Voigtlander ULTRA WIDE HELIAR 12mm F5.6
A review and Photo example of the Voigtlander Ultra wide Heliar 12mm F5.6.
Table of contents
Gallery
Photo with LEICA M8
Review
Voigtlander Ultra Wide Heliar 12mm F5.6 is an ultra-wide-angle lens with a focal length of 12mm.
This lens was used with the LEICA M8. The lens mount is an L39 screw mount, so I attached it to the M8 via the L-M ring. Since the LEICA M8 has a slightly smaller sensor size, the possible shooting range is 12*1.33=16mm, so I used the HOLOGAN 16mm/COSINA ZEISS 15mm finder for CONTAX G to match the shooting range. The HOLOGAN 16mm Mie’s modern viewfinder comes with a level, which was useful with an ultra-wide-angle lens.
The distance meter on the lens and camera are not linked, so I had to measure it visually, but since it is a dark lens with an aperture of 5.6, I was able to roughly measure the distance with my eyes and not lose focus that much. From the second generation onwards, it was improved to work with the rangefinder of Leica M-type cameras.
The first generation was used for visual measurements, so I often used it for shooting without a viewfinder from below, such as when taking pictures of cats.
Even with the first-generation model, which did not have a rangefinder link, it is possible to focus even more accurately using a modern high-performance EVF.
Speaking of the LEICA M8, the use of UV/IR filters is an issue, but I had given up on using UV/IR filters with this lens. If you use the optional VOIGTLANDER FILTER ADAPTER FOR 12mm F5.6 (filter adapter for Cosina Voigtlander L12mmF5.6 Ultra Wide Helier early model), you can attach a 77mm filter to the front. I didn’t even buy an adapter because it would ruin my compact lens.
As you can see from the examples, if you choose the subject, there will be no false colors, and the small sensor size means you won’t have to worry about darkening in the periphery or lack of resolution.
The first generation 12mm had an L39 screw mount, but it was changed to an M mount in the second generation, and has been released up to the third generation. From the third generation onwards, a SONY E-mount version was also released, with improvements made for the digital age, such as a shorter minimum shooting distance and transmission of lens information to the camera.
The VM mount version is positioned as a general-purpose lens, and is intended to be used via a mount adapter for minor mirrorless cameras that I don’t think will sell well enough to make a dedicated mount. A few decades ago, it would have been unimaginable that the M mount, which was an exclusive mount in the SLR era, would establish itself as a universal mount.
As of 2024, the Heliar Hyper Wide 10mm with a focal length of 10mm, which was originally sold together, continues to be sold, but the lens with a focal length of 12mm has been discontinued.
Specification
| Items | Ultra wide Heliar 12mm 1st | 2nd | 3rd | HELIAR HYPER WIDE 10mm |
| Focal length(mm) | 12 | ← | ← | 10 |
| Max aperture | 5.6 | ← | ← | ← |
| Min aperture | 22 | ← | ← | ← |
| Leaf blade | 9 | ← | 10 | ← |
| Lens Construction | 10 elements in 8 groups 1 aspherical lens | ← | ||
| Min distance(m) | 0.3(Distance meter not linked) | 0.5 | ← | ← |
| Mount | L39 Screw | M | M | M |
| Lens length(mm) | 38.2 | 42.5 | 58.4 | 58.7 |
| Lens diameter(mm) | 50.5 | 74.6 | 64.8 | 67.8 |
| Filter Size(mm) | 77mm when using filter adapter (sold separately) | 67 | – | – |
| Hood | Special hood | Build in hood | ← | ← |
| Weight(g) | 162 | 230 | 283 | 312 |
| Release date | 2000/9 | 2010.3 | 2016.9 | 2016.7 |
| Price(Yen/No-tax) | 105,000(Silver)/108,000(Black) | 89,250 | 115,000 | 135,000 |
Reference links
Update history
- 2024.04.02:modified article
- 2023.09.07:firest post
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