Is my Helios 44k ok?

vincechu · 03-22-2011, 01:18 PM

Hi everyone, just got a helios 44k off ebay,

Manual focus ring is quite stiff but works, just wondered if this is normal for it? might get it cleaned and lubed otherwise

Thanks in advance.

Vince

deadwolfbones · 03-22-2011, 01:29 PM - **1 Like**

Yeah, the focus rings do tend to be a bit sticky on these. As long as you can get it from one end to the other I wouldn't worry about it too much. These weren't built to Takumar standards.

Ira · 03-22-2011, 01:38 PM - **2 Likes**

The aperture ring on my 44-2 is set at like 100 pounds torque.

From those wonderful folks who brought you Chernobyl!!!

But damn, the optics make up for it.

v5planet · 03-22-2011, 01:50 PM - **4 Likes**

In Soviet Russia, lens focuses you.

vincechu · 03-22-2011, 02:15 PM

thanks everyone, though I guess I should b too fussy as the lens is a few decades old ;-)

deadwolfbones · 03-22-2011, 02:26 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by v5planet

In Soviet Russia, lens focuses you.

Excellent.

Ira · 03-22-2011, 02:34 PM

Originally posted by vincechu

thanks everyone, though I guess I should b too fussy as the lens is a few decades old ;-)

A hard focus ring is tougher to deal with than my aperture ring problem, because I'll either use it wide open for the funky bokeh, or at F8 for best IQ anyway. But tight focusing is actually a GOOD thing, so you're going to learn the place this lens should have in your arsenal as time goes by;

"There's no such thing as a bad boy, and every lens has its place."

Lenses are like having kids:

They're never all perfect, but they're yours and you love them anyway.

Ira · 03-22-2011, 02:37 PM

Also, you mentioned your lens's age:

My 44-2 is MINT. It looks like it came from the factory yesterday.

But an aperture ring that can cause hernias.

tux · 03-22-2011, 02:43 PM

My Helios focus is very heavy. I think this is normal !

jolepp · 03-22-2011, 02:51 PM

@OP: mine is not silky smooth either, but "good enough"

@Ira: you might want to try removing the spring loaded ball bearing responsible for the half-stop clicks, my aperture ring has been quite nice since that. Getting both the bearings in place seems next to impossible though

**jhaji** · 03-23-2011, 01:07 PM

Originally posted by v5planet

In Soviet Russia, lens focuses you.

I haven't been able to stop laughing since I read this yesterday. Very creative avatar too. You could give a certain someone a run for his money in Branson, MO.

Ira · 03-23-2011, 01:44 PM

Originally posted by jolepp

@OP: mine is not silky smooth either, but "good enough"

@Ira: you might want to try removing the spring loaded ball bearing responsible for the half-stop clicks, my aperture ring has been quite nice since that. Getting both the bearings in place seems next to impossible though

I'm a Jew, and not only are simple repairs like toilet assemblies really difficult to implement, but doing work on lenses is totally impossible.

Sorry to feed any stereotypes, but this one is true.

I'm spastic when it comes to this stuff.

RioRico · 03-23-2011, 01:56 PM

Originally posted by jhaji

Originally posted by v5planet:

In Soviet Russia, lens focuses you.

I haven't been able to stop laughing since I read this yesterday.

New to the Net, are we?

ultraviolet · 03-23-2011, 06:49 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by v5planet

In Soviet Russia, lens focuses you.

GOOD ONE.

My 44M was doing that, then I could not keep up for long. So relubed my 44M, remove one of the tiny ball from the aperture ring (it had two, ?). Now I CAN focus it.

@OP, not sure about 44k, but I followed this detailed link for 44m.
Retrotek Blog Blog Archive Helios 44M Aperture A/M Repair

Lloydy · 03-24-2011, 01:46 PM

Mine's stiff, with only one ball. But I love it.

