new 3.5.

Voigtlander 50mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar Review - Alternative Gear & Lenses - Photography - FM Forums

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