BESSA T+ HELIAR 50mm 101th
A review and Photo example of the Heliar 50mm F3.5 101th limited with Film and digital cmera.
Table of contents
Gallery
The photographic examples were taken with the following equipment:
- Zeiss Ikon camera, KONICA SINBI100 film, NIKON LS-50 scanner
- LEICA M8
- EPSON R-D1
Review
1．Overview
The Heliar 50mm F3.5 is a Leica L39 screw-mount lens released by Cosina in 2001 under the Voigtlander brand as a set with the Bessa T rangefinder camera.
The lens consists of 5 elements in 3 groups, 10 aperture blades, and a minimum shooting distance of 1.0m.
It was sold as a set with the Bessa T in 4 colors. This set has always been available new and there is a lot of stock left.
This is thought to be due to the difficulty of using the Bessa T, which only has a rangefinder without a viewfinder frame, and even in the 2020s, it is sometimes sold in a set with a good condition camera.
If the lens is complete, it comes with a trumpet-shaped hood with a screw diameter of 27mm and a cap to put on it. If you are looking for a complete lens second-hand, you should pay attention to the accessories.
2．Usability
As the name suggests, the Heliar 50mm F3.5 is an old-fashioned lens with a Heliar-type lens configuration of 3 groups and 5 elements.
Perhaps because it uses modern glass, the images are clear. As long as you shoot with film, there is no noticeable distortion even in the peripheral areas, making it a very usable lens.
The lens is made at a low cost, and when the lens is extended toward the close-up position, the screw at the base of the lens is exposed. Since the grease on the surface of the screw is visible, it seems that the focus ring will become loose over time if it is not kept in the infinity position when stored.
As mentioned above, this lens was sold together with the rangefinder film camera Bessa T, but I purchased just the lens second-hand. I used it with three cameras: the Hexar RF film camera, the Epson R-D1 digital camera, and the Leica M8. I got rid of this lens because I had a lot of 50mm standard lenses and the concept and specifications overlap with the Apoquaria H 50mm F3.5 (Apoquaria Heliar Type 50mm F3.5) by Ms-optics. The difference in lens construction is listed on the Apoquaria H 50mm F3.5 page of Ms-optics for reference.
3．Summary
In conclusion, to sum up the HELIAR 50mm F3.5, it is a limited edition product, but many have been shipped, so it is not a lens that you should buy at a premium price. Although it will be discontinued in 2024, the latest HELIAR Vintage Line 50mm F3.5 has a minimum shooting distance of 0.7m, making it easier to use, so we recommend purchasing the latest version.
Specification
Compared to the LEICA ELMAR 50mm F2.8, you can see that the Heliar 50mm is larger. When the helicoid is extended, it extends even further. The Heliar 50mm is a slender lens, so it looks unbalanced when attached to a larger body camera.
- The lens construction diagrams are quoted from each company’s materials, and the sizes have been adjusted by us, so they are not exact.
| Item | HELIAR 50mm F3.5・1st | ELMAR-M New |
| focal length(mm) | 50 | 50 |
| Maximum aperture | 3.5 | 2.8 |
| Minimum aperture | 22 | 16 |
| Leaf blade | 10 | 6 |
| Lens configuration | 5 elements in 3 groups | 4 elements in 3 groups |
| Minimum distance(m) | 1.0 | 0.7 |
| Lens length(mm) | 42.2 | 21.6 (Retractable) 37.6 (Use) |
| Lens max diameter(mm) | 47 | 52 |
| Filter type | 27 | 39 |
| Weight(g) | 150 | 170(Black) 245g(Silver) |
| Hood | Special trumpet-type screw-in | 39mm Screw in 12549(Silver) 12550(Black) |
| Lens mount | L | M |
| Release date | 2001.11 | 1994〜2007 |
| Price | ￥108,000(with camera) | ¥100,000 |
This lens was first released as part of a BESSA-T bundle, and in 2009, 600 units were released as a limited edition with the same lens barrel and lens configuration. In 2016, it was upgraded to a fixed lens barrel, M mount, and a minimum shooting distance of 0.7m, making it a regular lens. However, sales of this lens were discontinued in 2024. The differences are as follows:
| Item | HELIAR 50mm F3.5・1st | HELIAR 50mm F3.5・2nd | HELIAR 50mm F3.5・3rd |
| focal length(mm) | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Maximum aperture | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Minimum aperture | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Leaf blade | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Lens configuration | 5 elements in 3 groups | 5 elements in 3 groups | 5 elements in 3 groups |
| Minimum distance(m) | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.7 |
| Lens length(mm) | 42.2 | 42.2 | 43.2 |
| Lens max diameter(mm) | 47 | 47 | 52 |
| Filter type | 27 | 27 | 27 |
| Weight(g) | 150 | 150 | 187 |
| Hood | Special trumpet-type screw-in | Special trumpet-type screw-in | Special trumpet-type screw-in |
| Lens mount | L | L | M |
| Release date | 2001.11 | 2009.11.1 | 2016.11.25~2024年7月 |
| Price | ￥108,000(with camera) | ¥70,000 | ¥65,000 |
Reference links
- COSINA Lens Products PDF
- COSINA Lens Products PDF・WebArchive
- HELIAR Vintage Line 50mm F3.5・コシナ公式ページ
- Ms-Optics APOQUALIA H 50mm F3.5・Shige’s hobby
- KONICA L39 HEXANON 50mm F2.4・Shige’s hobby
- Voigtlander L39 HELIAR 50mm F3.5 Year101・Shige’s hobby
- LEICA ELMAR 50mm F2.8・Shige’s hobby
Update history
- 2025.5.19
- 2024.03.04
- 2023.09.28
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