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

jstevewhite · 06-01-2011, 06:20 AM

Originally posted by mikeSF

i have zero wobble. I got lucky with just the right cheap M42 adaptor:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/101836-helios-...-solution.html

My 44m seats right up against the camera face with the aperture mark at 9:00, no wobble. The fotodiox adapter is well built, but when seated the front face is *below* the surface of the mount face (which is why I couldn't put the adapter on the lens and install the lens, and I suspect why the fellow in the thread liked here couldn't get his to mount). I ended up spacing it from the lens with layers of packing tape; now it goes on and comes off just fine, no wobble - but I suspect the 44-2 has a different problem. From the further reading I've done, I got just the lens I would have wanted, purely by accident (the 44M with A/M switch). And it's a lot of fun to use, and if you're careful (VERY!) about flare, it makes contrasty, sharp images from f2. And most of all, it 'feels' like an 85mm ( 58*1.5=87!). All in all, the best $27 I ever spent on a lens

mikeSF · 06-01-2011, 08:23 AM

steve, the issue is with the 44-2 and similar models with the very narrow base, not the 44M series which have a nice wide base.

jstevewhite · 06-01-2011, 08:24 AM

Originally posted by mikeSF

steve, the issue is with the 44-2 and similar models with the very narrow base, not the 44M series which have a nice wide base.

That's what I was guessing from the pix that I've seen, but couldn't tell for certain.

geekette · 06-01-2011, 10:06 PM

Wow, just came across a Helios 44-2 reversed, with an extension tube for macro photography--beautiful! :
Shimmer | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

hilbert5 · 06-02-2011, 07:33 AM

I was looking for a supplement to my FA50 - with more character and I guess I found what I wanted (Helios 44M). May be not everybody's taste but I like the pictures' own look.

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By the way: I have a really good copy of the FA50 but re center sharpness and contrast the Helios is better. Of course it is not as versatile since it is pretty sensitive to flare. But also this can be used as an effect if wanted.

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jstevewhite · 06-02-2011, 07:47 AM

Originally posted by hilbert5

I was looking for a supplement to my FA50 - with more character and I guess I found what I wanted (Helios 44M). May be not everybody's taste but I like the pictures' own look.

Attachment 93417

Attachment 93418

By the way: I have a really good copy of the FA50 but re center sharpness and contrast the Helios is better. Of course it is not as versatile since it is pretty sensitive to flare. But also this can be used as an effect if wanted.

Attachment 93419

Attachment 93420

I've been really surprised and pleased with mine. It's been on my K-5 almost constantly since I got it a little over a week ago. Like you say, you have to be careful about the flares, but it's very sharp, and I'm a sucker for sharp.

Great pix, by the way, particularly the second one.

yusuf · 06-02-2011, 08:07 AM

Originally posted by hilbert5

I was looking for a supplement to my FA50 - with more character and I guess I found what I wanted (Helios 44M). May be not everybody's taste but I like the pictures' own look.

Attachment 93417

Attachment 93418

By the way: I have a really good copy of the FA50 but re center sharpness and contrast the Helios is better. Of course it is not as versatile since it is pretty sensitive to flare. But also this can be used as an effect if wanted.

Attachment 93419

Attachment 93420

Great shots. I owned two copies of Helios and been very pleased with it but somehow I found FA50 to be sharper than Helios - may be even at f2.

jstevewhite · 06-02-2011, 08:20 AM

Originally posted by yusuf

Great shots. I owned two copies of Helios and been very pleased with it but somehow I found FA50 to be sharper than Helios - may be even at f2.

I already sold my FA50 f1.4

The FA was *much* sharper at f4, but prior to f4, there's a slight advantage to my 44m. I shot them both wide open a lot, but as they're different FL and aperture, it's hard to compare reasonably; wide open, the Helios is sharper than the FA @1.4... but a stop slower, so *shrug*. I'm also much happier with the 58mm FL than the 50mm FL; feels like home (the 85 f1.8 Canon was my favorite 35mm film lens). Of course, flare...

Not like I'm abandoning Pentax glass, tho; I sold the FA to buy a 43LTD

hilbert5 · 06-02-2011, 10:59 AM

@jstevewhite: Thanks for your comment on the pics! Same with me, I have mine just since 2 weeks, and it took a while to like it. The focus ring was pretty stiff and the M42 adapter was not my taste. So I invested some time and fixed the adapter and repaired the rest.

Talking about the Canon 85mm f1.8. This has been my favorite portrait lens on my F1. This was the look that I was looking for so long. And it seems (although the bokeh is different) that I found it - or got very close to what I wanted. Very funny to hear that somebody has come down the same road.

jstevewhite · 06-02-2011, 12:40 PM

Originally posted by hilbert5

@jstevewhite: Thanks for your comment on the pics! Same with me, I have mine just since 2 weeks, and it took a while to like it. The focus ring was pretty stiff and the M42 adapter was not my taste. So I invested some time and fixed the adapter and repaired the rest.

