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Helios 40 85mm f1.5 Silver.
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 6:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hi Guys, thanks for the advices that you all have been giving me.

I went on a photo shop hunting in Moscow, and finally found one that sells well conditioned russian lenses.

In the shop, there were 2 pieces of Helios 40-2. Both in very good condition.

I bought the one with a bubble inside.

Here are the pictures.





PostPosted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 7:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Congrats! This is made later, so bubbles not equal with high class material I think, but not impact anything for sure. I love to see samples take with this lens in Gallery.


PostPosted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 7:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Taken some test shots b4 buying. the bubble did not affect the pictures.

Will definitely post some pictures taken with this lens.


PostPosted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 7:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
how much was it? I wonder how long will the prices be that high (or maybe they will get even higher).


PostPosted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 7:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
egidio wrote:
how much was it? I wonder how long will the prices be that high (or maybe they will get even higher).


On good and rare lenses like this price will not go down, I strongly believe it.


PostPosted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 9:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
tikiman wrote:
I bought the one with a bubble inside.


Mine has a bubble as well. Out of hundreds of pictures shot with this lens, I was able to see its effect only once when shooting directly into the sun. The lens flares like hell (glass, coatings not up to modern standards), and the bubble was visible as a tiny rainbow.

100% crop:



Note the overall low contrast of the image. Hair is supposed to be black Smile


PostPosted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
egidio wrote:
how much was it? I wonder how long will the prices be that high (or maybe they will get even higher).


I got it at USD365 from the store sells 2nd hand lens on consignment.


PostPosted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
aoleg wrote:

Mine has a bubble as well. Out of hundreds of pictures shot with this lens, I was able to see its effect only once when shooting directly into the sun. The lens flares like hell (glass, coatings not up to modern standards), and the bubble was visible as a tiny rainbow.


Mental note... try not to shoot in the direction of the sun... Smile

here are some pictures that were taken on Sunday with the lens. Nice pictures, but heavy like hell to carry around.

I PINCO PALLINO Showcase at GUM in Moscow.




Red Square BW along GUM.


Bar at Viet Cafe, Moscow




PostPosted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
tikiman, I like the first and last one!


PostPosted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 5:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Is there a lens filter adapter to permit use of a 67mm filter on this 66mm filter size beautiful lens? I have one of these lenses hence the question.

I sometimes wonder if there is a way to use the old color filters that came with the camera as a template for an optical shop to cut down a 67mm UV lens to 66mm size and install it in the frame of the older 66mm filter (removing the old lens somehow)?


PostPosted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 6:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Sorry for the off topic but...is the coating on a lens impossible to do by yourself?
I mean, are there labs that can coat the front element at least or, if disassembled, all of them?
Imagine how good some lenses would become if properly coated.


PostPosted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 12:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I realize the thread is from 2009... But if someone could find me one for under $300 I'll be eternally grateful Smile


PostPosted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
ilguercio wrote:
Sorry for the off topic but...is the coating on a lens impossible to do by yourself?
I mean, are there labs that can coat the front elemqent at least or, if disassembled, all of them?
Imagine how good some lenses would become if properly coated.


To make a good coating is not easy. You will need a good connection to a specialised laboratory.

but you could try to find a coated Cyclop 85/1.5 - the glas should be interchangeable.


PostPosted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
ilguercio wrote:
Sorry for the off topic but...is the coating on a lens impossible to do by yourself?


Yes!!
You'd need a machine to volatilize metals... of course the right metals also... and most of all you'd need to be an optical engineer
able to calculate what metals, in what amount, and in what layer order to use.

ilguercio wrote:
I mean, are there labs that can coat the front element at least or, if disassembled, all of them?


There used to be an ex-soviet factory (can not remember if it was Arsenal at Kiev, or another one) that used to offer lens coating service
Don't know about the quality though, and surely it will be expensive.
But coating to be efficient should be calculated on the basis of the optics to coat... so I doubt that a generic coating process can do much good to a lens.


PostPosted: Wed Jan 27, 2016 9:36 pm    Post subject: Sell or Keep Reply with quote
I'm sort of unsure whether to keep my helios 40 lens.

It has it's moments, but casts a very yellow sort of look to photos. I was under the impression the helios 40 did not have radioactive elements in part of the glass.

Would you sell or keep this lens? Whats the advantage to this lens over say a samyang 85mm 1.4.

Is it just the historical value?

David


PostPosted: Wed Jan 27, 2016 9:41 pm    Post subject: Re: Sell or Keep Reply with quote
davidblue1984 wrote:
I'm sort of unsure whether to keep my helios 40 lens.

It has it's moments, but casts a very yellow sort of look to photos. I was under the impression the helios 40 did not have radioactive elements in part of the glass.

Would you sell or keep this lens? Whats the advantage to this lens over say a samyang 85mm 1.4.

Is it just the historical value?

David

Helios has swirly bokeh, Samyang don't have it and certainly an old lens more attractive to heart than a new plastic lens.


PostPosted: Wed Jan 27, 2016 9:42 pm    Post subject: Re: Sell or Keep Reply with quote
davidblue1984 wrote:
I'm sort of unsure whether to keep my helios 40 lens.

It has it's moments, but casts a very yellow sort of look to photos. I was under the impression the helios 40 did not have radioactive elements in part of the glass.

Would you sell or keep this lens? Whats the advantage to this lens over say a samyang 85mm 1.4.

Is it just the historical value?

David

It's bokeh.


PostPosted: Wed Jan 27, 2016 9:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Good point.

Originally when i bought it there was a lot of dust and i took it all apart and cleaned all the parts with solvent. I literally cut myself and bled into the lens so it should be near and dear to my heart. haha

By the time i came to the aperture reassembly I realized it was a bit too challenging so i shipped it to a guy that does phenomenal work and now its clean and looks great (minus a few stripped screws)

I'd hate to part with it, but i'm starting to only want to keep lenses that perform uniformly great.

Correct me if i'm wrong here, and maybe the helios 40-2 is more consistent, but its one of those lenses that sometimes knocks it out of the park, but its very hit or miss.

It does look great in a collection though, i have to admit it has a unique look to it. I'm just thinking if i got 350 for it and used that money towards a canon f1.2 85mm or a nikon 85mm 1.4 which im guessing are vastly superior lenses, would i regret it later?


PostPosted: Wed Jan 27, 2016 9:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Lets say it this way.

Since crazy little thing called Biotar 75 exists, I don't value Helios-40 that much as I've used to. But I'd still choose Helios over Samyang if "Sophie's choice" pushes me to get rid of one of these

Truly a solid money investment as well.

As for your dilemma, I have a friend - an excellent portraiture photographer - that barely miss with this Helios. Of course hands are alpha and omega Wink


PostPosted: Wed Jan 27, 2016 10:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I haven't shot with the biotar, but yes i would agree that would def. bump the helios out of my small collection.

Part of the reason i've been holding onto it as well is that it has that Red P sign on it, so i guess it's from a 1957 production year, if online resources are correct.

The red P is the only reason i've kept onto it-- in that it makes it i suppose more unique from the helios lenses in that focal length, but who knows...there might be thousands of helios with the Red P on it.


PostPosted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 6:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
As an owner of both a sliver Helios and the Samyang 85 i would say that the only thing they have in common is the focal lenght Smile They are so different that having them both is a no brainer really. The Helios is fascinating because of it weakness, the Samyang is the best quality/specfication/price lens i know. So my advice is logical, get a Samyang, maybe a used one Wink
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