Helios 44K-4 Multi-Coated?

Odinz · Joined: 09 Jul 2011 Posts: 14 Location: Fairfax, Virginia

I have a question for all of the Helios experts out there concerning the Helios 44K-4.

Most of the Helios 44's that have I have seen that have multi-coating have an 'MC' imprinted on the ring on the front of the lens. I have read in many places that it is thought that all of the 44K-4 versions of this lens are multi-coated, but I have seen copies of the lens that had Latin style lettering with and without the 'MC' so I assumed that some did and some didn't have multi-coating. But in looking at these lenses I noticed that I have never seen a copy of the 44K with cyrillic lettering that had an 'MC' on it (maybe I've just never come across one), implying that none of the non-exported versions had multi-coating. I've never checked the serial numbers to compare build dates of various lenses, so I wonder if it was just originally assumed that it was multi-coated so they didn't bother to mark it on domestic lenses? Is there any way to tell if the lens is single or multi-coated by just looking at it.

Thanks,
Steve

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

I've never seen a single-coated K-mount Helios-44. Moreover, only MC versions of this lens (the 44K variants) are mentioned on the factory Web site: http://www.zenitcamera.com/archive/lenses/helios-44.html

MC versions of Helios lenses usually have bright, saturated pink, blue, magenta and orange reflections, with some elements still reflecting pale yellow. Non-MC (single coated) Helios-44 lens reflections were typically pale yellow with magenta and/or purple elements.

Odinz · Joined: 09 Jul 2011 Posts: 14 Location: Fairfax, Virginia

Thanks Aoleg for the info on the color of the coatings I'll check mine out. The reason I asked the question was that I had read the factory site and had always thought that was the case concerning the MC, that all of the 44K's had it. But a quick search of the web produced the following images:

This first one shows a 44K lens with Latin text and and 'MC'
#1

This one is Latin text without the 'MC'
#2

Cyrillic lettering without the 'MC'
#3

Another cyrillic lettering without the 'MC' (I've only seen about a half dozen or so of these cyrillic ones and I have never seen one with 'MC' printed on it)
#4

The Rear of the second lens with cyrillic lettering, the light reflections appear to me to be pink, blue and orange suggesting multi-coating
#5

If these are in fact all multi-coated, and they just printed it on some of them, it might also mean that some of the 44m-4 that don't have 'MC' on them may be multi-coated as well.

dimitrygo · Joined: 01 Apr 2009 Posts: 561

The manufacturer site is very incomplete. I wouldn't rely on its information. I haven't held any Helios 44K lens in my hands but some of them definitely don't look MC

erkie · Joined: 08 Oct 2011 Posts: 308 Location: Missouri

I have owned the 44K 4. For several years and mine is NOT multicoated . It is single coated on the outer element at least . A lens shade works wonders on it ( but it works wonders on most lenses ) and I like its colors very much . I have to admit that I like many single and non coated lenses though .