[Jean Poitiers]

I spy someone reading a spy novel. The Helios 44-2 as an excellent portrait lens, wide open, no swirly bokeh, accurate colors and really quite sharp....

Cross posted on I spy thread

I saw it on "I spy" and thought that it was a great shot ... now it's even better to me since it was taken with a 44-2 !!! J

[utak]

I saw it on "I spy" and thought that it was a great shot ... now it's even better to me since it was taken with a 44-2 !!! J

Thank you! It was taken at a coffee shop this morning, as I had the Helios 44-2, 44M and 44M-4 (the last two acquired for less than our coffee bill), and planned to compare the three lenses. There were some Eastern (Bloc) Europeans sitting next to us and they knew exactly what the lenses were.

The 44M-4 in the Helios' natural bokeh environment, with color processing:



...and the 44M sort-of swirling around with an obligatory bee...

[LeRolls]

Some shots from today at the mall with the Helios 44-2

[LeRolls]

A couple shots from today with the Helios 44-2.

[eliasloarre]

First couple from Мир-1b 2,8 37mm , MIR 1B.
Next couple from one of my favourites in all my collection: Зенитар-М 1,7 50 Zenitar M 50mm f1.7. Super extra creamy bokeh, wonderfull portraits, at proper hands. Also capable of night shooting and tack sharp in focus areas..

[vladimiroltean]

Again some nice pictures on this page and the previous ones. I'll try to bring in my contribution, with the Helios 44M:

[Billy Joe]

Helios 44M --- My friend got fired from Zynga in the recent big 'lay-offs' took this one today for him. - This little statue is in the traffic circle across the street from the building. It was there before Zynga, and will be there long after Zynga.



And here is a Tair 135mm shot

[LeRolls]

Some food photography with the Helios 44-2

[djpattiecake]

If im a beginner with a k-30 looking to get a helios 44.... and I'm not really sure about getting an m42 adapter and going that route yet.... will I still get good results with a helios 44k instead of a 44m-2/4? The sharpness and bokeh are what interest me. I dont know if the later model k mount helios lenses lose that old fashioned look. Any info is appreciated!

[utak]

im a beginner with a k-30 looking to get a helios 44.... and I'm not really sure about getting an m42 adapter and going that route yet.... will I still get good results with a helios 44k instead of a44m-2/4? The sharpness and bokeh are what interest me. I dont know if the later model k mount helios lenses lose that old fashioned look. Any info is appreciated!

Interesting question...Can't answer the Helios K versus M42 mount directly from personal experience....but... I do have the 44-2, 44M and 44M-4.

Of my specific copies, IMO the 44-2's design gives the most unique bokeh, and with less/no "multi-coating" it certainly produces that old fashioned look. If you find a good copy, the 44-2 is more than sharp enough in the centre. The 44M-4 is the sharpest overall and handles bright light better, with better coatings, but at the same time this reduces the old fashioned feel of the images. It’s still capable of swirly bokeh in the right conditions, but the bokeh is slightly different from the 44-2.

The 44M is OK, but my version is not as good as the other two. Personally, I'd buy an adapter and a Helios 44-2, and then an SMC Takumar 55mm f1.8 or f2 for even more sharpness and smooth bokeh and then....a world of M42 fun...You'll not regret the cost of the adapter in the long-run.

PS I've taken the photos to demonstrate these differences, and found out what optically is going on, and will post a thread on this when I get the time!

[djpattiecake]

Interesting question...Can't answer the Helios K versus M42 mount directly from personal experience....but... I do have the 44-2, 44M and 44M-4.

Of my specific copies, IMO the 44-2's design gives the most unique bokeh, and with less/no "multi-coating" it certainly produces that old fashioned look. If you find a good copy, the 44-2 is more than sharp enough in the centre. The 44M-4 is the sharpest overall and handles bright light better, with better coatings, but at the same time this reduces the old fashioned feel of the images. It’s still capable of swirly bokeh in the right conditions, but the bokeh is slightly different from the 44-2.

The 44M is OK, but my version is not as good as the other two. Personally, I'd buy an adapter and a Helios 44-2, and then an SMC Takumar 55mm f1.8 or f2 for even more sharpness and smooth bokeh and then....a world of M42 fun...You'll not regret the cost of the adapter in the long-run.

PS I've taken the photos to demonstrate these differences, and found out what optically is going on, and will post a thread on this when I get the time!

so if i see a multicoated auto-aperture 44k-4 made in 1995, its really not going to be the same, is it?
can the aperture be controlled manually?

[stevebrot]

can the aperture be controlled manually?

Yes...you change the aperture using the aperture ring on the Helios 44K. With your K-30, you must use M-mode with aperture ring enabled (setup menu) for stop-down at exposure time to work. Use the green button to do stop-down metering.


Steve

[stevebrot]

And this is why we all love the Helios 44 lens series (in this case, the Helios 44M)...




KMZ Helios 44M (wide open) on the K10D. ...missed focus by a bit...there was a breeze and the flowers kept moving into and then out of focus...


And another one from the same session (better job of focusing this time)...




Steve

[LeRolls]

Some shots from when I was out shopping today at the local Hobby Shop. Helios 44-2

[djpattiecake]

Can someone point me to where I can get an extension tube I can use to take macro shots with my k mount helios 44k-4?
Much appreciated