[paulh]

Now...to the OP...

The degree of Helios "swirlies" is highly variable, even within the same series and is dependent somewhat on choice of subject. For years, I swore that my 44M did not swirl; that is, until one day I got a swirly image. For example:

Steve

Gorgeous shots, Steve.

[stevebrot]

Gorgeous shots, Steve.

Thanks!

I have read a number of discussions regarding the swirlies. One explanation is that they are the result of lax assembly standards combined with the lens design. In any case, they are very fun when you have a lens that makes them!

Steve

[Jean Poitiers]

Nice shots Steve ... and my Helios (44-2 & 44M) haven't produced any swirls to date ... J

[stevebrot]

Dang...just when I think I have it cured! These Helios threads bring up the old urge to get the MC version of the Helios 44-3.

...must resist...must resist...


Steve

[mikeSF]

Helios fan checking in. I don't have any current pics to post, but I'm watching all of you with interest!

[GnipGnop]

Mine swirls a bit.

[mikeSF]

Love that last one

[ultraviolet]

The whole leafy background was one giant swirl!!!

Helios 44M

[jido]

Helios 44M

Ah! I smile, I smile!
Great subject.

[Lloydy]

Looking for swirly Helios pictures I found this -




But it's not from any of the many Helios 44-2 and 44M that I've got stashed away. It's a Chinon Auto Reflex 2.8 / 28 which is giving the same swirls as a Helios is reputed to do. But although I have had swirls from bot Helios, I don't seem to get it frequently,




This is typical, and a shot where I know the Chinon would give me the swirls. I think it's very dependent on the situation, the light and highlights and the aperture, there's a bit of photographic voodoo going on that is maybe more random than forced?

[minahasa]

I've had 4 different Helios 44, all swirls.. You have just to find the 'sweet composition': the distance of the cam - object - background and also what kind of backgrounds swirls noticeably more. Can't dig deep into my files, but manage to find these:













The last one is at MFD, if I'm not mistaken.

[stevebrot]

I have noticed that there are oval-lenticular highlight images towards the margins in some Helios photos and swirl without highlight images in others. The two might be related, but might not.


Steve

[Lloydy]

I think you're right Steve, it is dependent on the highlights. In circumstances where the highlights are muted or non existent the Helios performs pretty much as any other lens of its type. This is wide open with a 44M and the background is between 1 and 2 meters away.



I've quickly looked through hundreds of Helios 44M and 44-2 pictures and I can't find any swirly bokeh pic's. Most of my stuff is close / detail pictures shot wide - usually a stop or two down at most - and that's where I would expect the swirls.
This is about the best I can find for wide open and backlit, but there's an ND4 filter chopping the light down.


And I don't think that shows big swirls, there's a bit in the water reflection but that's very little and might not actually be the swirly attribute of the lens ? I think it is strong and small pinpoints of back light at certain apertures that cause it, I don't think it's an automatic feature of the lens.

I'm not sure what the design of the Chinon is compared to the Helios, but the swirls from that lens is hard to get away from. I actually dislike the swirly bokeh, but I use both the Helios types a great deal on various cameras from K10, NEX to an assortment of film bodies. Perhaps we have different light over here?

[mikeSF]

Helios 44M

Images are unavailable, but I'd love to see them.

[mikeSF]

This is not a particularly interesting photo but was a snapshot from Easter many years ago and it demonstrates some swirl