My favorite Helios-40 photos

PAW-prints · Joined: 08 Dec 2009 Posts: 35 Location: Michigan, USA

Here is a sampling of my favorite photos taken with my Canon Rebel XT and my Helios-40 lens.

Here are a couple photos of the lens. I think I paid extra for the serial number, but I love it. (Hmmm, the glass looks a little yellow compared to the white paper I used as a background.)

I am not great at product photography, but the lens is in immaculate shape. I think it had never been used before I got it. I am not too crazy about how poorly the M39 to EOS adapter fits on the back of the lens. It looks a little crooked. I have an M39 to M42 adapter on the way so I will see if it makes a difference.

#1 - Although I am not too crazy about the 85mm length on the Canon Rebel, I love how this lens does portraits. I took this picture just moments after the package arrived at my house. My granddaughter is my favorite model (when she cooperates), and this is my favorite photo of her. I am not sure that the focus is exactly where I want it to be, but I think it is close enough and I love her smile and expression.

#2 - For these next few photos I used the orange filter which came with the lens and I converted the photos to B&W in GIMP.

#3 - Although sometimes the Helios-40 can give some wild swirly bokeh I think this (and the next few photos) is nicely rendered and quite smooth.

#4 - There I am reflected in my granddaughter's sunglasses.

#5

#6 - I just love how the background is so completely obliterated.

I am pretty sure all these portraits were taken wide open at f/1.5

Mal1905 · Expire: 2011-11-18

Beautiful early example of this lens Paul, it's stunning to look at. Hopefully, you'll fare out better with the M39-M42 adapter when it arrives.

And, very nice sample images Wink

PAW-prints · Joined: 08 Dec 2009 Posts: 35 Location: Michigan, USA

Here are some garden and flower "portraits" taken with my Helios-40.

#7 - This is a hanging garden decoration that I have had a super hard time getting in sharp focus with various lenses, but I think it came out great with the Helios-40.

#8 - Here is another view of that same decorative doo-dad in landscape orientation.

#9 - I don't exactly remember the aperture used here, but I think it was f/5.6 or f/8.

#10 - This photo was certainly taken at f/1.5

#11 - I love how this photo seems to show a kind of a 3-D effect.

#12 - Minimum focusing distance is 0.8m with the Helios-40 but on the Rebel XT the 85mm focal length gets in pretty close.

natebarnz · Expire: 2013-01-23

Great shots and congratulations on getting that lens. One of these days I plan to do the same!

i2b · Joined: 22 Mar 2010 Posts: 24 Location: France

Nice lens and beautiful pics.
My fav are #1 for the portraits and #10 for the bokeh.
Thanks to share.