Lovin' on the Helios 44 (58mm f/2)

Cuthbert · 06-10-2016, 03:27 PM - **2 Likes**

Yes the Helios is a great little lens...at f4 or 5.6 it get sharp as a knife:

Wide open I have problem "exciting" the swirly bokeh, but still beautiful IMO.

I've taken these pics with a 1987 Zenit 12XP I got with its original 1987 44m lens, BW400CN and Portra160 if I recalle correctly.

racingsnake · 06-12-2016, 06:36 AM - **4 Likes**

wife

mikeSF · 06-14-2016, 11:42 AM

Originally posted by racingsnake

wife

very nice 3D separation

**mattb123** · 07-09-2016, 07:20 PM - **5 Likes**

More metal work shooting today with the 44-2

**MSL** · 07-09-2016, 08:19 PM - **1 Like**

I posted these 4 years ago, but for some reason never spotted this thread, or perhaps haven't used my Helios often enough to jump in. But as these are two the more interesting images I've taken, I'll take the liberty of reposting here.

These were taken with a Helios 44 preset in m42 mount. I love the way you can subtly adjust the aperture. Everyone raves about the bokeh or out of focus rendering the Helios gives. Here are a couple of shots where the out of focus region was part of the main object.

For the second image, every time I look at it full screen I get a psychedelic feeling that the red regions are moving towards me. It did, however, lose something when I posted to this site, but worked really well as an 8x10.

**mattb123** · 09-10-2016, 08:52 AM - **6 Likes**

I can get even more bokeh with the Helios 44-2 on my K-1!

**mattb123** · 09-10-2016, 09:28 PM - **3 Likes**

Another with the same setup. Used the hood from my M 100/4 macro this time for less flare.

**goatsNdonkey** · 09-11-2016, 08:55 PM

Here are a few from my Helios 44-2 f2/58mm which I've had for about ten days, mounted on my K10D (iso 100):

f2 -- White Snakeroot flowers with pollinator.

f2 -- American hazel leaf.

f2 -- Fence post and wire.

f16 -- Pasture and barn.

The lens seems to work well with the K10D, which contributes to the color rendering potential. What's in the OOF background seems to determine whether the bokeh is creamy or swirly-to-dizzying -- no swirlies in this group.

As the last example shows, good sharpness across the frame is possible at f16. The focus was a hair on the near side of hyperfocal. If a few leaves are blurred, there was a breeze and the shutter speed was only 1/50th.

ChatMechant · 09-13-2016, 02:36 PM - **1 Like**

swmbo:

mikeSF · 09-15-2016, 08:37 PM

Originally posted by ChatMechant

swmbo:

I see swirl!

**goatsNdonkey** · 09-16-2016, 08:02 AM

I've been testing my Helios 44-2 2/58 with my m42 Sears Auto Teleconverter. The TC restricts the view mainly through the Helios's sharp center. :Later, I'll post some of the sharp results resulting from the combination when taken to a local historic cemetery. But for one shot I experimented with having the least possible part of the image in focus.

**goatsNdonkey** · 09-18-2016, 06:04 AM

Helios 44-2 f2/58mm + Sears Auto 2x Teleconverter (m42 / Japan):

First two are at f2, third at f/4 --

.

micromacro · 09-26-2016, 06:03 PM - **3 Likes**

Helios 44k-4 at f8. I forgot to resize the image before posting on flickr, so you can see the details in almost full size file. One of my favorite lenses.

**pepperberry farm** · 09-27-2016, 10:12 AM

mine will be here next week - sooooooooooooo looking forward to it....

**mattb123** · 09-27-2016, 10:02 PM - **2 Likes**

Around the yard with the K-1 & Helios 44-2 (x-posts)

09-11-2016, 08:55 PM	#338
goatsNdonkey Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Fulton County, Illinois Posts: 3,730	Here are a few from my Helios 44-2 f2/58mm which I've had for about ten days, mounted on my K10D (iso 100): f2 -- White Snakeroot flowers with pollinator. f2 -- American hazel leaf. f2 -- Fence post and wire. f16 -- Pasture and barn. The lens seems to work well with the K10D, which contributes to the color rendering potential. What's in the OOF background seems to determine whether the bokeh is creamy or swirly-to-dizzying -- no swirlies in this group. As the last example shows, good sharpness across the frame is possible at f16. The focus was a hair on the near side of hyperfocal. If a few leaves are blurred, there was a breeze and the shutter speed was only 1/50th. Last edited by goatsNdonkey; 09-12-2016 at 05:43 AM.

