MFlenses - A new life in a digital age
MFLenses 2026

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.
DiskFreeVault safely moves Mac apps and data to external storage.
Spotlight

Featured partner placement for the forum front page.

Strange Helios 40
Post new topic Reply to topic
View previous topic :: View next topic  


Post
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:27 pm
Post subject: Strange Helios 40
Reply
Post
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:27 pm
Post subject: Strange Helios 40
Reply
Very old, 1.5/8.5, SN 003161, red letter P in Russian alphabet. Looks like this Π. Coating purple-blue. Wide open very sharp in the center only. Do you have any suggestions regarding year of production? Seems to be very old but looks perfect, optically - flawless.


crop from raw, mag. 100x


Post
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:31 pm
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:31 pm
Post subject:
Reply
It's from the early 60's I think.


Post
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:32 pm
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:32 pm
Post subject:
Reply
The zeros at the beginning of serial number (they can be one, two , or three zeros) mean it's a "hors-série" or special series if you prefer, it's lenses that were built to be distributed to chiefs of communist party or to the factory managers or the factory workers. In other words they were not destined for distribution.
Reportedly, the "zero lenses" are said to have better quality control than regular production lenses.


Post
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:33 pm
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:33 pm
Post subject:
Reply
00 means for communist party leaders, or comes from very beginning if scale is cm I mean 1.5/8,5cm. In this case you have a good chance get one what is made on Zeiss machinery by Zeiss people. Andy and I have this version.


Post
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:48 pm
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:48 pm
Post subject:
Reply
Mine is numbered" "005153"


Post
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:53 pm
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:53 pm
Post subject:
Reply
Well, there are nothing to worry about to much "zeros" at all Laughing


Post
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:55 pm
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:55 pm
Post subject:
Reply
Ballu wrote:
Mine is numbered" "005153"


Mine is 00213 8,5cm

Mine is an early copy ,less sharp than latest one. Yours perhaps made for Brezsnyev Laughing


Post
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 10:04 pm
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 10:04 pm
Post subject:
Reply
Attila, always in the first row Shocked
Yours was made probably maybe for Lenin or Rasputin Twisted Evil


Post
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 10:08 pm
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 10:08 pm
Post subject:
Reply
Laughing Laughing Might be Andy's lenses before we bought same time from Russia. I am very happy about that. If made for Lenin I sell immediately LOL.


Post
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 10:19 pm
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 10:19 pm
Post subject:
Reply
Attila wrote:
If made for Lenin I sell immediately LOL.


Laughing Wink

I used to have a 63 and 62 which I sold.
I wanted a 61 because that's my birth year. I finally got one Smile


Post
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 10:48 pm
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 10:48 pm
Post subject:
Reply
Orio wrote:
Attila wrote:
If made for Lenin I sell immediately LOL.


Laughing Wink

I used to have a 63 and 62 which I sold.
I wanted a 61 because that's my birth year. I finally got one Smile


Orio,
You are a Youngun...:>}...Born in 61?...I was born in 49


Post
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 12:50 am
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 12:50 am
Post subject:
Reply
I heard that it's sharp but didn't know that it is so sharp
F2.0

crop from raw, 100x

F2.8

crop from raw, 100x


Post
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 1:11 am
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 1:11 am
Post subject:
Reply
Yes, stopped down laser sharp and it has good one at wide open too.


Post
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 1:39 am
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 1:39 am
Post subject:
Reply
Front of the lens


Post
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 1:45 am
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 1:45 am
Post subject:
Reply
Beautiful lens! Now I want one too Wink Where am I going to find one for when I was born Confused .........off to search the net


Post
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 1:57 am
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 1:57 am
Post subject:
Reply
Lucky man! This is earliest one too exactly like mine, check it out might found some bubbles in glass, mine have them. I know Biotar 75mm lenses has bubbles also.


Post
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 2:26 am
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 2:26 am
Post subject:
Reply
Attila, no air bubbles in glass, a very few dust micro specks inside that is all. Seller described some very tiny cleaning marks but I am not sure are there any.


Post
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 2:53 am
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 2:53 am
Post subject:
Reply
Perhaps they run out from stolen Zeiss glass before made yours Laughing


Post
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 5:39 am
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 5:39 am
Post subject:
Reply
Congrats Voytek!
You are in the commie boss lens club Laughing
I think mine is # 000206 I would have to check to be sure!
Post new topic Reply to topic
Page 1 of 1