Review Helios-44m-6

Helios-44m-6 is one of the best lenses of the Helios-44m-X series.

The main performance characteristics are the same as in the rest of the late 44th helios.
Number of lenses / groups: 6/4
Number of aperture blades: 6
Maximum aperture: F2.0
Focal distance: 58mm
Multi-layer enlightenment, bouncing diaphragm

Helios 44M-6. View on a modern camera

Helios 44M-6. View on a modern camera

The lens, which is presented in this brief review, was manufactured at an optical-mechanical plant. Jupiter, Valdai. The very first predecessor Helios 44 was produced only at the Krasnogorsk Mechanical Plant. S.A. Zvereva, Krasnogorsk. That is, this once again confirms the assumption that more new Helios 44 models began to be mass-produced at other plants, which did not particularly affect their quality.

Sample photo on Helios-44m-6

Sample photo on Helios-44m-6

Let me remind you that the modifications and names of Helios 44 came from the resolution of the lens. You can read about the resolution of each on the page of the Krasnogorsk Plant named after S.A. Zvereva, in this section.

Photo on Helios-44m-6

Photo on Helios-44m-6

Lens as two drops of water similar to other Helios-44m-X models. The lens has an automatic aperture, a classic black design with green, yellow and red aperture and focus indicators. By this color scheme they remind me of old Nikon lenses with multi-colored numbers indicating the aperture and depth of field.

Sample photo on Helios 44m-6

Sample photo on Helios 44m-6

Reviews for the Helios-44 2/58 lenses:

  1. Helios-44 2/58 [KMZ, 13 petals, M39, silver, No. 0220423]
  2. Helios-44 2/58 [KMZ, 8 petals, M39, silver]
  3. Helios-44 1: 2 F = 5,8 cm П [KMZ with replaced lenses, No. 0007220, review of the lens from the reader Radozhiva]
  4. HELIOS-44M 2/58 [KMZ, 8 petals, serial number 7843528]
  5. HELIOS-44M 2/58 [Jupiter plant, Valdai, 8 petals, serial number 8027170]
  6. HELIOS-44-2 2/58 [plant 'Jupiter', Valdai, 8 petals, serial number 83052779] + autofocus review
  7. MS Helios 44-3 2/58 [MMZ, 8 petals, 8619437, 9167912]
  8. MC Helios-44M-4 2/58
  9. Helios-44K-4 58mm 1:2 [KMZ, 6 petals, Pentax K]
  10. MC Helios-44M-4 58mm 1: 2 [plant 'Jupiter', Valdai, 6 petals] + autofocus review
  11. MC Helios-44M-5 58mm 1: 2 [Jupiter plant, Valdai, 6 petals]
  12. MC Helios-44M-6 58mm 1: 2 [plant 'Jupiter', Valdai, 6 petals]
  13. MC Helios-44M-7 58mm 1: 2 [plant 'Jupiter', Valdai, 6 petals]
  14. An article about most of the major modifications of the Helios-44 series
  15. Gallery of pictures on MC Helios-44M-4
  16. Look at modern the lenses 'Helios' can at this link
  17. A lot of Helios of all varieties can be found on ebay this link

Original 'Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 2/58 ':

  1. Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 1: 2 f = 5,8cm T [17 diaphragm blades, M42]
  2. Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 2 / 58 T [12 diaphragm blades, M42]
  3. A lot of Biotars of all varieties can be found on ebay this link

Look at modern the lenses 'Zenitar' и 'Helios' can at this link.

Typical drawing Helios-44m-6

Typical drawing Helios-44m-6

During tests, my lens showed excellent sharpness, plasticity and torsion of the bokeh, excellent assembly of the case itself. Focusing is smooth. Well, do not forget that the lens is like a person. It so happens that a person is both decent and modest, but he does not know how to show this, just like with lenses, it so happens that the lens is sharp, fast, but it's scary to show a photo from it.

Attention: when choosing a Helios 44 lens (and its many modifications including Helios 44m-6), the important point in the quality of the picture is not its technical description, but the capabilities of the specimen you selected. Regarding the price, it fluctuates quite a lot. If a girl knows her worth, then she has called her more than once, just like that, the price is always called different. You can find a great option within 20-30 cu

Photo on Helios-44-m6

Photo on Helios-44-m6

Personal impressions:

as it was already said in the Helios 44 review, later versions of modification twist the area of ​​not sharply depicted space more strongly. Uncomfortable on the lens no manual iris control, as on the old Helios 44. In order to use the ability to control the diaphragm manually, you need to lock the diaphragm pusher in the pressed position. To do this, you need to somehow fix the pusher in the pressed position. One of the options, as I did, can be found in the review of the Granite-11 lens.

