For the provided lens MS HELIOS-77M-4 1,8/50 (with the VOMZ logo), we would like to express our sincere gratitude to Vladimir Pivovarov, a reader of Radozhiva.
MS HELIOS-77M-4 1,8 / 50
MC HELIOS-77M-4 1,8 / 50 is a rather rare and good high-aperture fix, at one time it was used as a standard lens for some Zenit film cameras. Now MC Helios-77M-4 1,8 / 50 is sometimes found on photo flea markets and can serve as a good manual fifty-kopeck piece (lens with 50 mm focal length) for modern digital cameras.
MS Helios-77M-4 1,8 / 50 is well assembled. The focus ring has no rubberized inserts, rotates approximately 200 degrees. Manual focus is not a big deal. During focusing, the front retractable body does not rotate. Focusing occurs by moving the entire lens block.
Of the shortcomings, I want to highlight the non-blackened aperture blades, which can reduce the contrast, as well as the fact that there are only 6 aperture blades. On closed diaphragms, 'nuts' are easily obtained in the out-of-focus area. MC Helios-77M-4 1,8 / 50 is equipped with a standard blinking diaphragm, which works in automatic mode on most cameras with a M42x1 / 45,5 mounting thread.
Main technical characteristics of MS GELIOS-77M-4 1,8 / 50
| The name of the instance from the review (as it is written on the lens itself) | MS HELIOS-77M-4 1,8 / 50 M52x0,75 91060951 with the VOMZ logo |
| Basic properties |
|
| Front Filter Diameter | 52 mm |
| Focal length | 50 mm (according to some sources - 52 mm), EGF for cameras with an APS-C type sensor is approximately 75mm |
| Zoom ratio | 1 x |
| Designed by | for film cameras with a frame size of 36 mm X 24 mm |
| Number of aperture blades | 6 rounded petals. Petals form a hexagon of approximately the correct shape. At an intermediate value between F / 1.8 and F / 2.8, the petals form a hexagon with small notches. Petals are dull metal, not blackened. |
| Tags | focusing distance only in meters. The depth of field scale for the values of F / 4, 8, 11, 16. The scale with the aperture values for F / 1.8, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16. The ring has one intermediate fixed value between the specified pairs of numbers (between F / 11 and F / 16 there is no intermediate value). |
| Diaphragm | From F / 1.8 to F / 16.0, it is regulated by the aperture ring, there is no diaphragm operation method switch on the lens. |
| MDF (minimum focusing distance) | 0.45 m, maximum magnification ratio is 1: 6.3 (approximately) |
| The weight | 250 g (approximately) |
| Optical design | 6 elements in 4 groups |
| Lens hood | screwed into the front filter, marking of the original hood not found. |
| Manufacturer country | USSR, made at the Vologda Optical and Mechanical Plant. |
| Period | For several years, around 1990, the exact period of production is unknown. |
How to use with modern cameras?
Lenses with mounting thread M42 (M42 X 1 / 45.5), such as the lens from this review, are very easy to use on almost any modern digital camera (both SLR and mirrorless), for this it is enough to choose the right adapter (adapter). You do not need to carry out any additional steps to modify the lens.
There are adapters with a chip that provide greater convenience during shooting. These chips are typically used for focus confirmation and/or exposure metering, as well as for generating correct EXIF data. The presence of a chip does not affect image quality in any way.
For some SLR cameras (for example, with the Nikon F-mount), you need to use adapters with a corrective lens, which allows you to focus correctly at all focusing distances. For any mirrorless cameras, such a lens is not needed, and the adapter is a simple decorated hollow metal tube with an appropriate mount.
For SLR cameras
- CANON EF/EF-S: Adapter M42 -> EF/EF-S [AMAZON]
- NIKON: M42 adapter -> Nikon F/Nikon AI [AMAZON]
- PENTAX: Adapter M42 -> Pentax K [AMAZON]
- SONY/MINOLTA: Adapter M42 -> Sony A [AMAZON]
- OLYMPUS/PANASONIC/LEICA: adapter M42 -> 4/3 [AMAZON]
For mirrorless cameras
- SONY: M42 -> Sony E [AMAZON].
- OLYMPUS / PANASONIC / KODAK / XIAOMI: M42 -> MFT [AMAZON].