Talking about the Canon 85mm f1.8. This has been my favorite portrait lens on my F1. This was the look that I was looking for so long. And it seems (although the bokeh is different) that I found it - or got very close to what I wanted. Very funny to hear that somebody has come down the same road.

Interesting. There are a couple of Canon manual focus refugees here.

I do love this 58mm focal length. I might, eventually, spring for the DA* 55. I was out this morning with my 44m, though - it's got character!

hilbert5 · 06-02-2011, 12:54 PM

Great shots. Very smooth bokeh actually for a Helios. Guess I take mine out as well tomorrow ...

geekette · 06-02-2011, 01:30 PM

Anyone else notice how vivid the colors and the great contrast of this lens? or is it just me? lol. It seems to really stand out with respect to color, contrast and bokeh.

Laurentiu Cristofor · 06-02-2011, 10:29 PM

Originally posted by hilbert5

Very smooth bokeh actually for a Helios.

I thought that the Helios bokeh is smooth since I got the first one. But there are always these people on the Internet talking about swirly bokeh - I'm still trying to figure out how they do it.

Laurentiu Cristofor · 06-02-2011, 10:37 PM

Originally posted by geekette

Anyone else notice how vivid the colors and the great contrast of this lens? or is it just me? lol. It seems to really stand out with respect to color, contrast and bokeh.

Russian lenses produce saturated colors and have great microcontrast and good control of chromatic aberrations. The CA control is really outstanding, especially compared to Japanese lenses of same vintage, which seem to produce purple fringing in particular much more easily.

jstevewhite · 06-02-2011, 10:37 PM

Originally posted by Laurentiu Cristofor

I thought that the Helios bokeh is smooth since I got the first one. But there are always these people on the Internet talking about swirly bokeh - I'm still trying to figure out how they do it.

I think this shows it, a little - I think it has to do with the frequency of the background stuff, and it seems to be caused by the distortion of the COC towards the edges of the frame - what do you think?:

06-02-2011, 07:33 AM	#80
hilbert5 New Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 11	I was looking for a supplement to my FA50 - with more character and I guess I found what I wanted (Helios 44M). May be not everybody's taste but I like the pictures' own look. By the way: I have a really good copy of the FA50 but re center sharpness and contrast the Helios is better. Of course it is not as versatile since it is pretty sensitive to flare. But also this can be used as an effect if wanted.

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06-01-2011, 06:20 AM	#76
jstevewhite Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midwest Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,407	Originally posted by mikeSF i have zero wobble. I got lucky with just the right cheap M42 adaptor: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/101836-helios-...-solution.html My 44m seats right up against the camera face with the aperture mark at 9:00, no wobble. The fotodiox adapter is well built, but when seated the front face is below the surface of the mount face (which is why I couldn't put the adapter on the lens and install the lens, and I suspect why the fellow in the thread liked here couldn't get his to mount). I ended up spacing it from the lens with layers of packing tape; now it goes on and comes off just fine, no wobble - but I suspect the 44-2 has a different problem. From the further reading I've done, I got just the lens I would have wanted, purely by accident (the 44M with A/M switch). And it's a lot of fun to use, and if you're careful (VERY!) about flare, it makes contrasty, sharp images from f2. And most of all, it 'feels' like an 85mm ( 58*1.5=87!). All in all, the best $27 I ever spent on a lens

06-01-2011, 08:23 AM	#77
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,620 Original Poster	steve, the issue is with the 44-2 and similar models with the very narrow base, not the 44M series which have a nice wide base.

06-01-2011, 08:24 AM	#78
jstevewhite Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midwest Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,407	Originally posted by mikeSF steve, the issue is with the 44-2 and similar models with the very narrow base, not the 44M series which have a nice wide base. That's what I was guessing from the pix that I've seen, but couldn't tell for certain.

06-01-2011, 10:06 PM	#79
geekette Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 528	Wow, just came across a Helios 44-2 reversed, with an extension tube for macro photography--beautiful! : Shimmer \| Flickr - Photo Sharing!

06-02-2011, 07:47 AM	#81
jstevewhite Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midwest Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,407	Originally posted by hilbert5 I was looking for a supplement to my FA50 - with more character and I guess I found what I wanted (Helios 44M). May be not everybody's taste but I like the pictures' own look. Attachment 93417 Attachment 93418 By the way: I have a really good copy of the FA50 but re center sharpness and contrast the Helios is better. Of course it is not as versatile since it is pretty sensitive to flare. But also this can be used as an effect if wanted. Attachment 93419 Attachment 93420 I've been really surprised and pleased with mine. It's been on my K-5 almost constantly since I got it a little over a week ago. Like you say, you have to be careful about the flares, but it's very sharp, and I'm a sucker for sharp. Great pix, by the way, particularly the second one.

