Helios-44M revisited...

**Rense** · 07-17-2009, 04:18 AM

Wel... I've got a Helios-44M-4 for some time now, but since yesterday, I have a Helios-44M too. It came as an extra with my newly aquired Asahi Pentax Auto Bellows on the front side (and an extra Spotmatic on the rear side too...). Put it on my K20 and made some photos of sweat peas and Trachelospermum in our back yard, all wide open.

Why do I not use this lens more often

?

MattGunn · 07-17-2009, 09:48 AM

The Helios 44 was the first slr lens I used, on a Zenit EM. They take good greater than 1:1 macro shots in combination with a bellows, especially reverse mounted with a suitable adapter ring.

stevebrot · 07-17-2009, 09:49 AM

Nice shots Rense. I have been borrowing ISO50's Helios 44M-4 and have been very impressed. So much so that I have purchased my own Helios 44M (eight blades with A/M switch) and should be taking delivery maybe on Monday. I guess that means I should probably get ISO50's lens back to him

Steve

Igilligan · 07-17-2009, 10:03 AM

They are deliciously Helios....

Revisited? Mine screams from the bag if I have the Tair 11A on the camera...

Is it crazy to love a cheap old russian lens this much?

With the Helios at 58mm and the Jupiter at 85mm and the Tair at 135.... there is seldom a lens that starts with a 'P' on my camera anymore.

If I could find a 20mm and a 300mm that gives me that 'look' I would be done for a while.

deadwolfbones · 07-17-2009, 10:18 AM

Anyone ever taken one of these apart? I need to clean out a single speck of fungus in one of the rear elements of mine.

Igilligan · 07-17-2009, 10:26 AM

but if you pop into the mflenses.com forum and ask in the 'equipment care and repair' section you would get some help I am sure.

MattGunn · 07-17-2009, 10:29 AM

This is one of the few lenses I have that I have not opened yet. There is a diagram of the optical arrangement here though:
Helios 44M-x 2/58 Lens
Which model do you have (the old ones are significantly differemt from the newer auto ones)? If I have the same one I may open it up just to see how its assembled.

**Rense** · 07-17-2009, 10:52 AM

Thank you guys! I like this M44 more than my M44-4, because the lack of the a/m switch of the last....

IS050 · 07-17-2009, 10:53 AM

Originally posted by Rense

Wow, this picture is awesome, I had tried so many time to catch the bees with flowers and never been able to produce an images close to yours! Great lighting & bokeh. good job!

@ Steve, Glad you found one and even has the A/M switch so no need to fix the pins!

**Rense** · 07-17-2009, 10:53 AM

Originally posted by Igilligan

They are deliciously Helios....

Is it crazy to love a cheap old russian lens this much?

Yes. But does that matter

?

Igilligan · 07-17-2009, 12:00 PM

Just how great that hoverfly shot is... man it is sharp.

And at a shutterspeed of 4000 it could not have been stopped down too much! Do you remember what your aperture was?

P.S. You have a great copy of the 44M... and I agree about the A/M switch.

**Rense** · 07-17-2009, 12:06 PM

Originally posted by IS050

Wow, this picture is awesome, I had tried so many time to catch the bees with flowers and never been able to produce an images close to yours! Great lighting & bokeh. good job!

Originally posted by Igilligan

Just how great that hoverfly shot is... man it is sharp.

And at a shutterspeed of 4000 it could not have been stopped down too much! Do you remember what your aperture was?

P.S. You have a great copy of the 44M... and I agree about the A/M switch.

Thank you both! It was wide open Gus...

Igilligan · 07-17-2009, 12:07 PM

Originally posted by Rense

Thank you both! It was wide open Gus...

Wide open? That is sick!

**Rense** · 07-17-2009, 12:08 PM

No, that's luck!

kuuan · 07-17-2009, 01:15 PM

amazing in every possible way...light, sharpness, detail colors, oof...MAN, this is a GREAT shot, congratulations!

