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**pepperberry farm** · 12-01-2016, 03:42 AM

awscreo · 12-01-2016, 08:31 AM - **1 Like**

Hmm, so I put the 44k-4 on K-1 yesterday after a long period of mainly using SMC 50 1.8 due to AF, and found that 44k-4 is waaaaaaay sharper wide open, at least with objects located close-medium distances. I guess I need to find a sharper 50mm with AF as soon as I can afford one

**mattb123** · 12-01-2016, 09:32 AM

Originally posted by awscreo

Hmm, so I put the 44k-4 on K-1 yesterday after a long period of mainly using SMC 50 1.8 due to AF, and found that 44k-4 is waaaaaaay sharper wide open, at least with objects located close-medium distances. I guess I need to find a sharper 50mm with AF as soon as I can afford one

I wouldn't have expected that. Could your AF need fine tuning?

awscreo · 12-01-2016, 01:48 PM

Originally posted by mattb123

I wouldn't have expected that. Could your AF need fine tuning?

It's sharper even with manual live view focusing. My 44k-4 is visibly sharper wide open, albeit being an f2 and not 1.8
I think smc 50 catches up at 2.8

Na Horuk · 12-01-2016, 03:09 PM

I remember some lab tests showed the Helios 44 (44-something, not sure which one) can be insanely sharp, BUT: a) only good copies, and these are rare! b) mostly in image centre. Borders only get decent stopped way down
My Helios 44-2 is not very sharp until f4, almost uselessly soft wide open, but around f8 the image centre is pretty sharp - comparable to my other 35mm - 58mm primes. So if you have a good, sharp copy - stick with it!

awscreo · 12-01-2016, 03:44 PM

Originally posted by Na Horuk

I remember some lab tests showed the Helios 44 (44-something, not sure which one) can be insanely sharp, BUT: a) only good copies, and these are rare! b) mostly in image centre. Borders only get decent stopped way down
My Helios 44-2 is not very sharp until f4, almost uselessly soft wide open, but around f8 the image centre is pretty sharp - comparable to my other 35mm - 58mm primes. So if you have a good, sharp copy - stick with it!

Maybe it's my copy, dunno. It's a multicoated one, and was kept in very good condition through the years. On K-1 the 50 SMC has pretty terrible extreme corners though, since it's an apsc lens really. So helios actually has a leg up in that sense. I dunno, just my simple observations. I still need to get a better 50 when time comes, 50 smc was good due to being affordable, but I think a nice 1.4 fifty would be superb with K-1. Waiting for Pentax to release new primes in 2017)

**pepperberry farm** · 12-02-2016, 11:14 PM

**pepperberry farm** · 12-04-2016, 03:23 AM - **1 Like**

I am surprised at how crisp this lens can be:

**pepperberry farm** · 12-05-2016, 08:22 PM

redcat · 12-05-2016, 10:02 PM

Originally posted by pepperberry farm

I am surprised at how crisp this lens can be:

I was surprised with mine too, in the center it's tack sharp and then color soup at the corner (not a bad thing though)

**goatsNdonkey** · 12-06-2016, 07:18 AM

Originally posted by redcat

I was surprised with mine too, in the center it's tack sharp and then color soup at the corner (not a bad thing though)

My 44-2 is like that too when wide open, yet it is amazing how sharp it can get across the frame when stopped down to f/11 or so.

**pepperberry farm** · 12-06-2016, 04:35 PM - **1 Like**

mikeSF · 12-08-2016, 11:13 PM

Bravo, Pepperberry! great set

**pepperberry farm** · 12-09-2016, 04:14 AM

Originally posted by mikeSF

Bravo, Pepperberry! great set

thank you...

**pepperberry farm** · 12-09-2016, 04:57 PM

interesting artifact:

I notices when I bought the lens, the blades are bare metal, not anodized/painted black... I wondered about light reflecting around in there....

and I found it...

