Overview of MS HELIOS-77M-4 1,8 / 50 (VOMZ version)

According provided by MS Helios-77M-4 1,8 / 50 lens (with the VOMZ logo) many thanks to the reader of Radozhiva - Vladimir Pivovarov.

MS HELIOS-77M-4 1,8 / 50

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
  • M42x1 / 45.5 - common 'M42' seating thread.
  • manual focus only.
  • aperture control ring, as well as semi-automatic control of the diaphragm using the aperture ring and the diaphragm pusher of the cameras in which it is available.
  • MS - multi-layer optical coating.
  • The lens is suitable for full-format cameras.
  • metal case.
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.

The cheapest adapters can be found at Aliexpress.com... There are adapters (adapters) with a chip that provide more convenience during shooting, usually chips are used to confirm focus and / or metering exposure, and form the correct EXIF. The chip does not affect the 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

  1. Canon: For cameras Canon EOS with bayonet mount EF / EF-S need an M42-Canon EOS adapter, such an adapter with a chip can be found herewithout chip here.
  2. NIKON: For cameras Nikon DX / FXas well as for cameras Fujifilm и Kodak with a Nikon F mount, you need an M42-Nikon F adapter, you can buy such an adapter without a lens and a chip here, with a lens without a chip herewith chip without lens here, with lens and chip here. Why a lens? Why chip?
  3. PENTAX: For Pentax cameras with K mount, you need an M42-Pentax K adapter, you can buy such an adapter here.
  4. SONY/MINOLTA: For cameras with a Sony / Minolta A mount, you need the M42-Sony A adapter, you can find such an adapter without a chip at this linkwith a chip at this link.
  5. OLYMPUS/PANASONIC/LEICA: For cameras with a 4/3 bayonet mount (not to be confused with Micro 4/3!) You need an M42-4 / 3 adapter, you can buy such an adapter here.

For mirrorless cameras

  1. SONY: For cameras with 'E'/'FE' mount series SonyNEX и Sony Alpha you need an adapter M42-Sony E (aka M42-Sony Nex), you can find it at this link. An autofocus adapter is also available for these cameras. Techart PRO Leica M - Sony E Autofocus Adapterwhich can be found at this link.
  2. OLYMPUS / PANASONIC / KODAK / XIAOMI: For cameras with a bayonet mount Micro 4/3 (Micro 4:3) you need an adapter M42-Micro 4/3, you can find it at this link.
  3. CANON M: For cameras with Canon EF-M mount need adapter M42-Canon M, it can be found at this link.
  4. CANON R and RF-S: For cameras with Canon RF mount need adapter M42-Canon R, it can be found at this link.
  5. Nikon 1: For cameras Nikon 1 Series need adapter M42-Nikon 1, you can find it at this link.
  6. Nikon Z: For cameras Nikon Z series (FX/DX) need an adapter M42-Nikon Z, it can be found at this link.
  7. FUJIFILM X: For cameras with mount X need an M42-Fuji X adapter, you can find it at this link.
  8. FUJIFILM GFX: For medium format cameras G-mount need M42-Fuji GFX adapter, you can find it at this link.
  9. SAMSUNG: For cameras with NX mount, you need an M42-Samsung NX adapter, you can find it at this link. There are no adapters for the NX mini camera yet.
  10. PENTAX: For Q-mount cameras, you need an M42-Pentax Q adapter, you can find it at this link.
  11. SIGMA / PANASONIC / LEICA: For cameras with L mount you need an M42-Leica L adapter, you can find it at this link.
  12. LEICA: For cameras with a bayonet mount Leica M need adapter M42-L / M, you can find it at this link.

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. Many different photographic equipment can be found on AliExpress.

Image quality

On a full-length mirrorless camera Sony a7 I used a lens with an adapter without any problems M42-Sony NEX. MC HELIOS-77M-4 1,8 / 50 is quite sharp in the center of the frame even at F / 1.8, slightly worse at the edges. On covered apertures, the lens shows very high sharpness. On F / 1.8, vignetting is noticeable.

