Complete list of Helios lenses - getting closer

duta · Joined: 20 Nov 2013 Posts: 1

I want to know how is the last model of Helios 44-2 f2/58mm?

44-2 model "2.d": MMZ last design - new barrel

Is good or bad? I hope don't be the worst model Helios 44-2.

Lena · Joined: 24 Apr 2012 Posts: 495 Location: Pl

zanxion72 · Joined: 11 Dec 2012 Posts: 145 Location: Athens, Greece

I have just acquired one like the Helios-44 zebra in M42. It is the same as another M39 stated some pages before, only the mount differs.

It reads HELIOS-44 2/58 N1013561, has an MMZ Logo. I have tried it against my other Helios 44-2 and found it to be considerably softer at all apertures.

vanylapep · Joined: 03 Jan 2014 Posts: 312

Can I make a correction?

Piny · Joined: 25 Jan 2014 Posts: 3 Location: Slovakia

Hi,

im googling many hours and searching if anyone had my helios , but nope, could you please help me which type is this ?

SERIAL : 8144455

IT has yellow numbers and A/M switch

Thank you much Smile

http://imgupload.sk/images/d/q/dqsvzoow5brbn6ozb1um.jpg

http://imgupload.sk/images/d/w/dwan84fha6bqg2m94xz0.jpg

kds315* · Expire: 2021-03-09

Show a picture, says more that 1000 words! Wink

Piny · Joined: 25 Jan 2014 Posts: 3 Location: Slovakia

themoleman342 · Expire: 2013-01-24

You couldn't find the Helios 44m in a google search?

Piny · Joined: 25 Jan 2014 Posts: 3 Location: Slovakia

CuriousOne · Joined: 31 Dec 2013 Posts: 669 Location: Home

Here are my helioses:

(M42) 44-2, removed from surveillance camera, never used, serial starts with 88. Has 8 aperture blades.

(M42) MC 44M-6, removed from Zenit ET camera kit, never used. Serial starts with 91. Has 6 aperture blades.

(K mount) MC 44K-4, never used, I've acquired a box of these (20 pcs) in early 00s, serials start with 97. Has 6 aperture blades.

Gamera · Joined: 16 Feb 2014 Posts: 86 Location: Scandinavia

For the lens archeologists, here's the specs of yet another Helios-44.
Type 1f, identical in outlooks to the one in post:
http://forum.mflenses.com/complete-list-of-helios-lenses-getting-closer-t26100,start,30.html#1082046

Black M42, serial N03374XX, latin alphabets used. Filter thread 49mm.
Was mounted on a Zenit-E, serial 670XXXXX, KMZ logo engraved .
I have no paperworks, but have no reason to believe anything else that this is an original camera/lens combination.

No picture attached in this post.

Langstrum · Joined: 16 Feb 2014 Posts: 351

I've just purchased a Helios 44 M39 with red П, f22 type. I was finding it for several months with frustrations. Finally I found one with $225. Too expensive for a Helios 44, I guess Shocked

but it's so rare now. I have 44-2, 44-3, 44M-4, 44M-7 and actually I like them all. 44M-7 seems to have the best resolution as many people mentioned but I'm not sure if the bokeh is different from 44-2.

I'm too excited to wait for this Helios, but can't find any sample shots taken with this version. There was a post about the f16 version, which is very nice, and someone complained that the CA is bad, but there is no reference for this f22.

I'll definitely compare them when I get this lens.

Here is the photos provided by the seller

DrBB · Joined: 26 Mar 2014 Posts: 117 Location: Croatia

HELIOS-44M 2/58 8199410 8blades M42
HELIOS-44M-4 2/58 86156682 6blades M42
HELIOS-44-2 2/58 78185958 8blades M42

yup, highly addictive lenses, but my real MF addiction start with MIR-1b 2.8/37 (and later MIR-I 2.8/37A with 2 set of blades)

(huh, 1st post Smile

)

zelda_n64 · Joined: 26 Aug 2011 Posts: 163 Location: UK

An excellent thread on Helios lenses.

