100/1.6 XR-Heligon

[John Geerts]

True Bob. 

I have the same one, only a few numbers away from your serial number:  11603626

[bobfriedman]

Nikon D850 ,Rodenstock Heligon 100mm f/1.6
1/30s f/1.6 at 100.0mm iso100

cropped


added PK-11a ring

[John Geerts]

Full frame with only the k2-ring on the Heligon

D850    100/1.6  1/100  iso3600

[bobfriedman]

nice one!

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

There seems to be a couple versions of this lens. I also have the 4401.33.824.00 version (see the picture in Bob's post #6). The current ebay listings of this lens state "Laser Optics" in the description and I've never seen actual confirmation that it is an f/1.6 as the aperture is not listed on the lens itself. Nor does it state that it is XR-Heligon, just Heligon.

Then there is the version that has 1:1.6 written on the barrel (see the diagram in Bob's post #6). Birna has also posted pictures of her version recently which appears to be the same as the one in the diagram and has 1:1.6 written on the barrel. I'm not sure which version Klaus uses(?)

From what I can tell from past discussions and viewing images from both they behave in very similar ways in regards to focal distance (approx. 3 feet on an F mount DSLR) and image characteristics. I don't think I've ever seen the 1:1.6 version available and surmise it to be the less common of the two. What the actual differences are I do not know as I haven't seen any diagrams for the 4401.33.824.00 version.

Side note: More common than either of these and a different lens entirely is the 100mm f1.5 which comes in many forms and can only achieve a focal distance of a few inches on an F mount DSLR, perhaps this version will prove to be useful on the Z6/7

Mine also was sold as "laser optics" which is just lack of knowledge of the seller I assume. Mine does not have a M48 thread mount on its end, but otherwise just looks like an industrial version with slightly modified mechanics of that documented f1.6/100m on my published data set.

Nice results guys!

[Birna Rørslett]

My 100/1.6 XR-Heligon is labelled as such and has 48mm threads at the rear. The 100/1.5 is superficially similar (apart from the printed specification on the barrel), but significantly heavier believe it or not

[Jan Anne]

I dug up the Heligon after years of neglect with the idea to use it on the Z6.

Erik glued a K4 ring with 52mm female thread to the Heligon and with an assortment of adapter rings I end up with the Leica M mount so I can use my Voigtlander VM/E focusing helicoid in combination with the Novoflex M39/LEM extensions rings, focus is now roughly 3 meters without extensions and as close as 25cm fully extended.

It should go to infinity focus with a direct female 52mm to Leica M adapter ring but was unable to find one back then, currently it is female m52>M43, M43>M39 and M39 to Leica M.

Maybe someone has a good suggestion for a slimmer setup with at least one less adapter ring, getting to 10 meters or so would already be a nice bonus

[Birna Rørslett]

You might put an Z mount directly on the end of your focusing adapter -- that'll shave off extension and allow focus to infinity.

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

I dug up the Heligon after years of neglect with the idea to use it on the Z6.

Erik glued a K4 ring with 52mm female thread to the Heligon and with an assortment of adapter rings I end up with the Leica M mount so I can use my Voigtlander VM/E focusing helicoid in combination with the Novoflex M39/LEM extensions rings, focus is now roughly 3 meters without extensions and as close as 25cm fully extended.

It should go to infinity focus with a direct female 52mm to Leica M adapter ring but was unable to find one back then, currently it is female m52>M43, M43>M39 and M39 to Leica M.

Maybe someone has a good suggestion for a slimmer setup with at least one less adapter ring, getting to 10 meters or so would already be a nice bonus

well done Jan Anne!

[Jan Anne]

Thanks Birna but would really like to end up with a slimmer Leica M solution for the Heligon as I've normalised most of my MF lenses to that mount.

This allowed me to use the mentioned helicoid and extensions rings also on the 50/1.2 and 85/1.2FD and could even use the TechArt autofocus adapter for the Heligon

[Jan Anne]

A few quick snapshots of the Heligon installed on a proper camera (Z6) using the Novoflex NIK Z/LEM adapter which was just delivered.

As Novoflex isn't a helicoid adapter like the one I used on the Sony focus is now roughly 30cm with all the extensions rings in place instead of 25cm.

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

Looks like you got way too much extension Jan Anne? If you shorten that, wouldn't you get a more suitable focusing range?
Mine focuses from like 20cm up to infinity...

[Jan Anne]

Hi Klaus, the focus distance is now 30cm to 3 meters depending on how many extensions rings are installed, for practical use I will probably end up somewhere in the middle.

If you know a shorter solution btw to mount the Heligon with 52mm threads to a Z6 which enables infinity focus I'm all ears, I failed to do so on the Sony a few years ago but  maybe there are other solutions out there now which allow a solution with more focus range beyond 3 meters

Details of the adapter rings currently in use are mentioned here:
http://nikongear.net/revival/index.php/topic,8043.msg135042.html#msg135042

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

Hi Klaus, the focus distance is now 30cm to 3 meters depending on how many extensions rings are installed, for practical use I will probably end up somewhere in the middle.

If you know a shorter solution btw to mount the Heligon with 52mm threads to a Z6 which enables infinity focus I'm all ears, I failed to do so on the Sony a few years ago but  maybe there are other solutions out there now which allow a solution with more focus range beyond 3 meters

Details of the adapter rings currently in use are mentioned here:
http://nikongear.net/revival/index.php/topic,8043.msg135042.html#msg135042

I will be away for a week Jan-Anne, when I'm back I will let you have some pointers for an alternative solution!

[Frank Fremerey]

Nikon D850 ,Rodenstock Heligon 100mm f/1.6
1/30s f/1.6 at 100.0mm iso100
added PK-11a ring

WOW, Bob. I really like this very much. An exceptional camera with an exceptional lens.