Changing Helios 44 to ultra low contrast lens

Aanything · Expire: 2014-05-30

Disagreeing or not liking the result is different from not understanding.
In these processes working lenses are ruined and this is a fact.
Another fact: PP is undoable, lens flares/reflections aren't.
Then, if knowing these facts you still think it's worth it, go ahead and uncoat, paint grind whatever.
I used to shot my first music videos using super8 film, and digitized that by projecting it over strange surfaces.
If I showed the result now many people would say it sucks, and probably they'd be right, but that was the look I wanted, and the way to get it.
So there's no right or wrong, there are facts and opinions. And, as we say in Italy, opinions are like a**h**es: anyone has its own.
(the quote about opinions actually comes from a movie I don't remember)

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

We have the same saying in England about opinions. Smile

I don't see the problem with taking junk lenses that are damaged and no good for 'normal' shooting and playing with those to get different effects.

One source of uncoated lenes is pre-war folding cameras, plenty of those around that are junk due to condition.

florentin77 · Joined: 16 Jul 2013 Posts: 4

i was going to buy an broken 44 and take it apart but i havent found one yet! they r all in quite good condition. i wouldnt destroy a good working lens! im not into the flares but more in the saturation/contrast. I dont want to use any digital filters. Im gonna try to take off the coating of a broken 50/1.7 minolta md.

Ultron · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 60 Location: Amsterdam

Here's a flare shot from my Zebra Helios 44-2 shot on the EOS 5D classic.

ZoneV · Expire: 2011-12-02

I think the main thing this company does is to take the black finish of the lens away, most likely on a lathe.
An easy way to get with some luck nearly the same results could be aluminium foil. Take thin aluminium foil for kitchen use and warp it around inner barrel parts.
This could be removable.

Last year I made some tests with screwed out front ring from the Helios 44 to get the build in hood away.
But I was not satisfied. Coating removal is another way, but results are quite different. Only small difference as long as you have the sun shining on you back. With the sun in the image or near of this much more reflections. But in the moment I think a plane dirty glass (bad UV filter) hand held front of a normal lens works better for reflections / flares.