Beautiful 300mm Heliar Lens

March 2, 2010 - This lens has been SOLD

We don't see too many coated Heliars in this focal length. The serial number tells us it was made in 1953.

I purchased this lens 2 years ago and had it professionally mounted on a genuine Sinar board - intending to make portraits - for which its is truly an ideal lens. However, botanical images have beckoned me, so this lens needs a new loving family.

At wide apertures, Heliar lenses are well-known for their heavenly blur rendition, and razor sharpness. Stopped down, they are just razor sharp. A 300mm lens on 5x7, is like a 210mm lens on 4x5: perfect for portraits and shots from a short distance. On an 8x10 camera, 300mm makes a perfect normal lens.


300mm f/4.5 Voigtlander Braunschweig Heliar
Coated, with Leather/Felt lens cap for front
Mounted on genuine Sinar board

Very little brassing.

Glass is clean, no scratches, fungus, or haze. Coating is perfectly intact

A genuine Sinar board, with red dimple to accommodate a Sinar Shutter

Unlike contemporary designs, the diaphragm has 18 blades - and operates smoothly

Some photos made with this lens:


Landscape made on 5x7 at f/11, sharp as a tack

Portrait made on 4x5 at f/8. Razor sharp, with classic Heliar background blur

Still Life on 4x5 at f/11, sharpness and blur together

5x7 in the Forest, stopped down to f/32