Good news for the manual lens lovers: New Helios 40-2

borish · 09-16-2012, 12:07 AM - **1 Like**

Russian lens manufacturer is restarting the production of the famous Helios 40-2 portrait lenses 85mm/f1.5
The soviet version of this lens got it's price quite inflated on ebay during the last few years,
but now there will be a chance to get it new for about 250$ (hopefully with much better quality control than soviets had).
It is unclear yet, which mounts will be supported. I'd like to see K-mount version...

Here is the a google translate link for the original blog post in russian:

Google Translate

blende8 · 09-16-2012, 01:55 AM

Thank you very much for the info!
Please keep us informed!

NKK · 09-16-2012, 03:04 AM

This looks interesting - hoping for a K-Mount too...

LeFanch · 09-16-2012, 03:10 AM

That's great news! I love Russian lenses, and never had a chance to own this one... :-)

Na Horuk · 09-16-2012, 05:21 AM

Ha, that is pretty cool. Hopefully they will improve the design and not make it worse. Will it come in m42 or K mount?

panoguy · 09-16-2012, 05:39 AM

Strange, but good news. So zavod Arsenal is back to consumer lens production? I wonder what happened to the reorganization and SKTB?

zosxavius · 09-16-2012, 05:44 AM

Fascinating! I want!

Belcik · 09-16-2012, 06:52 AM

For those interested:

There is a 20% discount till 7.10.2012 Zenit Discount
And they are on Photokina in 03.1 stand С-014 Photokina

**Deimos** · 09-16-2012, 07:15 AM

Very cool

aurele · 09-16-2012, 10:21 AM

woot woot ! that's sound very interesting

**ChrisPlatt** · 09-16-2012, 06:11 PM

Couldn't glean much meaningful information from Google Translate,
but it was good for a laugh, as usual...

Chris

Pinkerator · 12-04-2012, 07:37 AM

Anyone want to get this lens?

lytrytyr · 12-04-2012, 10:31 AM

Reality check here:

Helios 40-2 85mm f/1.5 (M42 to Pentax) - Review / Test Report

Ikarus · 12-04-2012, 12:29 PM

Originally posted by lytrytyr

Helios 40-2 85mm f/1.5 (M42 to Pentax) - Review / Test Report

Interesting, but at the current price levels for this lens, the price/performance rating cannot possibly be anywhere near 5 out of 5 stars. The much better and cheaper Samyang/Rokinon/Bower/etc. 85mm f/1.4 has that covered. $250 is more like it, but even at that price, I'd still go for the Samyang, unless there are changes to the design improving on the old.

lytrytyr · 12-04-2012, 12:46 PM

Originally posted by Ikarus

The much better and cheaper Samyang/Rokinon/Bower/etc. 85mm f/1.4 has that covered.

Maybe not cheaper (USD 300 currently at B&H),
but certainly lighter, and a much more up-to-date performance level.

09-16-2012, 12:07 AM - 1 Like	#1
borish New Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 21	Good news for the manual lens lovers: New Helios 40-2 Russian lens manufacturer is restarting the production of the famous Helios 40-2 portrait lenses 85mm/f1.5 The soviet version of this lens got it's price quite inflated on ebay during the last few years, but now there will be a chance to get it new for about 250$ (hopefully with much better quality control than soviets had). It is unclear yet, which mounts will be supported. I'd like to see K-mount version... Here is the a google translate link for the original blog post in russian: Google Translate

12-04-2012, 12:29 PM	#14
Ikarus Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: California Photos: Albums Posts: 484	Originally posted by lytrytyr Helios 40-2 85mm f/1.5 (M42 to Pentax) - Review / Test Report Interesting, but at the current price levels for this lens, the price/performance rating cannot possibly be anywhere near 5 out of 5 stars. The much better and cheaper Samyang/Rokinon/Bower/etc. 85mm f/1.4 has that covered. $250 is more like it, but even at that price, I'd still go for the Samyang, unless there are changes to the design improving on the old. Last edited by Ikarus; 12-04-2012 at 12:50 PM.

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09-16-2012, 01:55 AM	#2
blende8 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bremen, Germany Photos: Albums Posts: 1,521	Thank you very much for the info! Please keep us informed!

09-16-2012, 03:04 AM	#3
NKK Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Malmö, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 583	This looks interesting - hoping for a K-Mount too...

09-16-2012, 03:10 AM	#4
LeFanch Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Working in Norway, Bordeaux area when on time-off Posts: 123	That's great news! I love Russian lenses, and never had a chance to own this one... :-)

09-16-2012, 05:21 AM	#5
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Ha, that is pretty cool. Hopefully they will improve the design and not make it worse. Will it come in m42 or K mount?

09-16-2012, 05:39 AM	#6
panoguy Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Washington, D.C. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,327	Strange, but good news. So zavod Arsenal is back to consumer lens production? I wonder what happened to the reorganization and SKTB?

09-16-2012, 05:44 AM	#7
zosxavius Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Somewhere, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 458	Fascinating! I want!

09-16-2012, 06:52 AM	#8
Belcik Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Russia,Moscow Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 377	For those interested: There is a 20% discount till 7.10.2012 Zenit Discount And they are on Photokina in 03.1 stand С-014 Photokina

09-16-2012, 07:15 AM	#9
Deimos Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Kingdom of Wonder Posts: 1,777	Very cool

09-16-2012, 10:21 AM	#10
aurele Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Paris, France Photos: Albums Posts: 3,217	woot woot ! that's sound very interesting

09-16-2012, 06:11 PM	#11
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,692	Couldn't glean much meaningful information from Google Translate, but it was good for a laugh, as usual... Chris

12-04-2012, 07:37 AM	#12
Pinkerator New Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 1	Anyone want to get this lens?

12-04-2012, 10:31 AM	#13
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Reality check here: Helios 40-2 85mm f/1.5 (M42 to Pentax) - Review / Test Report

12-04-2012, 12:46 PM	#15
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by Ikarus The much better and cheaper Samyang/Rokinon/Bower/etc. 85mm f/1.4 has that covered. Maybe not cheaper (USD 300 currently at B&H), but certainly lighter, and a much more up-to-date performance level.