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

torashi · 10-09-2018, 10:32 PM

Originally posted by cyberjunkie

Its's at the end, click on "RUSSAR"

Yes, thanks. I was checking that one out. I remember it when I was researching a bit about the hypergons. I thought you knew/had a few more.

cyberjunkie · 10-10-2018, 12:05 AM

Originally posted by torashi

Yes, thanks. I was checking that one out. I remember it when I was researching a bit about the hypergons. I thought you knew/had a few more.

Sorry, there was another one but I did not bookmark it.
Btw, I am a Goerz fan. I have a few Dagors, a few Dogmars, and a beautiful Apo Artar made by Goerz USA (unfortunately not the blue dot), and once I almost purchased a nice Hypergon with the hand blower to activate the "propeller". I didn't, and now prices have gone to the sky

torashi · 10-10-2018, 04:47 AM

Originally posted by cyberjunkie

Sorry, there was another one but I did not bookmark it.
Btw, I am a Goerz fan. I have a few Dagors, a few Dogmars, and a beautiful Apo Artar made by Goerz USA (unfortunately not the blue dot), and once I almost purchased a nice Hypergon with the hand blower to activate the "propeller". I didn't, and now prices have gone to the sky

Wow, nice collection. Which one would you say is the best for portraits? Yeah, it's nice for collectors, but sad for users. I've seen them demanding ridiculous prices for ones in bad shape, with beat up propellers and general rough appearance. Using a 90mm on 8x10 would be such a wonderful experience…
Getting back to the topic on Russian lenses, curious to know if the Russar had a shutter. Otherwise you would have to use a Speed Graphic or similar. There's just a drawing of the optical layout. I wonder how it looks.

cyberjunkie · 10-10-2018, 09:22 AM

Originally posted by torashi

I wonder how it looks.

I have seen a picture once. It had no shutter, because it was used on some kind of russian aerial camera.
Kind of the Aero Ektar, that you probably know because it has been modified by many to be fitted on a Speed Graphic.
As far as I remember the look was different from the Aero Ektar, it was flat, large and all black. I might be wrong, I have no documents that prove it, just going off the top of my head.

Regarding the question about the best portrait lens for large format, first I should know for which format.
The smaller the format the larger the choice.
For 8x10" I would consider the Veritar, it's coated, and it's one of the best soft focus lenses ever.
If you want sharper, there is the Voigtlander Heliar. I used it for work long ago, it was a 210mm on Compound shutter, ideal to to take portraits on 5x7".

edom31 · 10-17-2018, 09:48 AM - **4 Likes**

44K-4 at infinity night time:

I think that the fact it is not ultra sharp works great here...

stevebrot · 10-17-2018, 08:36 PM - **11 Likes**

Abstract By Accident

Pentax K-3, KMZ Helios 44K-4 58/2.0

Steve

edom31 · 10-21-2018, 09:38 AM - **4 Likes**

This' a good lens for the season. 44k-4 on K-50

TerryL · 10-23-2018, 11:45 AM

Hello Folks,
I started reading this thread, and thought I would give them a try. So, I picked up the 2, 4, and 7, along with an OEM adapter. I just read a disturbing thread on DP Review about fakes. My question now is how do I really tell what I have? I would appreciate any help on this.
Terry

Cabessius · 10-23-2018, 11:56 AM

Originally posted by TerryL

Hello Folks,
I started reading this thread, and thought I would give them a try. So, I picked up the 2, 4, and 7, along with an OEM adapter. I just read a disturbing thread on DP Review about fakes. My question now is how do I really tell what I have? I would appreciate any help on this.
Terry

No problem with fakes in the 44-2 or 44M-4.
Post a picture of your 44M-7 so we can see it.
Basically, if it has an A-M switch or more than 6 blades, it´s fake.
Also, the serial number should begin with 93 or more.

TerryL · 10-23-2018, 12:58 PM

Originally posted by Cabessius

No problem with fakes in the 44-2 or 44M-4.
Post a picture of your 44M-7 so we can see it.
Basically, if it has an A-M switch or more than 6 blades, it´s fake.
Also, the serial number should begin with 93 or more.

Thank you. The serial number starts with 92. What would that indicate? Again, thank you.
Terry

Cabessius · 10-23-2018, 01:29 PM

Originally posted by TerryL

Thank you. The serial number starts with 92. What would that indicate? Again, thank you.
Terry

Not absolutely sure if 44M-7s were made as early as 1992.
Show us some pictures of the lens.

TerryL · 10-23-2018, 02:26 PM

Heres a shot taken with my point and shoot camera.

TerryL · 10-23-2018, 02:44 PM

Here's two more.

TerryL · 10-23-2018, 02:57 PM

Serial number.

Cabessius · 10-23-2018, 02:58 PM

Seems legit to me, it should be part of an early batch made in 1992.
The body and lettering font are correct and of course there's not A/M switch.
Also, I'm sure it has 6 blades.

