[JohnBee]

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Been a huge Helios fan for years now, and it was this cult stuff that brought my wife and I toward Pentax to begin with.

So, I decided to add a HELIOS-44K-4 LENS K mount to our kits before the new year.

I've found a few threads on this lens(here and there) but nothing very concise, and so I wanted to know if anyone had anything to share on it. You know... to help build anticipation, while waiting for it to arrive in the mail typa thing

A little Helios lovin'

[deadwolfbones]

Well, it's probably my favorite manual focus lens (along with the AT-X 90mm Macro).

Some shots, all at f/2:

[JohnBee]

Wow, what an interesting lens(nice examples too!).
Interestingly enough I didn't find any such a psychodelic bokeh in my www search(perhaps it wasn't the right lens)

On the issue of bokeh, is the effect continuous or.. can it be controled in any way?

[deadwolfbones]

It seems to be strongest at f/2 around the minimum focusing distance. Stop it down or focus on something further away and it behaves more normally.

[deadwolfbones]

Some more bokeh samples: The World's Best Photos of helios-44 and bokeh - Flickr Hive Mind

[JohnBee]

It seems to be strongest at f/2 around the minimum focusing distance. Stop it down or focus on something further away and it behaves more normally.

Some more bokeh samples: The World's Best Photos of helios-44 and bokeh - Flickr Hive Mind

Thanks alot for the responses, this lens looks like just the thing to keep the dulldrums away over the winter period, looks like alot of fun too!

I found my copy for 34USD(shipped) on eBay.
Just love those Helios lenses!

[Stratman]

Is there much difference between the K mount and M42 version? I saw no K mounts on ebay...

[JohnBee]

Is there much difference between the K mount and M42 version? I saw no K mounts on ebay...

To my knowledge nothing other than the convenience of the mount itself, the specs seems the same.

Here are two recent listings I found:

Helios 44K-4 MC 58mm f/2 lens Pentax bayonet type K - eBay (item 260522926942 end time Dec-20-09 03:31:43 PST)

Helios 44K-4 MC 58mm f/2 lens Pentax bayonet type K - eBay (item 250548856751 end time Dec-21-09 22:14:42 PST)

Well, it's probably my favorite manual focus lens (along with the AT-X 90mm Macro).

DWB these are freakin' wonderful...

Now I got to go look for the K mount! Damn you DeadWolfBones

PS thanks for that link too... some folks are doing some amazing stuff with that 20 dollar lens

[Fixcinater]

Gus-

I could check back and see if the shop that was selling the Zenit 122K and 44K-4 still has it for $36, it was dead mint.

Shipping from SD to Norcal wouldn't be too spendy, and I wouldn't need to make any money off it.

PM me if you're interested, I could check it out later this week.

[stevebrot]

Gus-

I could check back and see if the shop that was selling the Zenit 122K and 44K-4 still has it for $36, it was dead mint.

Shipping from SD to Norcal wouldn't be too spendy, and I wouldn't need to make any money off it.

PM me if you're interested, I could check it out later this week.

I thought you were going to by it! If Gus does not move on it, drop me a PM.

Steve

Anthony... Thanks, I am definitely interested... Those old zenits are cool, and with a K mount helios I will never need another lens!!!!!!!!!!

Please let me know if it is still available.

And thanks again.

gus

[deadwolfbones]

Thanks, gus. I can only wonder at the kind of magic you could pull off with it.

[Fixcinater]

I ended up deciding not to get it because:

-Spotmatic F with SMC Tak 55mm f/1.8 for $15
-Vivitar Series 1 70-210 f/3.5 for $13.76
-Takumar Bayonet 135mm f/2.5 for $25
-Kaligar 35mm f/2.8 for $3.76

The Spot-F and SMC 55mm are sticking around to replace a defective original Spot, but everything else is getting moved on.

I'm officially out of camera storage space, and need to sell off the duplicates/lesser quality lenses I've accumulated (and not get a PK-EOS adapter!!) and put that money into strobes and reflectors so I can bump up my income from portraits/headshots/etc.


Also, I've been dumping any cash I've got lately into getting my Ducati back on the street and safe to ride, not to mention fixing my girlfriend's motorcycle after she crashed it on a ride almost 7 months ago now (which is now ready to ride again).

[Fixcinater]

Just to note, the Zenit is the stripped version with only 3-4 shutter speeds. It is clean, though.


Also, forgot to mention, my girlfriend finally got the Zenit-E from her German acquaintance (a solid month for shipping/customs from Deutscheland! It came with a Helios 44-2, so be on the lookout for sample shots from that from me soon.