I bought some cheapo optical slave strobes and was playing around. This is from my first attempt with them. I tweaked the exposure and contrast post (and converted to bw as well).
So glad to see you got the pin issue fixed with this lens... Love the shot. What are your cheapo optical slave strobes? And how cheapo were they?
You just echoed my sentiments on this lens... I still love this lens...
I took one of my favorite shots ever, last week with it...
keep them coming... Ps is the guitar player related to you? Or a model
Beautiful image Gus. And thanks.
The guitar player is my number 2 son. He's 16. He was practicing when I made him model for me and I told him to just sit and keep playing. So he sat there and serenaded me while I played cameras and lights. I was entirely too close the the wall but that is kind of a problem in my house. The only place I can get away from the wall, there's a window. I'm working on clearing out the basement so I can set up a quasi-studio down there.
The strobes are just an sp midi and an sp mini, $25 and $20 respectively. They run on 2 AA batteries. The have the holes in them so you can mount them on a stand. They're about 2 x 2.5 x 1 inches in size but kick out decent light for their size. The cheaper one has a little stand with a suction cup to you can stick to smooth surfaces too. I have the other one on my old tripod (head broke so it's a light stand now - recycling).
I have a lot of learning to do but at least I didn't have to break the bank to get started with lighting at least. These should be decent enough for kid portraits in the basement studio untill I can afford better.
here's my Helios 44M - it was my dad's, bought brand new in moscow, USSR, with zenit EM camera, somewhere in early 1980s.
camera still works, lens still works, on both film and digital cameras.
Helios-44M 2/58:
Helios-44M mounted on K100D Super:
closeup bokeh shot, f/2.0 and f/2.8:
strange circular flares around lights:
all photos are not edited in photoshop, just resized for flickr/forum.
Yours still looks brand new... and some nice shots. The 44-M's have a 'look' to them for sure.
Keep posting those shots...
thanks!
yeah, it looks almost mint, there are some minor signs of brassing on focus ring and some sanding marks on mount - i had to sand off the paint from screw thread, it was too thick to screw it on the adapter.
i'll try to get a 44-2 model, and write up a small comparison chart, along with photos.
Great photos with the Helios 44! I bought the Helios 44-2 a few months back and haven't used it often due to the lens being loose on my K10D. Looking at the 44-M series, I noticed the base of the lens will be flush with the flange on the camera, so I should have bought one of them. Optically the 44-2 is really good but just a tad annoying to use, maybe it needs another chance.
Actually that is a fun idea... I have stuck the raynox on the front of it and loved the results... So maybe an hour playing rev mount macro shooter would be fun.
thanks
gus
ps thanks the the industar info and examples too... I think I will try and grab one.
figmental said:
"Optically the 44-2 is really good but just a tad annoying to use, ... "
Did you consider taping the lens/bayonet junction?
I'm doing this quite a lot, and it helps with wobbling lenses and such. Actually I am also taping the two holes that appear with tiny lenses on the adapter (not the genuine Pentax adapter).
Try to get black quality (non-smeering) webbing tape, it's really worth it. Usually some tape on the bottom junction is enough. When de-taping, pull off gently and then re-apply several times if any residues are left. It will all end up on the tape again after some tries.
Mel, incredible shot and I guess this is some sea animals housing.
Here's some random stuff from the station where I change trains, checking the MC Jupiter 37A 3.5/135. Shot full open or a tad down to f4 on K100D, another 'long bokeh' check. The lens is said to have the exact same lens scheme as its Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar revenant.
Did you consider taping the lens/bayonet junction?
I'm doing this quite a lot, and it helps with wobbling lenses and such. Actually I am also taping the two holes that appear with tiny lenses on the adapter (not the genuine Pentax adapter).
Try to get black quality (non-smeering) webbing tape, it's really worth it. Usually some tape on the bottom junction is enough. When de-taping, pull off gently and then re-apply several times if any residues are left. It will all end up on the tape again after some tries.
Best, Georg (the other)
Thanks for the tip, do you have any photos for reference? I like to swap m42 lenses often so will this taping remedy affect that?