When used without backlight, the lens shows good contrast. Unfortunately, despite the optics with 'MC', the lens weak in backlight, giving a large number of flares, glare and 'rainbows' (these artifacts are in the photos in the gallery below). Version MC HELIOS-77M-4 50mm 1: 1,8 backlit works much better. The highlight of MS HELIOS-77M-4 1,8 / 50 is unusual twisting the background in the blur zoneso that the lens has an interesting bokeh.

Ultimately MC HELIOS-77M-4 1,8 / 50 is an interesting lens that can be a good creative tool for photo enthusiasts. Poor backlit work makes it worse MS Helios-81H 2/50.

You can download RAW source files by this link (20 files in the '.ARW' format, 400 MB). All photos in the gallery above are on-camera JPEG from the camera Sony a7.

UPDATE 1 (added gallery of examples)

More examples of photos on the MC HELIOS-77M-4 1,8 / 50 and Canon EOS 750D from Svetlana Stasyakova:

UPDATE 2 (added gallery of examples)

Examples of photographs on MS HELIOS-77M-4 1,8 / 50 and Canon EOS 60D photographer also shared Ulyana Bukanova (Mizinova).

Several examples on MS HELIOS-77M-4 1,8 / 50 and a full frame in the face Canon EOS 6D You can find here.

MS HELIOS-77M-4 1,8 / 50 and MC HELIOS-77M-4 50mm 1: 1,8

MS HELIOS-77M-4 1,8 / 50 and MC HELIOS-77M-4 50mm 1: 1,8

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. And there is also a very similar Soviet lens MS Helios-77M 1,8 / 50.

Results

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.

Familiarity with the Soviet Helios brand lenses I recommend starting with an inexpensive and common lens Helios-44-2 2/58 (aka HELIOS-44-2 2/58). The following links can look at modern lenses Zenitar и HELIOS.


Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

Add a comment: Rodion

 

 

Comments: 319, on the topic: Overview of the MS HELIOS-77M-4 1,8 / 50 (VOMZ version)

  • anonym

    Dear, tell me! I really like twisted bokeh, there is a Helios 81n lens, on the crop it does not really twist. Is it worth buying a Helios 77 m-4, does it spin the background harder? And about sharpness, who is stronger?

    • anonym

      on Crop all twists sucks. Torsion is visible at full frame, and the crop cuts it off.

    • Lynx

      Not worth it

  • anonym

    And he even turns the background 77m on the crop. Unlike other Helios.

  • Vladimir

    I agree with the previous "speaker" that on crop 77 the background very much twists.

    the opposite question: is it worth taking the Helios 81-N if you already have 77m-4?

    • Lynx

      If m4 has already been sawn to infinity, then no. Otherwise it makes sense

  • anonym

    To take or not to take, you decide. From my experience I will say that I came across a very good specimen (Helios 81-N), I am very pleased with it. You can highlight the excellent color reproduction and sharpness, and the softness of the blur. I use it with Nikon d3100. Bokeh twists, but not much, I can’t compare with g77m4 yet, I’m waiting for an adapter.

  • anonym

    Another example

  • anonym

    Others

  • anonym

    one more

  • anonym

    another one

  • anonym

    и

  • Vladimir

    super-cute cat!

  • Vladimir

    filmed G77m-4 on the crop

  • Shark

    The Helios-44 lens was produced as a standard lens for the Start camera at the Krasnogorsk Mechanical Plant since 1958. Cannot be used on other cameras.

  • Sergei

    Good day! If I understand correctly, this helios is the best of the whole family, it has the most advanced enlightenment and it does not paint the picture as early, white 44ki. At the same time, it has a characteristic bokeh pattern, twists no worse, and the counter holds the best. Did I understand everything correctly? The price for it is very high, is it worth its money or is it not worth bothering?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      One of the best. Sell ​​at different prices. 81N is no worse and cheaper.

      • Rodion

        81H is very different in the nature of the bokeh - not so much twist.
        I would not chase for 77, but would buy 44-2 or 44m-X MC and would not take a steam bath.

