Help needed on Heligons

[elsid]

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.

[Erik Lund]

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

[elsid]

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?).

[Erik Lund]

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,,,

[Bjørn Rørslett]

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.

[Erik Lund]

Here is the thread with the f/1.6:

http://nikongear.net/revival/index.php/topic,1448.msg15492.html#msg15492

[elsid]

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?

[Bjørn Rørslett]

The longer lenses offer more versatility. Thus 95/1.4 and 100/1.6 would be my primary candidates.

[Erik Lund]

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

[Bjørn Rørslett]

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.

[John Geerts]

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.

[elsid]

Bjorn, Erik,

I thank you very much for your help.

[charlie]

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?

[bobfriedman]

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.

[Erik Lund]

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,,,