06-02-2011, 08:07 AM	#82
yusuf Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Palo Alto, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,497	Originally posted by hilbert5 I was looking for a supplement to my FA50 - with more character and I guess I found what I wanted (Helios 44M). May be not everybody's taste but I like the pictures' own look. Attachment 93417 Attachment 93418 By the way: I have a really good copy of the FA50 but re center sharpness and contrast the Helios is better. Of course it is not as versatile since it is pretty sensitive to flare. But also this can be used as an effect if wanted. Attachment 93419 Attachment 93420 Great shots. I owned two copies of Helios and been very pleased with it but somehow I found FA50 to be sharper than Helios - may be even at f2.

06-02-2011, 08:20 AM	#83
jstevewhite Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midwest Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,407	Originally posted by yusuf Great shots. I owned two copies of Helios and been very pleased with it but somehow I found FA50 to be sharper than Helios - may be even at f2. I already sold my FA50 f1.4 The FA was much sharper at f4, but prior to f4, there's a slight advantage to my 44m. I shot them both wide open a lot, but as they're different FL and aperture, it's hard to compare reasonably; wide open, the Helios is sharper than the FA @1.4... but a stop slower, so shrug. I'm also much happier with the 58mm FL than the 50mm FL; feels like home (the 85 f1.8 Canon was my favorite 35mm film lens). Of course, flare... Not like I'm abandoning Pentax glass, tho; I sold the FA to buy a 43LTD

06-02-2011, 10:59 AM	#84
hilbert5 New Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 11	@jstevewhite: Thanks for your comment on the pics! Same with me, I have mine just since 2 weeks, and it took a while to like it. The focus ring was pretty stiff and the M42 adapter was not my taste. So I invested some time and fixed the adapter and repaired the rest. Talking about the Canon 85mm f1.8. This has been my favorite portrait lens on my F1. This was the look that I was looking for so long. And it seems (although the bokeh is different) that I found it - or got very close to what I wanted. Very funny to hear that somebody has come down the same road.

06-02-2011, 12:40 PM	#85
jstevewhite Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midwest Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,407	Originally posted by hilbert5 @jstevewhite: Thanks for your comment on the pics! Same with me, I have mine just since 2 weeks, and it took a while to like it. The focus ring was pretty stiff and the M42 adapter was not my taste. So I invested some time and fixed the adapter and repaired the rest. Talking about the Canon 85mm f1.8. This has been my favorite portrait lens on my F1. This was the look that I was looking for so long. And it seems (although the bokeh is different) that I found it - or got very close to what I wanted. Very funny to hear that somebody has come down the same road. Interesting. There are a couple of Canon manual focus refugees here. I do love this 58mm focal length. I might, eventually, spring for the DA* 55. I was out this morning with my 44m, though - it's got character!

06-02-2011, 12:54 PM	#86
hilbert5 New Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 11	Great shots. Very smooth bokeh actually for a Helios. Guess I take mine out as well tomorrow ...

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06-02-2011, 01:30 PM	#87
geekette Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 528	Anyone else notice how vivid the colors and the great contrast of this lens? or is it just me? lol. It seems to really stand out with respect to color, contrast and bokeh.

06-02-2011, 10:29 PM	#88
Laurentiu Cristofor Banned Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: WA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,055	Originally posted by hilbert5 Very smooth bokeh actually for a Helios. I thought that the Helios bokeh is smooth since I got the first one. But there are always these people on the Internet talking about swirly bokeh - I'm still trying to figure out how they do it.

06-02-2011, 10:37 PM	#89
Laurentiu Cristofor Banned Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: WA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,055	Originally posted by geekette Anyone else notice how vivid the colors and the great contrast of this lens? or is it just me? lol. It seems to really stand out with respect to color, contrast and bokeh. Russian lenses produce saturated colors and have great microcontrast and good control of chromatic aberrations. The CA control is really outstanding, especially compared to Japanese lenses of same vintage, which seem to produce purple fringing in particular much more easily.

06-02-2011, 10:37 PM	#90
jstevewhite Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midwest Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,407	Originally posted by Laurentiu Cristofor I thought that the Helios bokeh is smooth since I got the first one. But there are always these people on the Internet talking about swirly bokeh - I'm still trying to figure out how they do it. I think this shows it, a little - I think it has to do with the frequency of the background stuff, and it seems to be caused by the distortion of the COC towards the edges of the frame - what do you think?: