ok, first shots with helios 44-2/spotmatic: bokeh lives

[fish4570]

pentax sp1000, helios 44-2, fuji 400 asa superia, f2-f5.6, assorted shutter speeds:

nandina in winter:



what's left of a shrub's flower (notice the booger in lower middle; it's now been removed from front of lens; aarrgghh!):



dead oak branch, covered with mist, lichen:



winter dead primrose blossoms (stiff breeze; blossoms a bit fuzzy even at 1/250th):



some of my wife's knitting needles:

[Esox lucius]

Beautiful color tones!

The "busy" or "swirly" Biotar bokeh is a matter of taste, and mine isn't developed in a way that I would appreciate it. I find it distracting attention from areas in focus and sometimes even head-ache inducing. I understand however why the special look has its own solid fanclub; the effect is interesting, as shown in yours and many other's photos.

[fish4570]

i accidentally bought the lens on e-bay. i had meant to bid on something else. anyhow, i can see what the bokeh buzz is all about now. i think bw portraits might be its best use. hey, for $15 ...

[martinsmith99]

The bokeh looks quite tame here.

I'm glad you like the lens. It is great for the price it is found. Next stop, Biotar?

[fish4570]

i like that the bokeh in this lens does not have a specific shape to it. i've always been a depth of field fellow for more detail, especialy with my mini-scapes. but this lens has a certain charm.

biotar? i don't know about that. i reckon i'll be hapopy for quite a while after my most recent 2 e-bay purchases arrive (super tak f2 normal and vivitar - tokina-made - 2.8/35) arrive.

my long-range hope is a well-maintained leica m2 or m3 with collapsible elmar 2.8/50 OR an excellent-plus canon P with a couple or three or four canon and russian normal screwmount lenses.