New arrivals – Biotar and Helios

[Fotal]

Alright, ok, so the cynical one within me says that these two were nothing more than a bad compensation for the new EF 200/2 but hey … $6k? Feels a little steep right now.
Seems nice though and even sharper than EF 200/1.8.

Anyways, the Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 5,8cm/2 was a real bummer: le fungus grande.
Super stiff focus ring and in general dirty I can live with but this pup needs to be taken apart to try to clean out the fungus.
(no I will not loose any sleep over it as it was cheap)

Helios-44M-7 58/2 is in nice shape with a little stiff focus ring but nothing to write home about. I have the 44-2 already but the 44M-7 is supposed to be a little bit sharper, have to test that someday.

And a couple of quick samples, taken rather late this evening:

1. Helios-44M-7@f2


2. Helios-44M-7@f2 - crop


3. CSJ Biotar 5.8cm@f2


4. CSJ Biotar 5.8cm@f2 - crop


Though the Biotar seems a little softer here at wide open it makes some great progress already at f2.8.
I like the Biotar better, a little cooler in the images but gives something back in out of focus areas that the Helios can't deliver.

[themoleman342]

Nice sample shots, I'd love to see a comparison between your helios 44-2 and 44m-7. A real comprehensive test between the versions is never done. It would be a nice addition to this forum....at least to someone who loves these russian standards, like me!

~Marc

[Brian]

Can you use some of the elements from the Helios to replace the damaged glass in the Biotar? Is it close enough of a copy?

[Fotal]

[Fotal]