10-17-2018, 09:48 AM - 4 Likes	#620
edom31 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Garden City, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,349	44K-4 at infinity night time: I think that the fact it is not ultra sharp works great here... Last edited by edom31; 10-17-2018 at 09:54 AM.

10-23-2018, 11:45 AM	#623
TerryL Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Virginia, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 850	How to tell authenticity of Helios 44M lenses Hello Folks, I started reading this thread, and thought I would give them a try. So, I picked up the 2, 4, and 7, along with an OEM adapter. I just read a disturbing thread on DP Review about fakes. My question now is how do I really tell what I have? I would appreciate any help on this. Terry

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10-09-2018, 10:32 PM	#616
torashi Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Medellín Posts: 1,322	Originally posted by cyberjunkie Its's at the end, click on "RUSSAR" Yes, thanks. I was checking that one out. I remember it when I was researching a bit about the hypergons. I thought you knew/had a few more.

10-10-2018, 12:05 AM	#617
cyberjunkie Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Chiang Mai, Bologna, Amsterdam Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,198	Originally posted by torashi Yes, thanks. I was checking that one out. I remember it when I was researching a bit about the hypergons. I thought you knew/had a few more. Sorry, there was another one but I did not bookmark it. Btw, I am a Goerz fan. I have a few Dagors, a few Dogmars, and a beautiful Apo Artar made by Goerz USA (unfortunately not the blue dot), and once I almost purchased a nice Hypergon with the hand blower to activate the "propeller". I didn't, and now prices have gone to the sky

10-10-2018, 04:47 AM	#618
torashi Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Medellín Posts: 1,322	Originally posted by cyberjunkie Sorry, there was another one but I did not bookmark it. Btw, I am a Goerz fan. I have a few Dagors, a few Dogmars, and a beautiful Apo Artar made by Goerz USA (unfortunately not the blue dot), and once I almost purchased a nice Hypergon with the hand blower to activate the "propeller". I didn't, and now prices have gone to the sky Wow, nice collection. Which one would you say is the best for portraits? Yeah, it's nice for collectors, but sad for users. I've seen them demanding ridiculous prices for ones in bad shape, with beat up propellers and general rough appearance. Using a 90mm on 8x10 would be such a wonderful experience… Getting back to the topic on Russian lenses, curious to know if the Russar had a shutter. Otherwise you would have to use a Speed Graphic or similar. There's just a drawing of the optical layout. I wonder how it looks.

10-10-2018, 09:22 AM	#619
cyberjunkie Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Chiang Mai, Bologna, Amsterdam Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,198	Originally posted by torashi I wonder how it looks. I have seen a picture once. It had no shutter, because it was used on some kind of russian aerial camera. Kind of the Aero Ektar, that you probably know because it has been modified by many to be fitted on a Speed Graphic. As far as I remember the look was different from the Aero Ektar, it was flat, large and all black. I might be wrong, I have no documents that prove it, just going off the top of my head. Regarding the question about the best portrait lens for large format, first I should know for which format. The smaller the format the larger the choice. For 8x10" I would consider the Veritar, it's coated, and it's one of the best soft focus lenses ever. If you want sharper, there is the Voigtlander Heliar. I used it for work long ago, it was a 210mm on Compound shutter, ideal to to take portraits on 5x7".

10-17-2018, 08:36 PM - 11 Likes	#621
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Abstract By Accident Pentax K-3, KMZ Helios 44K-4 58/2.0 Steve

10-21-2018, 09:38 AM - 4 Likes	#622
edom31 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Garden City, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,349	This' a good lens for the season. 44k-4 on K-50

10-23-2018, 11:56 AM	#624
Cabessius Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Ibiza, Spain Posts: 471	Originally posted by TerryL Hello Folks, I started reading this thread, and thought I would give them a try. So, I picked up the 2, 4, and 7, along with an OEM adapter. I just read a disturbing thread on DP Review about fakes. My question now is how do I really tell what I have? I would appreciate any help on this. Terry No problem with fakes in the 44-2 or 44M-4. Post a picture of your 44M-7 so we can see it. Basically, if it has an A-M switch or more than 6 blades, it´s fake. Also, the serial number should begin with 93 or more.

10-23-2018, 12:58 PM	#625
TerryL Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Virginia, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 850	Originally posted by Cabessius No problem with fakes in the 44-2 or 44M-4. Post a picture of your 44M-7 so we can see it. Basically, if it has an A-M switch or more than 6 blades, it´s fake. Also, the serial number should begin with 93 or more. Thank you. The serial number starts with 92. What would that indicate? Again, thank you. Terry

10-23-2018, 01:29 PM	#626
Cabessius Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Ibiza, Spain Posts: 471	Originally posted by TerryL Thank you. The serial number starts with 92. What would that indicate? Again, thank you. Terry Not absolutely sure if 44M-7s were made as early as 1992. Show us some pictures of the lens.

10-23-2018, 02:58 PM	#630
Cabessius Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Ibiza, Spain Posts: 471	Seems legit to me, it should be part of an early batch made in 1992. The body and lettering font are correct and of course there's not A/M switch. Also, I'm sure it has 6 blades.