- Canon EF-M: M42 -> EF-M [AMAZON].
- CANON R and RF-S: M42 -> EOS R [AMAZON].
- Nikon 1: M42 -> N1 [AMAZON].
- Nikon Z: M42 -> Z [AMAZON].
- FUJIFILM X: M42 -> X [AMAZON].
- FUJIFILM GFX: M42 -> GFX [AMAZON].
- SAMSUNG NX: M42 -> NX [AMAZON].
- SIGMA / PANASONIC / LEICA: M42 -> Leica L [AMAZON].
- LEICA: M42 -> Leica M [AMAZON].
If you have any questions on compatibility and adapters - ask in the comments (comments do not require any registration at all).
Comments on this post do not require registration. Anyone can leave a comment.
Image quality
I used the lens with the M42-Sony NEX adapter on the full-frame Sony a7 mirrorless camera without any problems . The MS HELIOS-77M-4 1,8mm f/50 is sharp enough in the center of the frame even at f/1.8, with slightly less sharpness at the edges. At smaller apertures, the lens exhibits very high sharpness. Vignetting is noticeable at f/1.8.
When working without backlighting, the lens exhibits good contrast. Unfortunately, despite its MC optics, the lens performs poorly in backlighting , producing a significant amount of flare, lens flare, and rainbow artifacts (these artifacts are visible in the photos in the gallery below). The MC HELIOS-77M-4 50mm 1:1,8 performs much better in backlighting. A highlight of the MC HELIOS-77M-4 1,8/50 is its unusual background tilt in out-of-focus areas , which gives the lens an interesting bokeh.
Ultimately, the MS HELIOS-77M-4 1,8/50 is an interesting lens that could be a good creative tool for photography enthusiasts. Due to its weak backlight performance, it's inferior to the MS Helios-81N 2/50.
You can download the original RAW files from this link (20 .ARW files, 400 MB). All photos in the gallery above are on-camera JPEGs from a Sony a7.
UPDATE 1 (added gallery of examples)
More examples of photos taken with the MS HELIOS-77M-4 1,8/50 and Canon EOS 750D by Svetlana Stasyakova :
UPDATE 2 (added gallery of examples)
Photographer Ulyana Bukanova (Mizinova) also shared examples of photographs taken with the MS HELIOS-77M-4 1,8/50 and Canon EOS 60D.
Several examples on the MS HELIOS-77M-4 1,8/50 and a full frame in the form of Canon EOS 6D can be found here.
MC HELIOS-77M-4 1,8/50 and MC HELIOS-77M-4 50mm 1:1,8
Please note: the HELIOS-77M-4 lens was also produced at the Jupiter Optical and Mechanical Plant under the name MC HELIOS-77M-4 50mm 1:1,8 . A very similar Soviet lens, the MS Helios-77M 1,8/50 , also exists.
Conclusion
MS HELIOS-77M-4 1,8 / 50 is a pleasant Soviet fifty dollars. Even in spite of the poor performance in the back and side light, this lens can be attributed to the list of the best Soviet fifty dollars.
When exploring Soviet Helios lenses, I recommend starting with the inexpensive and widely available Helios-44-2 2/58 (aka HELIOS-44-2 2/58) . You can also check out modern ZENITAR and HELIOS lenses using the following links.
This material was prepared by Arkady Shapoval . The greatest support for the site is if you use links on this site, such as Amazon , when purchasing anything . It costs you nothing, but for this site, and therefore for my family, it's the main source of support.
Tell me please! I bought such a Helios (plant with the emblem of the Valdai plant) and I don’t understand why the diaphragm opens only to the value of 5.6? Thanks!
Most likely aperture problems
On the other hand, the lens has a lever recessed into the body. If you twist it with a screwdriver, then the diaphragm opens and closes. And if you twist the aperture ring, it only closes to a value of 5.6.
This lever must be constantly recessed. Usually the adapter from M42-to your camera does this automatically. But sometimes it remains untwisted, for example, with adapters for Nikon. Then it should be fixed manually in any way. For example, squeeze the sharp end of a toothpick
I have a Lumix G80, an ordinary Fotga adapter. The lens also behaves on the adapter. You may have to disassemble and clean. By the way, the focus ring slides closer to infinity .. it looks like grease. Thank you for the answers !!!
You've probably already figured it out, but most likely your lens unit has rotated in the housing.
I constantly have this problem on my G-81M, no matter how much I correct it or control the fixing rings.
Hello Arkady, is there any point in buying this glass, if there is already Helios 44m-4 of the Krasnogorsk plant, are there any differences in bokeh? The difference in price is almost 1000 UAH, is it worth it?
I don’t see much point, if the 44m-4 is not enough, then something else is already possible and something is not from Helios
Thank you very much)
there will be a very big difference in bokeh
Not really at all. Well, yes, there is more krutilov, but the essence is the same. Image quality is generally no better.
Spins much stronger than any other helios, it is already much more interesting. For high quality, if you take something from the new 50mm, in which almost all aberrations are corrected
The opinion about stronger torsion in comparison with 44m (any number) is wrong. This impression is created due to the smaller FR, which provides more coverage of the frame, and therefore more torsion. In terms of quality, the image really does not differ from 44 helios.
Good afternoon Arkady! Tell me, and having a Helios 81 N it makes sense to purchase this lens?
No special meaning
... of course, all Helios of the 44th series and also 77-4 look like brothers, but 81N from a completely different opera, the Arsenalovsky Helios does not twist as much as the 44th and 77th, it is more similar in the picture to Nikon's and Kenon's 50s with a sluggish blur for me the best of all is Helios 44-3 from Belomo
Helios 44m-7 naturally zenitar in contrast and resolution tears all 44 and 77 into rubbish and it turns the background, God forbid everyone, and it also gives a very, very good color, very close to fifty dollars zenitar 1.7
Do you need any punctuation marks?
Congratulate me. Just bought this photo lens. I wanted to buy MC HELIOS-44M-5 today, but I saw this lens from the seller and could not resist. Only here is a problem. There is not enough focus to infinity, but I think it's fixable. And to be honest, I can use it anyway, for portraits
If the camera is Nikon, then yes, there will be no endlessness. Either an adapter with a lens, or “file lightly.”
disassemble and adjust to infinity. I set up my Helios 81 in the same way.
Hey! I also bought this Helios, there are 81, 44-3 in the collection, but this one is better and sharper than all. And I do not want to cover the diaphragm. It can be easily converted to infinity (if on Nikon). I removed all the trichomes from the jumping mechanism, the native shank, and put the Chinese one in its place. I put a spring on the pusher from the handle. A micron construction site to infinity was carried out by supplying the ring, where the inscriptions are. I took night pictures - generally super, sharp kapets. If for portraits, then you can simply jam the pusher and that's it. But I would advise you to get confused and do it.
I sympathize with you.
Good afternoon!
I apologize, but the link to the Nikon adapter without a lens and with a chip is not working. Will anyone share the new one?
Thank you.
https://aliexpress.ru/item/32688815652.html
Ideal for a crop portrait
The lady is very beautiful in the photo.
77th is definitely better than 44th. Even if the 44th has an M7. And here Vologda is better than Valdai.
The comparison shows the lower left corner of the frame.
Left Canon 35 / 1.4LII open, in the center Helios77 also open (f / 1.8), right Helios44M7 open (f / 2)
Shot with Canon R5
bottom right i.e. injection
This is powerful lens testing. From the window of a dark street….. Don't stop there. You can still go down to the basement on a dark, moonless night. Take off by the light of matches.
Super! In the basement! Ha! Normally lowered it. 5+++!
Canon R5,Canon 35/1.4L…
The sir has a nasty set, just for such tests)))
Why are you calling it MS Helios?
This is about the MC Helios.
Good day. Please tell me how to make infinity on this glass without using a lens in an adapter. I heard that a lens spoils the picture.
Good day. Perhaps it strongly depends on what kind of bayonet mount you have in your camera?
Nikon F bayonet. D7000 camera. I tried to screw this Helios simply through the lensless adapter M42-F, the maximum focusing distance does not exceed 2 meters, which is certainly not at all. And the pictures are very, very good. Signature lemons and twisting (I took pictures with it and Zenit-ET on film), the pictures are cool, especially if the background is colorful, such as foliage and the sun.