09-13-2016, 02:36 PM - 1 Like	#339
ChatMechant Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Matsuyama Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,284	swmbo: Last edited by ChatMechant; 10-07-2016 at 09:07 AM.

09-18-2016, 06:04 AM	#342
goatsNdonkey Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Fulton County, Illinois Posts: 3,730	Helios 44-2 f2/58mm + Sears Auto 2x Teleconverter (m42 / Japan): First two are at f2, third at f/4 -- . Last edited by goatsNdonkey; 09-18-2016 at 06:17 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Wanted - Acquired: Helios 44-2 58mm	mikeSF	Sold Items	1	03-23-2010 07:26 AM
For Sale - Sold: M42 Helios 44M-6 MC 58mm F/2 & Helios 44-2 58mm F/2	donTTouchonlywatch	Sold Items	6	12-25-2009 02:16 AM
Helios 44-2 58mm question	winglik	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	3	10-16-2009 09:55 AM
Takumar 50mm f1.4 versus Helios 44-2 58mm f2	netuser	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	6	11-13-2008 11:58 AM

06-10-2016, 03:27 PM - 2 Likes	#331
Cuthbert Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,740	Yes the Helios is a great little lens...at f4 or 5.6 it get sharp as a knife: Wide open I have problem "exciting" the swirly bokeh, but still beautiful IMO. I've taken these pics with a 1987 Zenit 12XP I got with its original 1987 44m lens, BW400CN and Portra160 if I recalle correctly.

06-12-2016, 06:36 AM - 4 Likes	#332
racingsnake Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 431	wife

06-14-2016, 11:42 AM	#333
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,620 Original Poster	Originally posted by racingsnake wife very nice 3D separation

07-09-2016, 07:20 PM - 5 Likes	#334
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,872	More metal work shooting today with the 44-2

07-09-2016, 08:19 PM - 1 Like	#335
MSL Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Greater Toronto Area Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,749	I posted these 4 years ago, but for some reason never spotted this thread, or perhaps haven't used my Helios often enough to jump in. But as these are two the more interesting images I've taken, I'll take the liberty of reposting here. These were taken with a Helios 44 preset in m42 mount. I love the way you can subtly adjust the aperture. Everyone raves about the bokeh or out of focus rendering the Helios gives. Here are a couple of shots where the out of focus region was part of the main object. For the second image, every time I look at it full screen I get a psychedelic feeling that the red regions are moving towards me. It did, however, lose something when I posted to this site, but worked really well as an 8x10.

09-10-2016, 08:52 AM - 6 Likes	#336
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,872	I can get even more bokeh with the Helios 44-2 on my K-1!

09-10-2016, 09:28 PM - 3 Likes	#337
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,872	Another with the same setup. Used the hood from my M 100/4 macro this time for less flare.

09-15-2016, 08:37 PM	#340
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,620 Original Poster	Originally posted by ChatMechant swmbo: I see swirl!

09-16-2016, 08:02 AM	#341
goatsNdonkey Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Fulton County, Illinois Posts: 3,730	I've been testing my Helios 44-2 2/58 with my m42 Sears Auto Teleconverter. The TC restricts the view mainly through the Helios's sharp center. :Later, I'll post some of the sharp results resulting from the combination when taken to a local historic cemetery. But for one shot I experimented with having the least possible part of the image in focus.

09-26-2016, 06:03 PM - 3 Likes	#343
micromacro Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,722	Helios 44k-4 at f8. I forgot to resize the image before posting on flickr, so you can see the details in almost full size file. One of my favorite lenses.

09-27-2016, 10:12 AM	#344
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,678	mine will be here next week - sooooooooooooo looking forward to it....

09-27-2016, 10:02 PM - 2 Likes	#345
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,872	Around the yard with the K-1 & Helios 44-2 (x-posts)