I have 2 Helios 44s... (the -2 and the -5) they are different from each other and both quite fun. I don't think any suffers as much from astigmatism as your, kcobain1992, though.
Another soviet lens that I like for portraits is the Jupiter 37A, a 135 3.5 -- also very unexpensive, and that DOF is thin enough for me. No coating on mine; find that the (very common) flare can sometimes even be creatively exploited.
Originally posted by RioRico A good 1.5x screw-on TC (like my Sony VC-1546A) stretches the focal length, turning my K50/1.2 into a 75/1.2 monster. And my 15-blade Meyer Trioplan 100/2.8 becomes a razor-thin 150/2.8 with a magickal glow. Ooh la la!
I have never used a teleconverter, but don't those things reduce your effective aperture? So that the K50 1.2 would turn into a 75 1.7?