Photo on Helios 44-m6

Photo on Helios 44-m6

 

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.

Sample photos on Helios 44M-6 (shot in RAW, auto levels when uploading to JPEG Q80% 1600 * 1200, watermark, to open a large image, copy and paste its address in a new browser window)

UPDATE 1

More sample photos on Canon EOS 650D (with processing) and this lens for Radozhiva was kindly provided by Alexander Frolov:

UPDATE 2

More examples of photos on the MC HELIOS-44M-6 58mm 1: 2 and the camera Canon EOS 50D shared a photographer Victoria Gurtovaya:

UPDATE 3

More examples of photos on the MC HELIOS-44M-6 58mm 1: 2 and the camera Canon EOS 6D Mark II shared photographer Angelina startseva:

Results

Helios 44m-6 excellent fast full-time lens. You should not look for the difference between its modifications, it is better to look directly at the available instances due to the dispersion in the quality of the lenses, and their age. Lens on modern cropped digital SLR cameras great as a portrait lens with an unusual (for a modern person) twisted bokeh.

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: Sergei

 

 

Comments: 220, on the topic: Comparative review of MS Helios-44m-6

  • Alexey

    Hello, there is a Praktica L camera, will this lens be better than the complete Pentacons 1.8 / 50?

  • anonym

    Hello, I purchased the almost unused HELIOS 44M6 (Valdai). It has an infinity sign of 1,5mm. runs over the control red risk. Is it a marriage or some kind of norm? To me for installation in CANON-80D. I read that these not expensive adapters can vary in thickness literally by 0,05-0,1 mm. So all the same, running for infinity may not be a marriage.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      This is not a marriage, but an admission.

      • Alexander

        But tell me please, there is Helios 44m and Helios 44-4, probably you should not hunt for 44-6? ) will the picture be the same?

        • Pokemon

          At 44m-7 and 44m-6, perhaps a little sharper.
          It all depends on the instance.
          There are many offers at flea markets.
          44m-6/7 are less common and are slightly more expensive. The nature of the picture is the same. If you have extra money, try it.

  • Alexander

    Hello. I have the same lens. How to do to change the aperture? It is always worth 2. I tried to change on the camera, well, it turns out. Nikon d300.

    • Alexander

      The jumper pin must be pressed. There are adapters that do this (you seem to have a different one) or you can remove the tail and bend one part there.

      • Nika

        Alexander, can you tell me how to choose an adapter that will clamp the jumper itself, maybe there is a link to Ali .. I would really appreciate it.

      • amateur photographer

        regarding the blocking of the pusher (on Helios 44 M6 and similar, 77m4), it is enough to press on it with a toothpick to drown it 2 mm deeper than the hole. it will stall itself. to return the pusher to its place, you need to squeeze it back into the gap between the rear lens and the body. the main thing is unnecessary to disassemble anything.

    • Alexander

      Put the match in the pin, lock it in the pressed position)))

    • Serge

      On the stock we put on a sleeve of about 3 mm and voila))

      • Serge

        Like this

        • Serge

          Difference is visible

          • Serge

            Helios 44 m6

  • Alexander

    Hello everyone ! I shot with this lens every day for three months, and his bolts on the focus ring loosened. There was no repair shop nearby, I was repairing it myself. The most difficult thing is to put the focus ring correctly on the thread, otherwise the divisions will not match.
    I liked the lens. There was no glare during the entire shooting. The only drawback is the twisted boke over a very long distance. Within three meters, I did not notice "torsion". See an example of a photo, I'm sending it for discussion))

    • Michael

      For the future: when disassembling the helicoid - put marks during disassembly (when the helicoid comes out) then there will be no difficulties during assembly))

  • Alexander

    Bought 27.10.2019/44/6 Helios-2M-58 ms 1500/XNUMX lens for XNUMX rubles .- brand new. The man sold for unnecessity, it remains from his grandfather, who only tucked film into the camera only two times. I am very happy to buy, the colors even give out amazing without processing. At the expense of the lack of manual control of the diaphragm in this review, I did not understand why it is not in your copy? In that which is acquired, the diaphragm is controlled without problems.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      You have an adapter for Canon, which presses the pusher from which you can control the diaphragm using the ring. Other situations are possible with other adapters.

