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
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.
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
- 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.
- 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?
- PENTAX: For Pentax cameras with K mount, you need an M42-Pentax K adapter, you can buy such an adapter here.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- CANON M: For cameras with Canon EF-M mount need adapter M42-Canon M, it can be found at this link.
- CANON R and RF-S: For cameras with Canon RF mount need adapter M42-Canon R, it can be found at this link.
- Nikon 1: For cameras Nikon 1 Series need adapter M42-Nikon 1, you can find it at this link.
- Nikon Z: For cameras Nikon Z series (FX/DX) need an adapter M42-Nikon Z, it can be found at this link.
- FUJIFILM X: For cameras with mount X need an M42-Fuji X adapter, you can find it at this link.
- FUJIFILM GFX: For medium format cameras G-mount need M42-Fuji GFX adapter, you can find it at this link.
- 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.
- PENTAX: For Q-mount cameras, you need an M42-Pentax Q adapter, you can find it at this link.
- SIGMA / PANASONIC / LEICA: For cameras with L mount you need an M42-Leica L adapter, you can find it at this link.
- 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
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
And yet. Not on the lens of the manufacturer.
How so?
The factory icon is on every lens. Watch attentively.
Sometimes there was such that there was no designation of the plant. VERY rare, but it happens. It is a rarity.
He compared the Helios 77m-4 and Helios 81n. The Helios 77m-4 boke twists much more. The open loop is very small. The worker is open.
Thanks for the review! I got a new one. And after this lens, everyone else somehow stopped being on my camera. I enjoy the picture. Every shot is a pleasure.
On occasion, I purchased a Helios 77-m-4 lens from the Valdai Jupiter factory for inexpensive (at the Zenith). Checked while in test mode. I was afraid that there would be problems. But it turned out that for twenty years the diamond was lying on the mezzanine and was waiting in the wings.
The glass is just magical. All the nice flaws of the best Soviet 50mm lens are taken into account. Bokeh generates fabulous. With soft transitions in colors and tones. With a twist. With sparkling lemons. Moreover, it can be both modest and catchy. If you put your head on, bokeha will be just wonderful. For example, on new nikkors the background is correctly blurred. And here is a patterned bokeh.
Such a device in the photo economy does not hurt at all. A good addition to modern AF lenses.
Although there are people who do not like the bokeh of the 77th (they will find double lines, etc.). Simply, then, this lens is not for them.
About sharpness. When closed, the sharpness is excellent. On open apertures - soft sharpness, as the doctor ordered. With the viewfinder, the D800 can be easily aimed even with very poor eyesight (but here Nikon's limitation for the M42 is focusing up to 2-2.5m). With viewfinders of junior cameras, it is inconvenient to aim. But on closed diaphragms - and aiming on the scale (A100) at long distances works great. Buy A7m2R from Aunt Sonya for 250t.r. with magnifiers and focus pickings to the lens for 2 tons. I'm not planning yet. It's a shame to buy cropped b / s, it's a pity to cut off such a splendid background in the pictures.
About the diaphragm. Do a simple operation to clamp the jumper only in a calm state, remember what was where, what is opposite of what. Do not lose the cogs. Let there be an empty core from a fountain pen to help you.
Well what else to say. As they used to joke, for such a lens, when selling, you need to immediately attach the certificate of a member of the Union of Photographers with a seal, just to enter the name. In any case, I do not remember the lens that she paints herself, without a photographer. If only Nikkor 60 2.8G in macro mode.
You don’t have to unwind much at all, and it’s even easier to put on a piece of a rod, without parsing the jump rope. To do this, it is enough to cut part of the rod along and simply put it on the rod of the jump rope. And that’s it. (So twist a lot less)
When not drunk, do not watch! From spherical aberrations to puke the hunt.
where do you get such freaks out of)))))))))))
Got a brand new from the factory Jupiter. Also went as a staffer at the Zenith. The documents for the camera appear as 1994.
