I recently had the opportunity to borrow ISO50's very nice Helios 44M-4 58/2 for a couple of weeks. The experience was a good one, so I bid on and won the older version Helios 44M on the 'Bay. Since I had both lenses at the same time, I figured that a little compare and contrast was in order.
First the specs
Both lenses are based on the Zeiss Biotar 58/2 and share its optical formula (6 elements in 4 groups). Helios 44 lenses were made by several different entities in Russia and states of the former Soviet Union and may be distinguished by the makers marks. Here is a link to a key of the logos:
ACP - Logos
As with many Russian lenses, the year of manufacture is the first two digits of the serial number. Looking at the serial number is always a bit of a revelation since these lenses look fairly primitive and ancient. I was quite surprised to find that my 44M was made in 1978. I would have guessed at least a decade earlier based on the stiffness of the focus alone! Here are a few comparison points between the two lenses:
Helios 44M- Made by both KMZ and JOV(Valdai)
- Eight curved aperture blades
- Most are single coated, though multi-coated examples do exist (labeled as MC)
- Has A/M switch
Helios 44M-4- Made by JOV(Valdai) (versions labeled MC by KMZ)
- Six curved aperture blades
- Most are single coated, though multi-coated examples do exist (labeled as MC)
- No A/M switch (requires minor surgery to convert to fully manual aperture)
Physical Comparison
Here are a couple of comparison photos showing the two lenses along with a Super-Takumar 55/1.8 for comparison:
(Helios 44M on the right)
Note the makers marks. The dove prism design indicates origin at the KMZ plant while the shish kabob design indicates JOV(Valdai). I think that both logos look kind of cool!
As you can see, both Helioses (Helii?) are significantly larger than the Super-Tak. They are also quite a bit heavier. It is a bit more difficult to see, but the 44M is slightly larger overall than the 44M-4 and also a little bit heavier. The two lenses were made about a decade apart and illustrate slightly different construction standards. You can also see the 6 vs. 8 blade irises.
A few comparison photos
All Helios 44 lenses have similar optical characteristics. The most famous are:
- Excellent center sharpness at all apertures
- Excellent sharpness overall when stopped down
- "Dreamy" bokeh wide open
The 44M-4 is supposed to have somewhat better resolution than the 44M. Here are a few comparison photos shot with both lenses:
Helios 44M-4, either f/4 or f/5.6 (sorry...
)
Helios 44M, f/5.6
The above pictures are of the same subject, but on different days with different conditions. I think the image quality is pretty comparable.
Here are a few wide open:
Helios 44M-4, f/2
Helios 44M, f/2
Helios 44M, f/2
A Few Notes If Considering a Helios 44_ Purchase
Do your research first!
The first thing to know is that these lenses are not rare and generally should not command a premium price. Although they are somewhat uncommon in the United States, the Helios 44 in its various forms was the kit lens for generations of Zenit SLR cameras that were widely available within the USSR and were also exported in quantity to other parts of the world. It is quite possible that more Helios 44 58/2 lenses, in all its variants, have been made than any other lens model in history.
A common issue with the Helios 44M series is stiff focus that gets worse with age. My 44M is difficult to use as a result and may require disassembly to re-lubricate at some point. There are condition and manufacturing issues that are common to most, if not all lenses made in the USSR and former Soviet countries. The buyer would do well to get explicit clarification in regards to condition and functionality before purchasing or bidding.
All Helios 44M-x lenses lack the A/M switch and cannot be used stopped down with most K-mount adapters. This problem can be dealt with by a little minor surgery to shim the aperture actuation pin and convert the diaphragm to full manual operation. There may also be compatibility problems with certain of the earlier 44-3 models on non-Zenit cameras. Apparently there is inadequate clearance for the focus ring. This issue affects K-mount adapter users as well.
While all Helios 44 lenses share the same optical formula, they were available in both M39 and M42 mounts with both pre-set and auto apertures. There is also a fair amount of variability in construction even though many models appear very similar. Optical quality is also said to vary between versions and strangely, there is considerable overlap in the dates of manufacture. The progression of model numbers is not a true indicator of newness or even improvements. For a full discussion see:
Manual Focus Lenses :: View topic - Complete Helios Lens list anyone?
Steve
Last edited by stevebrot; 07-25-2009 at 12:31 PM.