    • Sergei

      Not a big refinement is the Canon 6D and Sony A7 camera. Helios 81N is good, I do not argue, but I want the most twisted bokeh, at a sane price. At the same time, I want sharpness and the most correct color reproduction. I looked at the white helios, but they strongly distort the color, although maybe I don’t fully understand something. I have a light fifty dollars, Hexanon 50 / 1.7 everything is good in it, but the background does not twist))

      • ba3lur

        ... the whole series of Helios 44 turns best of all (the 77th is no exception, unlike 81N) I tried almost all versions for me the best one is Helios 44-3 from Belomo at the expense of white Helios 44 the color change is due to the lilac enlightenment of the lenses and is corrected in the other editor the question is in the M39 thread with a difference in the working length from the M42 of 0.3mm, and even on Canon there will be no full-fledged infinity without “finishing” ...

  • kj

    Hello, I got such a lens Helios 77 M 4. How to control the diaphragm in it when the pusher is already fixed. As I understand it, I need to set just the desired aperture value, focus and press the shutter release? It’s just that I read other Helios models that I need to perform some other actions. Nikon d5100 camera And there is also 44 M 6, will it be the same on it?

  • Alexander

    Good afternoon!
    What do you recommend as a manual portraiture for the Olympus m4 / 3:
    Olympus Om-System Zuiko MC Auto-S 1: 1.4 f = 50mm or Helios-77M-4.50mm f / 1.8 MC?
    The price for them is about the same.
    Thank you!

    • Gregor_S

      Of these two, I would choose the Olympus. In addition, the quality of helios jumps very much.

    • Rodion

      I would not recommend any of this for a mikra - there is no fountain in the central region of the lens. You won’t see characteristic bokeh at Helios, Olympus torments you with chromatism. The best option for a micro is RO3-3M 50/2, Tevidon 50/1.8 lenses. And also some 50 / 1.4 lenses for C-mount, for example, some Kowa, Navitar, Cosmicar lenses. Use optics that match the size of the matrix - no need to install full-frame lenses - you will be disappointed with poor quality and an uninteresting picture.

    • Rodion

      Tair-41 50/2 will still be an interesting option for your system.

  • anonym

    Olympus Om-System Zuiko MC Auto-S 1: 1.4 f = 50mm definitely.

  • Alexey

    Cool glass, set through the 42-M adapter, of course, infinity and aperture do not work.
    I’m looking for someone with even hands to remake it under the Nikon mount. Searches are unsuccessful so far. Maybe someone will advise?

  • Jury

    I got the MS in '90, put it through an adapter on the Sony 7R.
    On the camera compared with Sony Zeiss 55 / 1.8.
    Surprised by the picture, took paired pictures, look at the monitor.
    I tried fifty cents from white Helios to Zeiss,
    Leica did not want because of the price.
    Who cares, write.
    Many thanks to the author for the reviews.
    Titanic labor. I use the site materials for information
    Great help when choosing a technique.

  • Larisa

    hello Arkady! please, tell me ... I have an Olympus E Mark II, among other lenses there is a 60mm f1: 2.8 macro, it shoots good bokeh! but, many friends keninists and nikonists are literally in a rush from Helios 77.4 and other Helios (sorry, I'm not strong in technology)! the question is, do I really need Helios for stunning bokeh, and if so, how should I be, which model to buy and what adapter do I need? I really hope for you, tk. so far this is the only site that has such detailed information! but, unfortunately, I didn't find anything useful for my Olympus! thanks in advance!

    • Arkady Shapoval

      For a penny you can buy and indulge. Buy any with M42 landing thread. The cheapest are the 44-2 (such) Need adapter M42-4 / 3 (adapters or adapters may be called differently, for example, M42-Olympus 4/3)

      • Larisa

        I did not understand exactly how many kopecks I have to pay, and another important question ... I live in America, is there a reliable site where I can buy all this?

    • anonym

      on http://www.ebay.com/

  • anonym

    Thanks for the review! Guys, tell me, where in Kiev can I remake this lens for Nikon to infinity?