In the first pictures I somehow did not decide on an opinion. Anyway, the picture is more interesting for me at Zenitar-M 1,7 / 50
number
The diaphragm is "blackened" by the way.
on open, pretty sharp.
more
I had several of them. The first I bought the Valdai Jupiter plant. It turned out not to be sharp. I thought I got the second one. The same, sharpness at Helios 44-2. Then he bought the Vologda MS HELIOS-77M-4, with green enlightenment. This one is sharp! Then Valdai fell again, and lo and behold, even a little sharper than Vologda. Sharpness is approximately at the level of Helios 44M-7 MS. But their enlightenment is better than that of Helios 44M-7. So, if, with the same lighting, the Helios 44M-7 MS needs shutter speed 1/1200, then the Helios 77M-4 MS, 1/1600 is enough. On a bright sunny day, in the open, at a shutter speed of 1/4000 and at ISO 100, it is not possible to shoot, exposure. And one more feature. They are all sharp at infinity, unlike all HELIOS-44, ZENITAR_M 50 / 1.7, INDUSTR-61 MS LZ. Therefore, they are well suited for shooting distant landscapes.
Hello! I did not find which adapter is needed on the Panasonic gh5. Could you tell? Maybe there are more analogues with the same fabulous bokeh on such a camera?
And what do you think - is it smart enough for video?
And how do you rate it for landscapes?
Thank you in advance!
For PANASONIC cameras with Micro 4/3 mount (Micro 4: 3), for example, for your DC-GH5 you need the M42-Micro 4/3 adapter, you can find it at this link.
Nimble enough who? Lens or camera?
Fabulous bokeh is achieved by many lenses, even the cheapest Helios 44-2 series can show an interesting picture.
For landscapes under the double crop, something broader is desirable, for landscapes, this Helios 77m-4 on the GH5 camera will be poorly applicable.
If only through the speed booster then ideal
The GH5 is a very advanced camera and is usually taken for professional purposes, or at least those who understand what to do with it. You shouldn't take any Helios on GH5 for a landscape. They will work for a portrait, but there will be almost no twisted boke on the GH5. The GH5 sensor will only be covered by the center of the lens. Maybe by landscape you mean shooting flowers, then in principle it will fit for this. About the "nimbleness" of the lens for video: it is manual, in a simple way - manual. There are tons of great autofocus lenses for the GH5 (Panasonic, Olympus, Sigma and many others for every taste and budget).
Thanks a lot for your answer)
can I ask you another question?)
I have already read half of the reviews on your site and my eyes are completely dizzy :) - maybe you can tell me which Soviet lens for video landscapes will be good on gh5?
Soviet is needed due to the fact that I want to avoid the same image as in many; I want to get a non-standard picture with some kind of distortion. Well, the price, of course, also decides
thank you very much in advance!
Look at the Lens Club. There, the filter can select lenses for micro 4/3. All with a description and pictures. A hundred will definitely be with a native bayonet mount. + Through an adapter, almost any others are put. And I note that the distortion and some kind of non-standard image in the lens is not in the first place. Searching with a good picture and in Photoshop is easy, but with a bad picture it's hard to do something.
Helios for the landscape is not very because of the focal, especially on a camera with a crop factor of x2. For focal lengths, it’s not ideal for 4/3, but all the same, Helios will be World 1 or 24.
But there is an important point, wanting to get something not typical, you can get problems in the middle of nowhere, and another question that will outweigh. Good landscapes are obtained at dawn or during sunset, and it is important that the lens copes well with backlight.
It is better to buy a good wide-angle lens, and in addition to it you can take such Helios or Mir if you want something like that, because in addition to weak work in backlight, although this is a significant factor, you will very quickly understand that the shooting angle for landscapes is very poor enough. However, if you shoot only video, this may not be so important, and the flares can be artistically beaten. Compared to the price of this camera, the price for these lenses is negligible, buy, shoot, dislike, sell or keep for collection and some “atypical” shoots.
There are no such crops as such for landscapes. As you were told above, any modern lens is better. Interesting images are the photographer's job.