03-22-2011, 01:18 PM	#1
vincechu Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 74	Is my Helios 44k ok? Hi everyone, just got a helios 44k off ebay, Manual focus ring is quite stiff but works, just wondered if this is normal for it? might get it cleaned and lubed otherwise Thanks in advance. Vince

03-23-2011, 06:49 PM - 1 Like	#14
ultraviolet Pentaxian Join Date: May 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 687	Originally posted by v5planet In Soviet Russia, lens focuses you. GOOD ONE. My 44M was doing that, then I could not keep up for long. So relubed my 44M, remove one of the tiny ball from the aperture ring (it had two, ?). Now I CAN focus it. @OP, not sure about 44k, but I followed this detailed link for 44m. Retrotek Blog Blog Archive Helios 44M Aperture A/M Repair Last edited by ultraviolet; 03-23-2011 at 06:54 PM.

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03-22-2011, 01:29 PM - 1 Like	#2
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: La Crescenta, CA Posts: 7,450	Yeah, the focus rings do tend to be a bit sticky on these. As long as you can get it from one end to the other I wouldn't worry about it too much. These weren't built to Takumar standards.

03-22-2011, 01:38 PM - 2 Likes	#3
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	The aperture ring on my 44-2 is set at like 100 pounds torque. From those wonderful folks who brought you Chernobyl!!! But damn, the optics make up for it.

03-22-2011, 01:50 PM - 4 Likes	#4
v5planet Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Seattle Photos: Albums Posts: 1,915	In Soviet Russia, lens focuses you.

03-22-2011, 02:15 PM	#5
vincechu Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 74 Original Poster	thanks everyone, though I guess I should b too fussy as the lens is a few decades old ;-)

03-22-2011, 02:26 PM - 1 Like	#6
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: La Crescenta, CA Posts: 7,450	Originally posted by v5planet In Soviet Russia, lens focuses you. Excellent.

03-22-2011, 02:34 PM	#7
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	Originally posted by vincechu thanks everyone, though I guess I should b too fussy as the lens is a few decades old ;-) A hard focus ring is tougher to deal with than my aperture ring problem, because I'll either use it wide open for the funky bokeh, or at F8 for best IQ anyway. But tight focusing is actually a GOOD thing, so you're going to learn the place this lens should have in your arsenal as time goes by; "There's no such thing as a bad boy, and every lens has its place." Lenses are like having kids: They're never all perfect, but they're yours and you love them anyway.

03-22-2011, 02:37 PM	#8
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	Also, you mentioned your lens's age: My 44-2 is MINT. It looks like it came from the factory yesterday. But an aperture ring that can cause hernias.

03-22-2011, 02:43 PM	#9
tux Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 82	My Helios focus is very heavy. I think this is normal !

03-22-2011, 02:51 PM	#10
jolepp Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Finland Photos: Albums Posts: 3,196	@OP: mine is not silky smooth either, but "good enough" @Ira: you might want to try removing the spring loaded ball bearing responsible for the half-stop clicks, my aperture ring has been quite nice since that. Getting both the bearings in place seems next to impossible though

03-23-2011, 01:07 PM	#11
jhaji Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,141	Originally posted by v5planet In Soviet Russia, lens focuses you. I haven't been able to stop laughing since I read this yesterday. Very creative avatar too. You could give a certain someone a run for his money in Branson, MO.

03-23-2011, 01:44 PM	#12
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	Originally posted by jolepp @OP: mine is not silky smooth either, but "good enough" @Ira: you might want to try removing the spring loaded ball bearing responsible for the half-stop clicks, my aperture ring has been quite nice since that. Getting both the bearings in place seems next to impossible though I'm a Jew, and not only are simple repairs like toilet assemblies really difficult to implement, but doing work on lenses is totally impossible. Sorry to feed any stereotypes, but this one is true. I'm spastic when it comes to this stuff.

03-23-2011, 01:56 PM	#13
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Originally posted by jhaji Originally posted by v5planet: In Soviet Russia, lens focuses you. I haven't been able to stop laughing since I read this yesterday. New to the Net, are we?

03-24-2011, 01:46 PM	#15
Lloydy Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Shropshire, UK Posts: 1,114	Mine's stiff, with only one ball. But I love it.