  • Andrei

    I had the MC HELIOS-77M-4 50mm 1: 1,8 left from the zenith, I tried to put it through the adapter on the Sony A450, the adapter was with a dandelion, which broke after a while. Filmed in manual mode. Compared with whale sharper, excellent color reproduction. On my crop, 1,5 gives a focus of about 75 mm. Portraits go well, as well as all kinds of grass, flowers. Excellent twisted bokeh, although a little annoying if the background is mottled. The main drawback is that it is very poorly suited for sequential shooting, when shooting moving objects, especially children, I do not have time to set focus, but you can cover the aperture, but then the viewfinder is dark and the lack of auto exposure and the need for manual installation, especially in sunny weather, is difficult — it is not visible in the viewfinder of the adjustment scale, and switching to shooting in Liveview mode leads to a loss of a moment from the mirror jumping and not what is needed appears on the frame.
    In general, I decided to leave it for myself as a portrait of static scenes.
    R-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-but-where was autofocusing on Soviet feds, Kiev, zeniths? All by hand! In the best case, a jump on the diaphragm and a semiautomatic device to the exposure and filmed and it was normal. Then there were film "soap dishes", then digital ones, and as a result: a complete absence of beautiful and high-quality photographs in photo albums, and the absence of the albums themselves. Everything is on monitors. Let this new tribe of young photographers with kenons and nikonans try to switch them to manual modes and make at least a dozen decent shots for the whole wedding, for example .... Lyrics ... progress goes inexorably forward and it turns out that the camera will do everything for you itself sadly. I've reviewed a bunch of wedding photos here…. technically, yes: clear, sharp, dermatological, color and bright frames, but from 1000 pieces you can choose no more than ten more or less artistic, and with the main goal of the photographer, to stop a moment and convey emotion, dully. Therefore, I left the Soviet glass for the soul and for a pause to think about the composition. And one more thing - a person with a violin does not necessarily know how to play it, but a person with a camera is a photographer who often does not understand that photography is creativity and a flight of fantasy, like music, painting, and not planing stools, or knitting brooms. Without hints, without a desire to humiliate or insult anyone, what I think.

    • Sasha Grey

      I scanned the comments. And so, on the air meditation. I once took part in a wedding shoot. It seems to me that the filth of vulgarity, greed, obscenity, philistinism, poisoned my perception for a long time. I don’t know how a mustachioed, dull creature, in a vest, which photographs skewed, red faces in costumes with an ebb, to talk about the high, that oh, the generation is not right, with canons and nikons. I am a layman in photography and I do not pretend. Perhaps the experience of dipping photographic paper with tweezers in the closet of an apartment of the Brezhnev era and carrying a suitcase with a battery for a flashlight is a divine level of enlightenment from photography. But to deny progress is the screams of an injured scoop. Try on fed, zenith, blah blah. Thanks but no. I'd rather try what's newer.

      • anonym

        Do not distort or substitute concepts. The point is that the lenses are gorgeous old. Lenses give odds to many of today's. Yes, they are manual. But even over the hill, to this day, a MASS of manuals are produced! And our old lenses are better than many modern ones. And the photos from them are GORGEOUS! And this is the main thing in photography. Minus in one - then autofocus lenses were not made. And they did not do it over the hill either. Everything and everything was turned with handles. In reportage and commercial photography, such lenses are not convenient. But in all other shots, these glasses are good. Lenses have their own niche. And they do an excellent job with their direct responsibility - CREATE BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS and GIVE JOY TO PEOPLE, the joy of capturing beauty around us!

  • Alexey Seliverstov

    Nice lens. I recently mounted a roller on this glass:
    Video review MS Helios 77M-4 50 mm 1,8 + Nikon D610 (50mm Gelios77 Lens Test)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9mkor9-LDM

  • Alexey Seliverstov

    And yesterday I mounted a wedding video using it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trQxEUhwHBc

  • Vladimir

    The lens is interesting. You need to get used to it. It is a little complicated because of the very small flu. It twists the background very much. My two are sharp if you cover a little very sharp. The hold is not very. The picture is very bright. Its biggest drawback is the big price. And so the lens is good.

  • Boron. Alex

    Hello everyone.
    I did not find the answer to the question: what are the differences between the MS HELIOS-77M lens and others.
    Number 92 ... 96.
    Thank you.

    • Sergei

      The difference is that lenses with non-Russian letters were intended for export and they better hold back light and are better in all respects. The best is considered to be the Jupiter plant - the letter "U" on the manufacturer's icon. I have one. The quality is the highest.

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