Too late, I ordered it. I don't find any reference to the HELIGON 80 for the XL, but I have seen the picture and ordered the lens for my XLRF. Any insites? thanks

The 80mm f2.8 Heligon is a really fine lens. It is a 6-element, 3-group design, but is smaller and lighter than the 5-element 80mm Planar. It may not be quite as nice wide open as the Planar, but it is every bit as good (as far as I can tell) once you stop it down some. Also, the shutter used for the 80mm Heligon doesn't have as many aperture blades as the shutter of the 80mm Planar, so the iris is not as round, which leads to less pleasing bokeh (quite noticable if you have out-of-focus highlights).
I've used the 80mm Heligon with 6x9 backs and it seems to cover fine, but it is recommended for 6x7.
I think you'll like it.

Sorry to ask, but I must have skipped class the day that "bokeh" was presented. Can you lend me your notes? Whatever it is, "less pleasing" doesn't sound too good, either.

Could this possibly be "bouquet"?

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Henry on 2003-05-10 06:14 ]</font>

'Bokeh' is from the Japanese word 'bokeru', which means 'be unclear', 'be out of focus', etc.

There's a good explanation of bokeh here:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/bokeh.htm

But if you do a quick internet search you'll find others.

I'm not too technically-oriented, so I usually just consider it as "how out-of-focus points of light are rendered," and skip the detailed explanations. It is important, though. Once you start paying attention to it you'll really start to favor your lenses that have better bokeh. I disagree with the above article's assertion that, "the shape and number of a lens' diaphragm blades has little to do with bokeh" (and I think in the article's subsequent discussion it becomes clear that this argument is overstated). No matter how the light is distributed, out-of-focus hexagons, for example, look crappy compared to out-of-focus circles. That's why, in my opinion, a round iris is an important first step to achieving nice bokeh.

Okay on the bokeh. (Or for us Victrola fans, Okeh on the bokeh.) I learned something today---thank you.

That Rockwell link is definitely worth reading!

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Henry on 2003-05-11 04:01 ]</font>

As always, thanks for the reply. The people make the site, and this is a GREAT site for information.