Cosina Corporation announced the release of the PORTRAIT HELIAR 75mm F1.8, a medium telephoto lens designed exclusively for the full-frame Nikon Z and Canon RF mounts, under the Voigtlander brand.
What is the Voigtländer PORTRAIT HELIAR 75mm F1.8?
The PORTRAIT HELIAR 75mm F1.8 is a large-aperture, manual-focus medium telephoto lens exclusively for Nikon Z and Canon RF mounts, and is Voigtländer’s first full-frame interchangeable lens to feature a spherical aberration control mechanism. It covers the full-frame image circle, and its optical design is optimized for the image sensors of each mount. This lens focuses on the relationship between spherical aberration and bokeh, and by freely controlling the under-correction and over-correction states, it can create a wide variety of bokeh effects.
The lens construction is a Heliar type with six elements in three groups, while achieving a large maximum aperture of f/1.8. Changes in spherical aberration occur when the aperture is opened or closed, but by operating the control ring with a new mechanism, you can enjoy bokeh depictions with an unprecedented range. In an image with insufficient correction, the center of focus becomes unclear (soft focus) and flare occurs in the highlights. Background bokeh is depicted with a gentle curve. In contrast, in an image with overcorrection, the center of focus remains and background bokeh is hard (bubble bokeh).
From the perspective of ideal optical design, these tendencies have been considered defects that should be corrected, but the lens was planned and designed with the aim of harnessing these characteristics to create unique photographic expression. Varying spherical aberration shifts the focal point according to optical principles, but this issue is addressed by incorporating a mechanism that offsets the deviation by changing the spacing between lens groups in conjunction with the control ring. A small finger point protrusion is provided where the left thumb would touch when operating the control ring, allowing users to feel the approximate correction status.
Includes Electronic Contacts that Register EXIF Data
The lens is equipped with electronic contacts, and the lens usage status is reflected in the Exif information of the shooting data. It also supports in-body image stabilization and focus assist functions. The minimum focusing distance is 0.7m, and focusing is manual focus only.
The metal processing of the focus ring features straight knurling for the Nikon Z mount and diamond-pattern knurling for the Canon RF mount, which provides a strong grip. A high-precision metal helicoid and proper greasing provide a silky feel that can withstand even the most demanding focusing at wide apertures. Aperture control is mechanically connected to the operation ring, and adjustments are made directly on the lens rather than via the camera’s command dial. Furthermore, the nine aperture blades enable the depiction of even the most out-of-focus areas of point light sources with a well-defined shape.
