VOIGTLANDER BRAUNSCHWEIG HELIAR 1:4.5 21 cm

[carsten]

Hello,
I just puchased this lens:
VOIGTLANDER BRAUNSCHWEIG HELIAR 1:4.5 21 cm
It is an old lens (1963/1964) in very very good conditions, has no shutter, but
has the diaphragm.
Do you have any informations about it?
Thank you,
C

 

[jimgalli]

That Heliar will come up almost every time someone asks about best portrait lens for a 4X5. They are considered superb at that application. Actually mid '60's is very late mfr for a Heliar and it is single coated. A real plus. If you want to mount it in a shutter, look for an inexpensive f4.5 210 Xenar in the #3 Compound. It would be a direct fit.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Or put it on a medium format camera or press camera with a focal plane shutter. I have a 21cm Heliar that I use on my Bronica S2a occasionally. Here it is at f:22--

 

[vanannan]

Hi
I have a recollectionof a story that emporer Hirohito of Japan would only be photographed with a Heliar lens, can anyone verify this.

 

[carsten]

Thank you guys!
Great picture David! I think Jim is right: I have to search the web for a Compound 3. First I thought to sell it, now I am not so sure...

 

[Rubin]

I heard about Hirohito's Heliar fascination.
Anyway an old photographer I used to work with used exactly this lens to take passport photos... What a quality documents...