Good afternoon, you, as an expert in these matters, tell me which zenitar 50 1.7 or Helios 77m4 is better. I have Nikon
Under Nikon, the Helios-81N is better
you can try FF fisheye lenses, on crop 2.0 they will give exactly what you want - ”I want to avoid the same type of image as in many; I want to get a non-standard picture with some kind of distortion ”
try
1) MS Bearing 3,5 / 8A (more distortion)
2) MS Zenitar 16 / 2.8 (less distortion)
both that and another costs ~ 6000r supported, or 8500r new
although they are not Soviet, they are produced at the same factories
You can still look at the Chinese fisheye lenses
samyang 8mm or 7.5 depending on the system ~ 8000r supported and 10 000r new
well or under micro 4/3 Pixco 8mm F3.8 ~ 4000r new
all of them will give an unusual picture
various helios, jupiters, and so on - they won't suit you with crop 2 - this will already be a tele range, which will not be convenient for the landscape
Good day
I was very interested in this lens, I googled the process of its conversion for Nikon with infinity. Everything is clear, except for one thing - why block the jumping aperture? Will it somehow interfere with work?
If you do not block, then the aperture ring does not work, it will always be in the same state
Thank you
If you do not block, then it will be impossible to set the aperture using the ring.
Hello everyone. I did not have to hold this lens in my hands, but from the pictures from it I can’t understand why it is better than the same Helios 44 for example? It costs three or more times more expensive.
See the difference between Helios 40,44 and 77 here https://www.anastasiazubkova.ru/blog/sravnenie-gelios-40-gelios-44-gelios-77
Hello, tell me how is helios 77 k -4 different from Helios in this review?
Bayonet, K - for cameras with Pentax K (or Soviet equivalent) mount.
Thanks, through the adapter it’s suitable for canon or is it better to look for the m42?
And by the way, how good is the helios 77m from the Valdai and Vologda?
There are a lot of Helios lenses of any modifications on flea markets and Avito, in good condition for very little money 1000-1500 rubles. The author of the review for some reason always advises Moscow online stores where the price for a regular Helios-2 is 3.500, probably this is the author’s collaboration with these shops.
Tested MS HELIOS-77M and MS Helios 44M-4 on Nikon D50. MS Helios 44M-4 was sharper.
The clearance on the lens in the lens mount is what it is. On the lens mount, the transition step of the lens, as it were, does not sit down completely. Explain, please.
If the adapter with the inner wide ring then saw.
Thank you for your review! This lens has its own flavor when considering backlit shots. For creative unhurried shooting - the very thing !!!
And I made it autofocus)
share a description of the alteration?
Yeah, storyteller!
What - https://radojuva.com/2019/08/af-mc-helios-44m-4-58mm-12/
Good afternoon!
Tell me, please, is there a correction profile for Lightroom for Helios 77M-4 and where to get them? I’m looking for several hours, I read several branches about the lens, on this site too, but there’s no profile anywhere. I haven’t done the profiles myself yet, I’m not sure of my abilities.
Unless someone did it himself. In general, except for the vignette and fringe profile there is nothing to adjust.
Thank you for your reply!
Interested in the difference between MS HELIOS 77M and MS HELIOS 77M-4. Tell me, please, who is in the know.
Good day to all! How to determine the manufacturer when buying a lens through AVITO?
The image of the lenses with an arrow stylized as a Yu is the Valdai Jupiter, and the three interfering waves are VOMZ.
At the very beginning of the 90s, ZENIT-ET cameras were equipped with this lens. the lenses of this lens are air bubbles, then I was a young man who didn't really know how to choose, the frinel lens was dirty and this is a new camera! , to be honest, it is incomprehensible the admiration for what was produced with the marriage, the diaphragm is made of metal, by the way, but with reflections ... ... ... ...
on open, sharp
Hello, I have a canon 650d camera and this lens, because a beginner photographer, I don’t really understand the settings, there are problems with soapy edges. What could be the problem? I set the middle of the diaphragm somewhere on the lens, 1,8 on the camera itself. And more often the bottom of the photo is soaping, especially if there are hands
If the aperture jump is locked, then use f / 5.6 and below to get sharp edges. On the camera itself, the aperture value does not matter - all the same, control only on the lens is real. If some part of the photo predominantly lathers, it's a matter of bias. The screws of the lens shank may be loose and there is a play - tighten them with a slotted screwdriver.