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Helios 44-4M 58/2 Help!
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 4:14 am    Post subject: Helios 44-4M 58/2 Help! Reply with quote

Hello, I have a Helios 58mm 44-4M that I just bought. I plan to use it on a canon 5d mark 2, with a fotodiox convertor m42 to eos adapter.

A few people told me it may shatter the mirror if I focus to infinity. (Was pointed to this: http://www.panoramaplanet.de/comp/ )

The seller told me it's from 1985, and it's a Helios-44M-4, 2/58mm Soviet Made Lens. M42 Mount (42mm screw mount).

So i've taken some photos, because I am confused as to exactly which model (from the link above) that I have.

The lens by itself : http://imgur.com/a/XiTxX
With the adapter : http://imgur.com/a/WAAXG

Can anyone help? Big thanks if you can!


Last edited by ryanbarlin on Thu Oct 10, 2013 4:19 am; edited 3 times in total


PostPosted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 4:16 am    Post subject: Re: Helios 44-4M 58/2 Help! Reply with quote

ryanbarlin wrote:
Hello, I have a Helios 58mm 44-4M that I just bought. I plan to use it on a canon 5d mark 2, with a fotodiox convertor m42 to eos adapter.

A few people told me it may shatter the mirror if I focus to infinity. (Was pointed to this: http://www.panoramaplanet.de/comp/ )

The seller told me it's from 1985, and it's a Helios-44M-4, 2/58mm Soviet Made Lens. M42 Mount (42mm screw mount).

So i've taken some photos, because I am confused as to exactly which model (from the link above) that I have.

The lens by itself : http://imgur.com/a/XiTxX
With the adapter : http://imgur.com/a/WAAXG

Can anyone help? Big thanks if you can!


PostPosted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 4:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks RAART, somehow the links stuffed up when I posted. I couldn't seem to fix it by editing... Sad


PostPosted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 6:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

ryanbarlin wrote:
Thanks RAART, somehow the links stuffed up when I posted. I couldn't seem to fix it by editing... Sad


that's anti-spam measure of this forum, also photos in the first post of a new member are not shown until he has at least 2 posts


PostPosted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 6:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

From what I could find, the KMZ version will hit the mirror, the valdai version will not. Yours is the kind that shouldn't hit the mirror.


PostPosted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 10:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ah, thanks for the advice guys. You were right, it did not hit the mirror. It focused to infinity fine too.

The aperture ring doesn't seem to changing the aperture though. It clicks and moves from f2.8 to f16, but the blades don't change or move. It seems to be locked at f2.8.

Well, off to the eBay seller for complaints i guess. Sad


PostPosted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 10:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

ryanbarlin wrote:
The aperture ring doesn't seem to changing the aperture though. It clicks and moves from f2.8 to f16, but the blades don't change or move. It seems to be locked at f2.8.

Well, off to the eBay seller for complaints i guess. Sad


The problem is not the lens. To close the aperture blades when you turn the aperture ring, the pin located at the mount must be pressed.
In your case the problem is the adaptor. You need a flaged adaptor to use your Helios and other lenses with (only) automatic diaphragm.
Or you can use a bit of tape to press the pin at your risk.


PostPosted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 11:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ah, i see. This stuff is all new to me, so i'm off to get myself a new adapter!

Big thanks for the help guys!


PostPosted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 12:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hello and welcome to the forum,

I have Helios 44-4 and my copy is great - sharp wide-open, with fenomenal bokeh and not that prone to flares as my Helios 44M-6.
To push the aperture pin you could use well known method (at least this is what I done, as I bought similar adapter to yours).

Unscrew the mount and you could put small plastic tube below the pin. Just like here: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/33209627
I used bit of electric tape as I didn't have plastic tube.

It's simple, safe and fully reversible solution.

Mateusz


PostPosted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 1:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

PhantomLord wrote:
Hello and welcome to the forum,

I have Helios 44-4 and my copy is great - sharp wide-open, with fenomenal bokeh and not that prone to flares as my Helios 44M-6.
To push the aperture pin you could use well known method (at least this is what I done, as I bought similar adapter to yours).

Unscrew the mount and you could put small plastic tube below the pin. Just like here: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/33209627
I used bit of electric tape as I didn't have plastic tube.

It's simple, safe and fully reversible solution.

Mateusz


If you don't have plastic tube, you can also use a peace of cotton swab.


PostPosted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 7:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

"smashed"? I don't know about 5D, but I bumped my new 6D's mirror several times without incident before I shaved it (and took several tries while shaving to get it right). It sounded more like a soft "thud" than smashed. I doubt you'll damage the mirror. I'd be more worried about the lens -- before you try make sure it's a piece of mount that's protruding and not a piece of glass.