Helios 44M gets a test run

[walter23]

I'm too busy for real photography these days, so instead I spend a bit of time on ebay looking for bargains and fiddle around with gear in my spare time. Got this from a member of a different forum; a helios-44M russian lens (58mm f/2). Blazingly sharp! Another fun toy / tool to put to use once I get some free time this summer. This lens cost $25. Not bad for an f/2, wickedly sharp prime!

[walter23]

Full size view: man that's sharp! This is at f/5.6.

[Farside]

They really are excellent and the prices are going up, albeit slowly. There's a bit of quality control issue with them and it can be a lottery, but they're so cheap it's worth taking a chance on one. It's a lens everyone should have, and (probable exagerration) millions were made, so there's no shortage.

[themoleman342]

No exaggeration there. There were about 12 million Zenit-E line cameras. It was the MOST massed produced SLR in the world. Even if the helios was an 'upgrade' to the standard industar, there still had to be quite a few.

Very nice shots, you definitely have a great copy. Try it for portraiture wide open. I think you'll like the characteristic nature of it.

~Marc

[Poolhall]

The Helios 44 has to be the best lens ever in terms of cost effectiveness, if you have a bad one buy another

[walter23]