New old stock Helios 44M-7 lenses

Zeeke · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 174 Location: Sweden

Hi
There are a lot of New Helios lenses on ebay suddenly and I want to try a 8 blade Helios 44M-7 but I get a feeling that those are fake,looks like Helos 44Ms with new name plates.....they are in boxes and the front caps is the same as the ones on the newer 44 5/6/7.
There are even ones with T*.Those aren't made by the same factory that made the usual 5/6/7 one's.
What do you think about this?

BurstMox · Expire: 2016-08-02

They are fake.
44M7 has only 6 blades.
Only 44M have 8 blades.
Helios-44M7 do NOT have switch A/M, only 44M has.

Serial number can be a good element to look at since from 44M4, all the bodies look quite similar (exepted some 44M5 or 6 with different focus ring). 44M7 was made from 1991 to 1993 if I remember right.

I can't find the one with T*, it is certainly quite funny to look at.

Lightshow · Joined: 04 Nov 2011 Posts: 3666 Location: Calgary

If a Helios has T* it's fake, the FSU equivalent is the capital letter Pi (Π).

Zeeke · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 174 Location: Sweden

Then it is like I thought....they have worked hard this time boxes and all...
This one is particularly nice..ðŸ˜€

http://www.ebay.com/itm/262724690395?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

TrueLoveOne · Expire: 2013-12-24

Must say, that is a nice item, even though it is a fake! But since it is "just" a normal Helios lens i do not see a reason to buy it.

Is there no such thing as copyright for the red T* ??

y · Joined: 11 Aug 2013 Posts: 308 Location: EU

Oh my god. Trying to fake lenses which usually go for $30 or so... World is a sad place.

BurstMox · Expire: 2016-08-02

This T* is funny.
Yes, faking a lens to get 20$ more than if they sold it as 44M... Rolling Eyes

Zeeke · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 174 Location: Sweden

I have seen Helios 44m4 from KMZ that are as sharp as the couple of 44m7 I have own.But the resolution numbers speaks for the 44m7ðŸ˜€

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 4015 Location: Switzerland

Lightshow · Joined: 04 Nov 2011 Posts: 3666 Location: Calgary

BurstMox · Expire: 2016-08-02

Lightshow · Joined: 04 Nov 2011 Posts: 3666 Location: Calgary

I have one of the earliest Helios 44's, its biggest difference is the red Π, the direction the aperture ring turns, and stopping down to f22.
I've not seen any labeled Biotar.
Confusion = $$$

BurstMox · Expire: 2016-08-02

aoleg · Joined: 22 Feb 2008 Posts: 1387 Location: Berlin, DE

Ah, it's always fun to see such a wonderfully tacky fake Smile

First off, it is based on the Helios-44M lens (https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3969119). The giveaway is the A/M switch that was last used on that particular model.

The lens is actually single-coated (T*, my ass), and does indeed have 8 aperture blades. All subsequent models only had 6 blades.

The real "Ð‘Ð¢Ðš" lens, which stands for "BioTar Krasnogorskiy", was already posted here. It's a totally different and very old model.

It's funny that the seller used Latin characters on the lens - this is of course to fool the Western buyer. The box is most probably printed in China (but could be a Russian knock-off as well), and does not resemble any real boxes used by KM3.

Verdict: a tacky fake built for Western barbarians Smile

lucca1x · Joined: 09 Feb 2014 Posts: 93 Location: Romania

D. P. · Joined: 26 Apr 2015 Posts: 164 Location: Mongolia / China

Unfortunately, version 44M-7 is rarely found even in Russia. I bought a copy for about USD 20 (if converted at current exchange rate) in mint condition with the camera.
In Russia, the price of different versions are practically identical. The reason is that here everyone knows - in the case of Helios lenses the quality is not determined by the numbers on the body Smile