      • Alexander

        Arkady, quite right, an adapter for Canon. With Nikon, as I understand it, everything is not easy.

  • Sergei

    Probably re-read too many reviews and confused himself. Tell me what on the Nikon d3100 cameo with a 44m-6 lens, what will work and what will not. Autofocus? Infinity?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Autofocus will not be, there will be no infinity, there will be no metering

      • Sergei

        Thanks. Infinity will not even be with adapters? That is, the focus will always be the same? In the area of ​​a meter?

        • Arkady Shapoval

          Focusing with a conventional adapter will be from a few centimeters to about 2 meters. And with an adapter with a correction lens, image quality will be lost.

        • Alexander

          44m-6 is quite easily converted to Nikon, you only need a Chinese adapter for 60r, 2 drills of different diameters (50 rubles) and a small screwdriver.

  • Sergei

    I have Nikon d3100, Helios 44m-6 lens. What's next? What kind of adapter is needed. Well, give the right advice. You are welcome.

  • Murad

    Hello! Unfortunately, the links to aliexpress do not work for you. I wanted to buy an adapter from F mount to M42 with a chip and a lens.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Checked link works

    • B. R. P.

      Links work for me.

  • pitroLv

    Good day to all.
    I ask for a hint. Purely mechanical problem by HELIOS-44M6.
    The focus ring of my specimen translates only from 0 to 4 meters.
    The range from 4 meters to infinity remains unattainable.
    External mechanical damage, dents, etc. not noticeable.
    Excessive force is not at risk
    Is there a way to somehow disassemble, probably grease, or else somehow reanimate the lens.
    Thank you!

    • Alexander

      Probably the lens was incorrectly assembled. It is necessary to disassemble the helicoid and find the desired mutual arrangement of its parts. Infa in the network abound, here is one of the articles:
      https://nukemall.livejournal.com/59329.html

  • videoT

    Hello.
    In the photo at the very top, the marking M52x0,75 is visible.
    But in the description the landing thread M42 (M42 X 1 / 45.5).
    What does it mean? Or are we talking about different characteristics?
    How to choose an adapter for a digital camera (Canon)?
    Will the M42-EOS fit?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      M52x0,75 means marking for light filters. In fact, any modern filters under 52 mm fit.
      M42 X 1 / 45.5 is a seating thread (bayonet thread).
      Canon EOS needs an M42-EOS adapter.
      And also, note that here in the review there is a block “How to use with modern cameras?” and there it is 100% accurately described which adapter is needed for a particular camera / system.

  • Photographer

    Judging by the pictures, I did not notice any twisted bokeh, although here it is repeatedly mentioned.

  • Alexey

    plz tell me where you can buy an adapter m42 to kenon 650d? I can’t find programmable ones in any way, and which was not suitable for 550d and have to be glued with tape, but with exposure, the trouble is, you need to manually adjust

    • Alexey

      ask the seller for a third-generation EMF ring. sobssno, wherever I bought it, they were all of the third generation and were. Yes, I bought it either in Russia or in Europe. but not in China.
      and what is wrong with the exposure? kenon, glory to the Buddha, perfectly defines the exposure even on an empty bayonet mount. this is not nikon))

  • Igor

    Hello please advise. I bought a Helios 44m6 with thin mirror-coated glass between the lenses. Why is it?

    • B. R. P.

      There should not be any glass with coatings.

    • Rodion

      oh) show me)

  • Igor

    I took it out, but I can insert it and take a picture in the lens

    • Rodion

      Interesting. It's basically an apodization filter.

    • B. R. P.

      Mm…

  • Igor

    It reflects differently from different angles.

  • Azatbek

    I got this one from my relatives. glass fire after my 44m. At the beginning I had a little trouble with the jump rope, took it apart several times, trying to block it, but then I accidentally found out that you can use an adapter with a wider ring that will support the rod itself, and the problem was solved on its own. I also tried to make a video of it. It looks very soft and cinematic, although the glass is very sharp even at an open aperture. I just don’t understand how the automatic aperture worked. probably only on some newer zenith models with aperture priority mode. for example, on Helios 81N on my Nikon, the aperture closes well to the desired value. very comfortably. after all, when the aperture is less than 5.6, cameras other than the newest ones stop confirming focus.

    • B. R. P.

      Yes, that's exactly how it worked. “Newer” at the zeniths. And it worked, like the zeniths - poorly.

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