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Manual Focus Lenses Forum

Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.

Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.
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Helios 300mm F4.5
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Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 9:48 pm
Post subject: Helios 300mm F4.5
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Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 9:48 pm
Post subject: Helios 300mm F4.5
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I just wanted to share some impressions and a comparison with my Pentax SMC-DA 55-300mm.

The lens is largish at 18cm and 22.5cm with hood extended, and has a 72mm front. Its surprisingly light for its dimensions.
In operation its fine and smooth working, though it does feel slightly odd, for me. It might be the position of the focus ring, maybe its just me.

The following are heavy crops.

Helios first:
F4.5 __________________________________ F8 ________________________________ F11

Pentax 55-300mm
F5.8 __________________________________ F8 ________________________________ F11


The Helios is ok sharp wide open, and gets much better at F8 and then a bit more at F11. CA is horrible, as my subject matter shows very well. It is also very persistent, going up to F11.
The 55-300mm exhibits no CA and is very sharp from F5.8.

In terms of colors, Pentax has truer tones and the Helios is warmer, maybe yellower, which is not unpleasant.

The 55-300mm is a great lens, just not very fast at 300mm. F4 with no/low CA and good sharpness would be great.

BTW, the shots were done on tripod, manually focused and IR triggered.


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Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 10:00 pm
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Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 10:00 pm
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Helios 300mm I think a cheap Japanese third party lens like Vivitar or Revunenon etc. So result is not a surprise, can you show us a picture from lens itself ?


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Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 2:27 pm
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Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 2:27 pm
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Here are some pics of the lens:





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Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 2:54 pm
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Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 2:54 pm
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Thank you ! Yes a Japanese maker.


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Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 9:20 am
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Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 9:20 am
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Strangely, I briefly owned a *very* similar lens marked as Accura 300/5 (yes, f/5, not 5.6), also in M42. It was not multi-coated and flared easily, but otherwise I found its sharpnes acceptable.


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Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 1:41 pm
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Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 1:41 pm
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I might have read that they were a sigma production. I don't remember where.

Rino.


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Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 2:25 pm
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Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 2:25 pm
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Worst - it seems like Korean maker.


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Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 8:31 pm
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Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 8:31 pm
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Probably a fine lens for B&W though.


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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 12:15 am
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 12:15 am
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I'm not sure if these later helios lenses are unlicensed or what, I seem to remember someone saying they were offered with Zenit cameras at dealers in the uk with the only unusual thing being they were not made in russia.

I have a 135mm Helios and it's a really decent little lens.


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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 12:23 am
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 12:23 am
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I think it does ok Razz





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Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 5:29 am
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Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 5:29 am
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Pancolart wrote:
Worst - it seems like Korean maker.


Mine had "Made in Japan" on it. The lens pictured two posts above has a JCII sticker on it, which suggests it's made in Japan, too.
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