Guess the Bokeh

[maddog10]

Shot on the Canon 5D (finally )
Wide open at 1.5 (big hint!)

[Orio]

Helios-40 or 40-2

[Katastrofo]

Big hint, big lens!

[maddog10]

Yes, Helios-40.

Still have a lot to learn when shooting with the 5D.

[Barata]

I like the perspective... and colors.

[Bob]

Amazing lens and camera....... Auhhhhh camera envy

[patrickh]

Michael
That is one of the most frustrating lenses I have ever used. I still cannot anticipate what effect I might get from it and the boke can be awful


patrickh

[maddog10]

[Orio]

Use it stopped down

[DSG]

I have the Helios 40 85mm f1.5 and I have compared it to the Carl Zeiss 85mm f1.4 Planar T*.
The Zeiss is'nt really niticably sharper than the Helios WO but the where there is'nt too much much fine detail in the subject the bokeh of each is almost identical:



However, where there is a lot fine detail, the Zeiss has smoother bokeh at the corners with the smoothness of bokeh at the center being virtually identical to the Helios:



There is a noticable difference in the shape of each lenses OOF highlights though as the Helios OOF highlights look eliptical where the Zeiss OOF highlights look much more circular:



Conclusion: The Zeiss is clearly the better lens but you can get similar results with the Helios, for a lot less money.

Images resized - please observe the 900 width limit or post in the oversized gallery. Thankyou

[Nesster]

Interesting, the mystery pic has not only the elliptical highlights in the bokeh but I see the swirly thing going on as well.

What is it that makes that swirly thing happen?

[DSG]

[F16SUNSHINE]

Mike your copy of this lens has the Bokeh that people look for. I have seen some with a less pronounced effect.
That swirling "halo" is what people love from this lens. You should keep it for sure. Use becomes easier with practice.
Not all copies have this effect so pronounced. You have what people want and desire from this lens.
I don't think it is realistic to compare the Planar with the Helios.
The Helios open is almost a kind of "special effects" lens that yes, is quite sharp stopped down. I don't imply it was designed this way however.
The planar is more for consistent performance across the apertures and classic Zeiss.

[LucisPictor]

This swirling effect would not be there if the highlights were circular.
But in the first pic the bokeh highlights are ovals each with a transversal axis in different angles that follow the tangent of one big circle which creates this swriling effect.

BTW, congratulations to both the lens and the cam!

[VGR]

helios-40 magic lens ...

f/1.5

[maddog10]

Thanks!

I was keeping this one anyway

Have had the 5D for a little while, just never want to put my Nikons down

My D3 is perfect for everything (except mounting other manufacturers lenses)

[sichko]

Perhaps the following might be interesting.

Helios 40-2 with Kood infinity (glass) adapter on Nikon D40x; ambient + flash; hand held (shake - the lens is heavy); "rough and ready" edit.

Subject from the front f/5.6


Now from the side, f/1.5


100% crop


and another


f/4


50% crop