NikonGear'23
Gear Talk => Lens Talk => Topic started by: elsid on January 12, 2017, 11:31:02
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I am thinking of buying a Rodenstock Heligon. I tried to find a 100mm 1.6 without success (for now). Is the 95mm 1.4 in the same league?
What would be the focal lengths that are worth getting (and can be converted to the F mount without much hassle)?
I understand the whims of these lenses and I accept the challenge.
Thank, in advance, for your help.
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They are still available,,,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/OPTICAL-LENS-RODENSTOCK-HELIGON-GERMANY-LASER-OPTICS-FL-100-mm-NICE-BIN-S9-V-01-/262769373954?hash=item3d2e467302:g:-0IAAOSwstxVNQO0
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Thanks Erik for your fast response. I would have to pay a considerable amount of money to customs for this price, plus it is not clear if it is a 1.6
or 1.5, (can this me surmised by the ser No?).
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Well this is the one that is recommended in other threads here on NikonGear the f/1.6 - the f/1.5 looks quite different!
The price is quite reasonable considering what a similar macro lens costs IMHO,,,
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For once I disagree with Erik - the Heligon linked to is more likely the f/1.5 version. The 100/1.6 is typically labelled XR-Heligon and wasn't used with lasers.
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Here is the thread with the f/1.6:
http://nikongear.net/revival/index.php/topic,1448.msg15492.html#msg15492
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Thank you both for your help.
Bjorn I have gone thru some topics, here in NG, covering the Heligons.
I am considering 50mm f/0.75, 68mm f/1, 95mm f/1.4, 105mm f/1.6. Am I on the right track? What would your recommendation be?
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The longer lenses offer more versatility. Thus 95/1.4 and 100/1.6 would be my primary candidates.
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Here is the listing, now ended, for the Heligon I bought for JA and it is identical to the one I made for Jakov re the thread above.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-RODENSTOCK-HELIGON-OBJECTIVE-LENS-LASER-THETA-NEW-4401-333-824-/150967255982?ssPageName=ADME%3AL%3AOC%3AUS%3A3160&nma=true&si=v6Cbme0lgGBPbDVxp0HaMEl9NDI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
It was 89$ so yes much less expensive :)
Here it is also clearly listed as f/1.6 and with the identical Type# 4401-333-824 as in the listing I posted earlier.
I have no idea whether it was used for Laser ;)
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OK, I stand corrected.
I have both 100/1.5 and 100/1.6 and their outward appearance can be confusingly similar.
It is a distinct possibility there were different models of the 100/1.6 and the ones used for XR-machines definitively were labelled as such ('XR'). My sample is engraved that way.
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Here is the listing, now ended, for the Heligon I bought for JA and it is identical to the one I made for Jakov re the thread above.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-RODENSTOCK-HELIGON-OBJECTIVE-LENS-LASER-THETA-NEW-4401-333-824-/150967255982?ssPageName=ADME%3AL%3AOC%3AUS%3A3160&nma=true&si=v6Cbme0lgGBPbDVxp0HaMEl9NDI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
That was a special offer in 2013 I think with 8 mint samples. My sample, although bought in Finland, is coming from there, I guess. According to the serial number the lens is made in 2000.
I never saw such an offer again on Ebay.
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Bjorn, Erik,
I thank you very much for your help.
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OK, I stand corrected.
I have both 100/1.5 and 100/1.6 and their outward appearance can be confusingly similar.
It is a distinct possibility there were different models of the 100/1.6 and the ones used for XR-machines definitively were labelled as such ('XR'). My sample is engraved that way.
I think you do have a different version of the 100/1.6 than most, and I don't recall ever seeing your particular version listed on ebay. The majority of 100mm heligons I've seen are the 100/1.5 which we know to have a very short working distance. The other version I've seen, and own, is the version Erik linked to which doesn't say XR on it nor does it state the aperture rating on the lens itself though it behaves similarly to the 100/1.6 lens you own, as far as I can tell.
As for the 95/1.4, anyone know what the working distance is with that one on a Nikon DSLR?
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They are still available,,,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/OPTICAL-LENS-RODENSTOCK-HELIGON-GERMANY-LASER-OPTICS-FL-100-mm-NICE-BIN-S9-V-01-/262769373954?hash=item3d2e467302:g:-0IAAOSwstxVNQO0
pretty expensive for a lens without an adapter modification.
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Well - it is without peers,,, It has a very long working distance and amazing Bokeh due to the large blur-circles, it's not f1.6 up close I think it's f/2.2 or something but you really don't find any other 'macro' lenses with those specifications,,,
Some of the Exotic Micro and Macro Nikkors come close in performance but they cost between 2-200 times the price or even more,,,
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i guess i should be very happy that i bought one brand new for 100 USD and had it modified with an M42 flange for 50 USD.
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I once got a crate full of various Heligons for free ... The chap was an X-ray machine technician that pulled the optics from old X-ray machines before they were scrapped. His shelves nearly broke under the massive load of all these lenses, so he was just pleased to get rid of some.