12-01-2016, 03:42 AM	#391
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,788	K-3 with KMZ MC Helios-44K-4

12-02-2016, 11:14 PM	#397
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,788	K-3 with KMZ MC Helios-44K-4

12-04-2016, 03:23 AM - 1 Like	#398
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,788	K-3 with KMZ MC Helios-44K-4 I am surprised at how crisp this lens can be:

12-05-2016, 08:22 PM	#399
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,788	K-3 with KMZ MC Helios-44K-4

12-06-2016, 04:35 PM - 1 Like	#402
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,788	K-3 with KMZ MC Helios-44K-4

12-01-2016, 08:31 AM - 1 Like	#392
awscreo Veteran Member Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,722	Hmm, so I put the 44k-4 on K-1 yesterday after a long period of mainly using SMC 50 1.8 due to AF, and found that 44k-4 is waaaaaaay sharper wide open, at least with objects located close-medium distances. I guess I need to find a sharper 50mm with AF as soon as I can afford one

12-01-2016, 09:32 AM	#393
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,874	Originally posted by awscreo Hmm, so I put the 44k-4 on K-1 yesterday after a long period of mainly using SMC 50 1.8 due to AF, and found that 44k-4 is waaaaaaay sharper wide open, at least with objects located close-medium distances. I guess I need to find a sharper 50mm with AF as soon as I can afford one I wouldn't have expected that. Could your AF need fine tuning?

12-01-2016, 01:48 PM	#394
awscreo Veteran Member Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,722	Originally posted by mattb123 I wouldn't have expected that. Could your AF need fine tuning? It's sharper even with manual live view focusing. My 44k-4 is visibly sharper wide open, albeit being an f2 and not 1.8 I think smc 50 catches up at 2.8

12-01-2016, 03:09 PM	#395
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	I remember some lab tests showed the Helios 44 (44-something, not sure which one) can be insanely sharp, BUT: a) only good copies, and these are rare! b) mostly in image centre. Borders only get decent stopped way down My Helios 44-2 is not very sharp until f4, almost uselessly soft wide open, but around f8 the image centre is pretty sharp - comparable to my other 35mm - 58mm primes. So if you have a good, sharp copy - stick with it!

12-01-2016, 03:44 PM	#396
awscreo Veteran Member Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,722	Originally posted by Na Horuk I remember some lab tests showed the Helios 44 (44-something, not sure which one) can be insanely sharp, BUT: a) only good copies, and these are rare! b) mostly in image centre. Borders only get decent stopped way down My Helios 44-2 is not very sharp until f4, almost uselessly soft wide open, but around f8 the image centre is pretty sharp - comparable to my other 35mm - 58mm primes. So if you have a good, sharp copy - stick with it! Maybe it's my copy, dunno. It's a multicoated one, and was kept in very good condition through the years. On K-1 the 50 SMC has pretty terrible extreme corners though, since it's an apsc lens really. So helios actually has a leg up in that sense. I dunno, just my simple observations. I still need to get a better 50 when time comes, 50 smc was good due to being affordable, but I think a nice 1.4 fifty would be superb with K-1. Waiting for Pentax to release new primes in 2017)

12-05-2016, 10:02 PM	#400
redcat Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Paris Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,939	Originally posted by pepperberry farm I am surprised at how crisp this lens can be: I was surprised with mine too, in the center it's tack sharp and then color soup at the corner (not a bad thing though)

12-06-2016, 07:18 AM	#401
goatsNdonkey Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Fulton County, Illinois Posts: 3,736	Originally posted by redcat I was surprised with mine too, in the center it's tack sharp and then color soup at the corner (not a bad thing though) My 44-2 is like that too when wide open, yet it is amazing how sharp it can get across the frame when stopped down to f/11 or so.

12-08-2016, 11:13 PM	#403
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,622 Original Poster	Bravo, Pepperberry! great set

12-09-2016, 04:14 AM	#404
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,788	Originally posted by mikeSF Bravo, Pepperberry! great set thank you...

12-09-2016, 04:57 PM	#405
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,788	K-3 with KMZ MC Helios-44K-4 interesting artifact: I notices when I bought the lens, the blades are bare metal, not anodized/painted black... I wondered about light reflecting around in there.... and I found it...

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