07-17-2009, 04:18 AM	#1
Rense Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zetten - The Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,050	Helios-44M revisited... Wel... I've got a Helios-44M-4 for some time now, but since yesterday, I have a Helios-44M too. It came as an extra with my newly aquired Asahi Pentax Auto Bellows on the front side (and an extra Spotmatic on the rear side too...). Put it on my K20 and made some photos of sweat peas and Trachelospermum in our back yard, all wide open. Why do I not use this lens more often ?

07-17-2009, 10:03 AM	#4
Igilligan Guest	Wow those are nice... They are deliciously Helios.... Revisited? Mine screams from the bag if I have the Tair 11A on the camera... Is it crazy to love a cheap old russian lens this much? With the Helios at 58mm and the Jupiter at 85mm and the Tair at 135.... there is seldom a lens that starts with a 'P' on my camera anymore. If I could find a 20mm and a 300mm that gives me that 'look' I would be done for a while.

07-17-2009, 10:26 AM	#6
Igilligan Guest	I have not, but but if you pop into the mflenses.com forum and ask in the 'equipment care and repair' section you would get some help I am sure.

07-17-2009, 12:00 PM	#11
Igilligan Guest	I forgot to mention Just how great that hoverfly shot is... man it is sharp. And at a shutterspeed of 4000 it could not have been stopped down too much! Do you remember what your aperture was? P.S. You have a great copy of the 44M... and I agree about the A/M switch.

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07-17-2009, 09:48 AM	#2
MattGunn Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Wales Photos: Gallery Posts: 347	The Helios 44 was the first slr lens I used, on a Zenit EM. They take good greater than 1:1 macro shots in combination with a bellows, especially reverse mounted with a suitable adapter ring.

07-17-2009, 09:49 AM	#3
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Nice shots Rense. I have been borrowing ISO50's Helios 44M-4 and have been very impressed. So much so that I have purchased my own Helios 44M (eight blades with A/M switch) and should be taking delivery maybe on Monday. I guess that means I should probably get ISO50's lens back to him Steve

07-17-2009, 10:18 AM	#5
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: La Crescenta, CA Posts: 7,450	Anyone ever taken one of these apart? I need to clean out a single speck of fungus in one of the rear elements of mine.

07-17-2009, 10:29 AM	#7
MattGunn Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Wales Photos: Gallery Posts: 347	This is one of the few lenses I have that I have not opened yet. There is a diagram of the optical arrangement here though: Helios 44M-x 2/58 Lens Which model do you have (the old ones are significantly differemt from the newer auto ones)? If I have the same one I may open it up just to see how its assembled.

07-17-2009, 10:52 AM	#8
Rense Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zetten - The Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,050 Original Poster	Thank you guys! I like this M44 more than my M44-4, because the lack of the a/m switch of the last....

07-17-2009, 10:53 AM	#9
IS050 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Stumptown Photos: Gallery Posts: 434	Originally posted by Rense Wow, this picture is awesome, I had tried so many time to catch the bees with flowers and never been able to produce an images close to yours! Great lighting & bokeh. good job! @ Steve, Glad you found one and even has the A/M switch so no need to fix the pins!

07-17-2009, 10:53 AM	#10
Rense Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zetten - The Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,050 Original Poster	Originally posted by Igilligan They are deliciously Helios.... Is it crazy to love a cheap old russian lens this much? Yes. But does that matter ?

07-17-2009, 12:06 PM	#12
Rense Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zetten - The Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,050 Original Poster	Originally posted by IS050 Wow, this picture is awesome, I had tried so many time to catch the bees with flowers and never been able to produce an images close to yours! Great lighting & bokeh. good job! Originally posted by Igilligan Just how great that hoverfly shot is... man it is sharp. And at a shutterspeed of 4000 it could not have been stopped down too much! Do you remember what your aperture was? P.S. You have a great copy of the 44M... and I agree about the A/M switch. Thank you both! It was wide open Gus...

07-17-2009, 12:07 PM	#13
Igilligan Guest	Originally posted by Rense Thank you both! It was wide open Gus... Wide open? That is sick!

07-17-2009, 12:08 PM	#14
Rense Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zetten - The Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,050 Original Poster	No, that's luck!

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07-17-2009, 01:15 PM	#15
kuuan Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Austria Photos: Gallery Posts: 405	amazing in every possible way...light, sharpness, detail colors, oof...MAN, this is a GREAT shot, congratulations!