I picked this really scruffy copy of a Helios 44-2 up today at a car boot sale. It was not attached to any camera, although the seller did have a Zenit B with a Helios 44-2 attached to it (1971 if my memory serves me correct).

This one though was in very grubby condition. I haven't been in long, but after a quick clean I thought I would post a couple of pictures of this Helios 44-2. So is it pre 1970/71

8 iris blades
White writing
N00145XX (last 2 digits replaced)

TAo2 · Joined: 09 Mar 2012 Posts: 319 Location: Scotland

See page 1 of the thread... Cool

zelda_n64 · Joined: 26 Aug 2011 Posts: 163 Location: UK

TAo2, Thank you!!

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

I have purchased this Helios-44 lens, although do not yet have it in hand. I wanted a 13 blade version, which it is, but otherwise it does not appear to be anything different from what has already been posted. M39.

semaca · Joined: 23 Apr 2014 Posts: 25

Yesterday I have bought a Helios 44-2, i think it's from '74, but I don't understand one thing. When the red dot from the aperture ring is at f/2 the aperture is actually at f/16, it's fully closed.

BurstMox · Expire: 2016-08-02

It's always like that on Helios 44, don't worry. That's not a problem, it's just another way to see the preset system Smile

leorimkus · Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Posts: 7

FujiXT1 · Joined: 19 Jun 2014 Posts: 1

I have never seen this model. Is it ok that 8 blades are set outward? Never seen before.

P1050309 by Nobody Mess With Suburbans, on Flickr

robiles · Joined: 26 Jan 2014 Posts: 5 Location: Deva, Romania

Hi, i recently bought a Helios 44, m39 mount with 13 blades, sn 0031303 from a flea market, in a not so good condition, but at a really reasonable price.
I do not have an adapter, but i was able to change the lens mount with one from a helios 44-2 that i had around, until i get the adapter. I also had to clean and lube it, clean the glass from a lot of dirt and dust, but it is all done now.
I noticed that it had that really cool looking blue/purple coating, but also that thru the viewfinder everything is yellow-ish. Is that normal? The wather is bad here unfortunately, but when it improves, i will add some samples.

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

Just bought a Helios 44 No. 0000xxx Π
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/HELIOS-44-lens-F2-58mm-f-M39-ZENIT-USSR-KMZ-BIOTAR-13-BLADES-1960-0000880-RED-P-/311164957211

BurstMox · Expire: 2016-08-02

Cool! That's high price, but collectible, so...

I think all 000 and lower are from the same year of production (but yes, yours is earlier in the year).
Btw, I wonder if Helios 44 for start and for zenit follow the same production numbering... (a H44 for start with 000 is from the same year than H44 000 for zenit?) .

BurstMox · Expire: 2016-08-02

Finaly solved the mystery around my Silver helios 44

The mystery was : The serial number doesn't fit to this lens. If this is KMZ, this lens should have been built in 1950, which is not possible. But it is not MMZ, because it's not MMZ logo, and MMZ never made H-44 with Red P and focal in cm.

So, after discussion with someone working for KMZ, it appears that this lens is kind of rare "hybride" from KMZ and MMZ. In 1965, MMZ started the production of H-44 in order to support KMZ. So, KMZ sent to MMZ some machines, documations and few not finished lens in order to start from something, and get used to machines. My H-44 is certainly one of those lens that were sent from KMZ to MMZ. The lens was started in KMZ, they engraved the name ring, but not the serial number, because the lens was not finished. MMZ finished it and engraved their serial number "a la MMZ". This information looks to be confirmed by the fact that the SN of my lens is the lower he saw from MMZ Helios-44.

Undirectly, it also show that in 1965 (or 1964), KMZ was still doing Helios-44 with SN 00xxxxx , because the red P and cm disappeared during the 00 production (there are some 00 with red P, other 00 (latest) without red P... and no 0xxxx exist with red P).