It can be very bad genuine 44M-7, and very good 44M-5. It can be very good 44M-7 and very bad 44M-5, 44M-6, and so on. It is a matter of luck. So I always advise to check Helios lenses before purchase (regardless of version), or buy only from familiar.
And another common misconception. Many people think that first produced 44M-5, then 44M-6, then 44M-7. This is absolutely not true, it's not chronological numbering. All these versions were released simultaneously. The lenses were tested, and, depending on whether the resolving power was at each particular instance, it is assigned an index of 5, 6 or 7. Thus, version 44M-7 - the best on the lines per mm parameter. Theoretically Smile

In practice, it depends on many other factors. For example, how much was drunk worker who made the lens. My copy 44M-7 much better the original German Biotar. But I have met and utterly horrible copies of 44M-7 (not fakes!).
44M-7 with 8 blades - it is 100% fake. But not the fact that it is a bad lens, if you're lucky, it may be better than the genuine 44M-7.
44M-7 has ONLY six blades and NOT have switch A/M. 44M-7 was produced in only one plant (Jupiter in the city of Valdai) - logo in the form of arrow with the circle. The first two digits of the serial number, usually 91, 92, 93 (years of release). Front ring with lens name may be of metal or plastic (plastic - not a sign of a fake, it is a normal feature of the later copies, attempt to reduce the cost of production). Weight - 270 grams (early Helios, such as 44-2, have less weight).
In addition, there are two different lenses with similar names - Helios-44M-7 and Helios-44-7 (rare lens for Zenit-7 camera only). Do not confuse them.
Greetings from Russia.

Pancolart · Expire: 2013-11-18

...and quite obviously not really unused. Just see the screws and screw mount. I don't mind pimping but seller should just state the facts.

D. P. · Joined: 26 Apr 2015 Posts: 164 Location: Mongolia / China

D. P. · Joined: 26 Apr 2015 Posts: 164 Location: Mongolia / China

And one small addition.
Look at this photo.
Left - Helios 44M-4 (1982, KMZ), right - Helios 44M-7 (1995 - one of the most recent, Jupiter-Valdai).
Old lens has a copper insert in the helicoid, new lens thread aluminum.
Old lens - metal front ring, new lens - plastic ring.
The old lens good blackening inside, the new lens inside shine.
The only thing the new version is much better than the old - MC coating.

Beaverbush · Joined: 19 Mar 2017 Posts: 4

I just acquired a 44M-7 on ebay. Several indications that it could be a "7" include
52mm filter ring, 6 blade aperture, serial number starting with 93. The one contraindicator is weight - it weighs only 236 gms not 270 that the Camerapedia site says a 7 should weigh. This would make it a 4 Can anyone help me identify this animal?

D. P. · Joined: 26 Apr 2015 Posts: 164 Location: Mongolia / China

Oldhand · Last edited by Oldhand on Thu Mar 30, 2017 9:41 am; edited 1 time in total

D. P. · Joined: 26 Apr 2015 Posts: 164 Location: Mongolia / China

Yes, that's it. Intermediate model between the 44M and the classic 44M-4 without A/M switch. 6 blades, no "MC" (there is a single-layer coating) and a strange shape of the switch. It is made in Krasnogorsk. Then the optical design was slightly modified to take into account the use of a multilayer coating. The author of the updated version was P.A. Lapin. Then the production was moved from Krasnogorsk to Valdai, to the plant "Jupiter" - that's how 44M-5, -6 and -7 appeared.
According to optical characteristics, this rare version 44M-4 is close to Helios 44-3 and 44M-4 MC. This lens may be of interest to collectors, but, unfortunately, optically this is a fairly mediocre lens.

D. P. · Joined: 26 Apr 2015 Posts: 164 Location: Mongolia / China

I recommend everyone to read this article - http://ussrlens.com/thinking-out-loud/history-helios-44
(You can use google translator)

Beaverbush · Joined: 19 Mar 2017 Posts: 4

To answer D.P's question, here are pictures of the lens. It has 6 bladed aperture, 52mm filter ring, straight M42 mount, no auto/manual switch, two holes on the face plate. It weighs 236 grams which is not on anyone's scale. The eBay seller is Jovanie de la Cruz, screen name dalvertu. New pictures replace earlier insertion.

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