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Helios 44-2 f/2 58mm
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 8:11 pm    Post subject: Helios 44-2 f/2 58mm Reply with quote
Hello again
I've recently pulled out and dusted off my old M42 lenses (mostly Takumars) to start using again on my digital EOS. My Dad gave me one of his which is a Helios 44-2 58mm f2. Can anyone tell me whether it is worth keeping or should I just list it on eBay? As its Russian I assume its quality is not on a par with my Pentaxes.


PostPosted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 8:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Keep keep keep! It's a clone of the Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar and can produce brilliant swirly bokeh! They don't sell for a lot, but are still great fun and produce lovely sharp images. There's a million Helios threads on this forum Laughing


PostPosted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 8:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
one of my favorites! russian lenses have a lot of 'personality' i find.


PostPosted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 8:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yes - keep it.

http://forum.mflenses.com/helios-44-2-with-pentax-200d-t18634.html

Wink


PostPosted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Ace lens best value ever for price to results definitely keep it Very Happy


PostPosted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
KEEP

It has great image quality and a LOT of character, it doesn't take up much space so there is no reason to ever sell it I say!


PostPosted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The Helios 44 bokeh always makes me a bit dizzy Wink

If your copy is good, no reason to sell it, unless the focal length is not right for you.


PostPosted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
OK - I think I get the gist of what you're saying! Very Happy
I'll give it a go and maybe post some shots on here sometime.
Thanks everyone for your input.


PostPosted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 11:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Carryduff I used to work there! Very Happy


PostPosted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 3:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
eeyore_nl wrote:
The Helios 44 bokeh always makes me a bit dizzy Wink

If your copy is good, no reason to sell it, unless the focal length is not right for you.

Agree!


PostPosted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 6:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Poolhall wrote:
Carryduff I used to work there! Very Happy


Hi
Where did you work and when?


PostPosted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 10:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Cyril Johnston & co no less about 2001 I think. Lived in NI for 23 years til 2006


PostPosted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 10:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
The Helios is definitely a keeper - every collection should have one...

...or two...

...or three...

...you get the drift Wink


PostPosted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 11:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
As a film user, find it amusing the fuss about the helios 44s (and I do have an excellent 44m).....I just pay a few ££s more and use better 50mm lenses from Canon, Konica, Minolta and Olympus or a better looking m42 50mm meyer oriston.


PostPosted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 11:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Excalibur wrote:
As a film user, find it amusing the fuss about the helios 44s (and I do have an excellent 44m).....I just pay a few ££s more and use better 50mm lenses from Canon, Konica, Minolta and Olympus or a better looking m42 50mm meyer oriston.


Personally, it's not about other lenses being 'better'. It's the character displayed by the Helios that's the attraction. I have a boatload of 5Xmm lenses - all of which cost more than even my most expensive Helios - but none of them provide results as surprisingly pleasant (or pleasantly surprising) as the little Russians Wink


PostPosted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 12:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Mal1905 wrote:
Excalibur wrote:
As a film user, find it amusing the fuss about the helios 44s (and I do have an excellent 44m).....I just pay a few ££s more and use better 50mm lenses from Canon, Konica, Minolta and Olympus or a better looking m42 50mm meyer oriston.


Personally, it's not about other lenses being 'better'. It's the character displayed by the Helios that's the attraction. I have a boatload of 5Xmm lenses - all of which cost more than even my most expensive Helios - but none of them provide results as surprisingly pleasant (or pleasantly surprising) as the little Russians Wink

+1.

As a digital AND film user, the charcter of the Helios and the Biotar are what makes them popluar on my cameras. I have other lenses which are at least as sharp in this FL, but they don't produce that magic that these seem to.

P.S Mal> How many 50mm lenses make up a boatload? I think I'm just at inflatable dingy level. Laughing


PostPosted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 2:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
you're working on coal barge volume, looks to me ... Laughing


PostPosted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 2:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
fish4570 wrote:
you're working on coal barge volume, looks to me ... Laughing


martinsmith99 wrote:
P.S Mal> How many 50mm lenses make up a boatload? I think I'm just at inflatable dingy level.


Embarassed Words like 'Fleet' and 'Armada' are ringing in my ears for some as yet to be discovered reason** Embarassed

**If you take it that I have 11 different variations of the Takumar 1.8/55, and 8 of the Takumar 2/55 to start with. Then add the 5 (I think) versions of the Takumar 1.4/50 to the mix, along with the other makers marques, it probably adds up to a lot of 5X lenses. And they're all being used on a rotating basis...


PostPosted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 2:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Bah, my list is only at 12!

I remember saying in early the Autumn of 2008 (shortly after joing this forum) that I was going to get rid of a lens and keep my current lenscount to 12 or less.

You lot have a lot to answer for!! Twisted Evil

Last edited by martinsmith99 on Thu Jan 14, 2010 7:20 am; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 2:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
martinsmith99 wrote:
You lot have a lot to answer for!! Twisted Evil


+1 Laughing

But in reality, I blame the charity shop that sold me the Pentax SMC-M 2/50 Evil or Very Mad


PostPosted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 3:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Poolhall wrote:
Cyril Johnston & co no less about 2001 I think. Lived in NI for 23 years til 2006


It's a small world - I live about half a mile from CJ's - you wouldn't recognise it now though, a lot of changes in the last few years!


PostPosted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 3:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
DigiChromeEd wrote:
It's a small world - I live about half a mile from CJ's - you wouldn't recognise it now though, a lot of changes in the last few years!


Apologies for hijacking your thread - but that's what the Helios does to you; it sends you off on tangents Laughing


PostPosted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 5:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I shudder to think how many Heliosis? Helii? Helios? standard lenses I have cos I got over 30 Zenits and they nearly all have one on Very Happy I know I have the Helios 44, in silver and black, 44-2, 4 different types, 44-3, 44M, 44M-4, 44M-5, 44M-6, 44K-4, 77M-4, 77K-4, Helios 81-H, Zenitar M 1.7, Zenitar K 1.9, Zenitar M2, and Zenitar K2- there is just no hope anymore is there and I am still looking for a Helios 44M-7 at a sensible price Very Happy Very Happy Very Happy Suppose I am at Ark Royal level now...


PostPosted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 5:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I feel quite normal!


PostPosted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 6:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Phew! I've only got two ( would have had four if some rat seller hadn't kept my money and not sent the goods, but I might not have bought the two I have if he'd sent them, and I'm quite happy with them).

Excalibur wrote:
As a film user, find it amusing the fuss about the helios 44s (and I do have an excellent 44m).....I just pay a few ££s more and use better 50mm lenses from Canon, Konica, Minolta and Olympus or a better looking m42 50mm meyer oriston.

Burn the heretic! Smile
But seriously, it's the bang for the buck, a couple of years ago anyway and even now. In M42 they provide a perfect no-risk way for many to sample MF without laying out much cash and then they can see for themselves. Luckily the H44 is so good, it leaves a good impression of Russian glass with most people - even if some of it isn't fantastic, most of it is worthwhile getting. Prices of the H44 have risen a bit, but with millions still out there I don't see them getting rare any time soon.
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