What does "R" stands for in a Helios lens?

drypenn · 01-12-2015, 08:23 PM

I got my first Russian lens today: Helios 44K-4, and I'm baffled by the inscription "R" in the aperture scale right before f/2. What does it stands for? (Wild guess: "Rewind"? during the film era?) What does it do?

First impression: Other than focusing ring going counterclockwise, and a bit tight nearing the infinity, I think that I'm going to like the lens' very unique rendering,

severalsnakes · 01-12-2015, 08:36 PM

Originally posted by drypenn

I got my first Russian lens today: Helios 44K-4, and I'm baffled by the inscription "R" in the aperture scale right before f/2. What does it stands for? (Wild guess: "Rewind"? during the film era?) What does it do?

First impression: Other than focusing ring going counterclockwise, and a bit tight nearing the infinity, I think that I'm going to like the lens' very unique rendering,

That is for infrared (*hyperfocal) focusing, isn't it? I believe other manual lenses will just have a red mark, not always noted with an "R".

calsan · 01-12-2015, 08:37 PM - **3 Likes**

I looked up google translate and "Rоблин" is Russian for goblin. I think the goblin / pixie dust is activated at the R on the scale. Hope this helps... ;-)

alexcam · 01-12-2015, 08:50 PM

Originally posted by severalsnakes

That is for infrared (*hyperfocal) focusing, isn't it? I believe other manual lenses will just have a red mark, not always noted with an "R".

In the film days if you were shooting infrared film, you would focus normally and then "shift" your focus point to align with the red line or in your case the red R.

ABel · 01-13-2015, 01:18 AM

Originally posted by alexcam

In the film days if you were shooting infrared film, you would focus normally and then "shift" your focus point to align with the red line or in your case the red R.

Absolutely correct.

In the lens manual, the focusing description includes (in my rough translation):
"When working with an infrared film, the reference index of the distance scale is marked by a red line with "R" letter. After the focusing, you should shift the focusing ring so the distance scale value pointed by the regular index would align with the red line with "R" letter."

mikeSF · 01-13-2015, 02:05 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by calsan

I looked up google translate and "Rоблин" is Russian for goblin. I think the goblin / pixie dust is activated at the R on the scale. Hope this helps... ;-)

I'm going with this answer.

**blackcloudbrew** · 01-13-2015, 02:26 PM - **1 Like**

Calsan is such a kidder. But he is very likely right as well.

01-12-2015, 08:23 PM	#1
drypenn Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 963	What does "R" stands for in a Helios lens? I got my first Russian lens today: Helios 44K-4, and I'm baffled by the inscription "R" in the aperture scale right before f/2. What does it stands for? (Wild guess: "Rewind"? during the film era?) What does it do? First impression: Other than focusing ring going counterclockwise, and a bit tight nearing the infinity, I think that I'm going to like the lens' very unique rendering,

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01-12-2015, 08:36 PM	#2
severalsnakes Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Kansas City, KS Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,612	Originally posted by drypenn I got my first Russian lens today: Helios 44K-4, and I'm baffled by the inscription "R" in the aperture scale right before f/2. What does it stands for? (Wild guess: "Rewind"? during the film era?) What does it do? First impression: Other than focusing ring going counterclockwise, and a bit tight nearing the infinity, I think that I'm going to like the lens' very unique rendering, That is for infrared (*hyperfocal) focusing, isn't it? I believe other manual lenses will just have a red mark, not always noted with an "R".

01-12-2015, 08:37 PM - 3 Likes	#3
calsan Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,549	I looked up google translate and "Rоблин" is Russian for goblin. I think the goblin / pixie dust is activated at the R on the scale. Hope this helps... ;-)

01-12-2015, 08:50 PM	#4
alexcam Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 50	Originally posted by severalsnakes That is for infrared (*hyperfocal) focusing, isn't it? I believe other manual lenses will just have a red mark, not always noted with an "R". In the film days if you were shooting infrared film, you would focus normally and then "shift" your focus point to align with the red line or in your case the red R.

01-13-2015, 01:18 AM	#5
ABel Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Middle of Siberia Photos: Gallery Posts: 212	Originally posted by alexcam In the film days if you were shooting infrared film, you would focus normally and then "shift" your focus point to align with the red line or in your case the red R. Absolutely correct. In the lens manual, the focusing description includes (in my rough translation): "When working with an infrared film, the reference index of the distance scale is marked by a red line with "R" letter. After the focusing, you should shift the focusing ring so the distance scale value pointed by the regular index would align with the red line with "R" letter."

01-13-2015, 02:05 AM - 2 Likes	#6
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,622	Originally posted by calsan I looked up google translate and "Rоблин" is Russian for goblin. I think the goblin / pixie dust is activated at the R on the scale. Hope this helps... ;-) I'm going with this answer.

01-13-2015, 02:26 PM - 1 Like	#7
blackcloudbrew Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cotati, California USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,461	Calsan is such a kidder. But he is very likely right as well.