Rare lens made in Germany – 30cm Universal-Heliar. The glass has small separations and minor scratches, which do not affect image quality. - with rear cap
Information of chatgpt:
The Voigtländer 4.5/30cm Universal-Heliar is a classic large format lens, highly regarded among photographers for its unique rendering and versatility. Here’s a quick rundown of what makes it special:
Key Features:
Focal Length: 30 cm (300mm)
Maximum Aperture: f/4.5
Design: The Universal-Heliar is a variant of the Heliar design with an adjustable soft-focus feature.
Image Circle: Large enough to cover 8x10 inch format with room for movements.
Soft Focus Adjustment: One of the standout features. You can shift the central element slightly, adjusting the degree of spherical aberration to create a soft, glowing look — excellent for portraiture.
Build: Solid brass and glass construction — heavy, but beautifully made.
Historical Context:
Produced by Voigtländer, a German company with roots going back to the 18th century.
The Universal-Heliar was first introduced in the 1920s, catering to the needs of portrait and artistic photographers.
Why People Love It:
The soft focus is controllable, unlike other soft-focus lenses of the time.
At f/4.5, it’s fairly fast for a large format lens.
Even wide open, it offers beautiful rendering with smooth falloff.
Stopped down, it becomes sharp and usable for more general photography.
