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

  • VALENTINE

    With respect, the "age" of the lens has nothing to do with it. My 44 HELIOS-1970 (MMZ) has only external abrasions. And the optics are in perfect order.

  • Eugene

    neatly removed the tail from the G44M (along with the jump rope), and put it in a long box. then I screwed KO 52 / N on the same bolts and a 3,5 mm ring (chiseled from the piston - it’s a pity I didn’t think of knurling on the outside), I stopped the dangling diaphragm - there are many options - only now from 2 to 8 (it was lost further).
    result - G44M seemed to me better than - 1,8D, G81N, nikkor 55 / 2,8, I61l / Z, not to mention my dark ones :-( zooms.infinity runs five degrees.

  • Eugene

    Greetings!

    Thanks for all the reviews. Wish from me - as many tests of Carl Zeiss lenses as possible :)

    Question on the topic:

    - there is a version of MC Helios 44-6 - 50mm / 2 - and now I just want to buy this one ... but I don't know what its difference is. All the same, almost all Helios 58mm and here for some reason 50. Plus I wonder how many petals the 50mm version has. If suddenly you know the answers to these questions, I will be very grateful.

    I will make a reservation that I am interested in this model as an objective for filming a video. And it was because of its conveniently located focus ring that I became interested in it. I have a 44-2 - I really like the picture, but there is an inconveniently located focusing ring, which is why I want to change it to 44-6 ... only I'm afraid the picture will be worse.

    Thanks in advance!

    • Arkady Shapoval

      As far as I know, the G-44m-6 with a focal length of 50mm does not exist. Often the G-44m-X is called fifty dollars, perhaps there is such a misconception. Helios-77m-4 has a 50mm focal length. If I were provided with CZ, I would test it more often.

      • Eugene

        You are absolutely right ... the seller made a mistake and presented his Helios as 50mm - and insisted on it ... but it turned out that this is still a standard 44-6 with 58mm. :)

  • Alexey

    Arkady, thanks for the review. I have Helios 44th 83 years old, and just recently appeared 44th m6 91st. Both are almost in virgin condition. According to personal feelings, the m6 will be more interesting. The picture is similar, but the m6 is sharper. Plus, it's easier to focus. I subscribe to every word and recommend it to everyone.

  • Yana

    And you can find out: what kind of adapter ring do you need to purchase to put this lens on the Nikon D3100?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      KP-42 \ N (also called M42-Nikon). In general, I would be very happy if you read the article, because it says in black and white what adapter is needed.

  • Peter

    The magic of numbers - let it remain only as an advertisement.
    I bought the MC G-44m-6, I decided to test what he can.
    A good lens is sharp and plastic, it gives a sharp portrait at 2 aperture, then the sharpness increases and reaches a peak at 8-11. The picture is modern, contrasting, saturated.
    MS enlightenment is not very good and inferior to the German Pentacon auto 1.8 50mm.

  • Olya

    tell me, please, to install this lens on Canon, you need two adapters. right?
    M39-M42 and M42- Canon EOS?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      No, you need one M42-Canon EOS adapter

  • A.D

    I tried to find an adapter with a lens for this lens in the Czech Republic, as a result I ran into a problem: finding an adapter M42-> Nikon F seems to be not a problem, but when you point the lens to infinity, the rear lens extends, resting against the lens so that it does not give it further move, that is, it turns out that with this adapter, which should help focus on infinity, it is purely physically impossible to do this. In this regard, the question is - does anyone know an adapter other than a KP (which is not so easy to find outside of Russia), with which the above problem will not arise, and in general, which adapter with a lens gives the least distortion?

  • Grishnaya

    Greetings. I want to thank you for this site. We are lucky that we were born in this country. After all, we have such a wonderful legacy of our grandfathers and fathers. And the optics, which were produced in factories that simultaneously produced sights for weapons, for cosmognautics, for strategic technology, simply cause pride. At least for me. Your research, proof of this.
    Tell me how the front hood (plate with letters) is unscrewed on the 44m-6 helios? on 7ke there are 2 derochki, on four everything is simple. and this rubbish is spinning empty. and that's it ... I'm in despair!

  • Irina

    Hello, very interesting information and informative, thank you!
    I wanted to know, I have a helios-44M-7 lens and I would like to put it on a canon 600d, which adapter do I need? thank

    • Arkady Shapoval

      M42-Canon EOS, in more detail - old lenses on Canon

  • Andrei

    Hello,
    You can read about the resolution of each on the page of the Krasnogorsk Plant named after S.A. Zvereva, in this section.
    The link does not open, I did not find on the site where else I can find info.
    Thank you.

  • Andrei

    Those. no information anywhere? Sorry, that would be interesting.

  • Michael

    "MS Helios-44M-5" - 40/20 lines / mm
    "MS Helios-44M-6" - 45/25 lines / mm
    "MS Helios-44M-7" - 50/30 lines / mm

  • Nikita

    Hello! thanks for the great review !!
    Arkady, we need your advice! there is an opportunity to buy lenses G.44-7 and 44-6. both lenses are in good condition, but there is a caveat: the thread for the light filter is jammed on the G.44-7. so I don’t know ... their price is the same - 1600r. what would you do? thanks.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      I would take 44m-7 if everything else is normal.

  • Novel

    Hello.
    Arkady, tell me, please, which lens is better to take: Helios 44m-6 or Helios 81H.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      For which camera and for what purpose?

      • Novel

        Nikon d3100 camera, use as a portrait.

        • Arkady Shapoval

          Helios-81n MS is easier to use, but at 44m-6 it gives a little more blur. I would take Helios-81N.

          • Novel

            Thanks for the advice.

  • mailforjob92@yandex.ru

    Good day, I am facing a choice of 44M6 or Jupiter 9 (black) camera 40d, I ask your advice

    • Arkady Shapoval

      If for a portrait - then Jupiter-9.

  • Egvneiy

    OK thanks

  • Egvneiy

    And why then helios 44m6?)))

    • Arkady Shapoval

      For taking photos. For a classic portrait, Jupiter 9 is more suitable. The difference between lenses is in focal length, to understand what it is, just look here - https://radojuva.com.ua/2012/10/lens-mm/

  • Alexander

    Here is my Helios-44M-7 test http://abrezd.livejournal.com/17070.html

  • Elena

    and Helios 44m-6 is suitable for a Canon camera?))

  • Farik

    Arkady! Explain please! I have Helios 44M-6 and Nikon D90. What adapter is needed with or without a jump rope? You write “you need to lock the diaphragm pusher in the pressed position” - what is it? What should be done in this case? I cannot enter ...

  • Sergey Sh.

    An elementary way to lock the diaphragm pusher in the pressed position. We unscrew the 4 screws on the lens, remove the cap, remove the pusher. Cut off the 2-3mm ballpoint pen., Put it on the pusher, put everything in place and screw the cap. It takes a couple of minutes and there is no need to bend and glue anything.

  • Sergey Sheremetov

    An elementary way to lock the diaphragm pusher in the pressed position. We unscrew the 4 screws on the lens, remove the cap, remove the pusher. Cut off the 2-3mm ballpoint pen., Put it on the pusher, put everything in place and screw the cap. It takes a couple of minutes and there is no need to bend and glue anything.

  • Ivan Avestian

    I noticed an interesting feature of my MC Helios 44m-6 when I tried to compare it with Helios 44-2, MC Zenitar-M2s »2/50 (KMZ 2012g.v) and OM Zuiko 50mm f1.4

    On the Canon 500D, in Av mode, automation sets the same shutter speed and ISO
    with Helios 44m-6 58mm f2 and OM Zuiko 50mm f1.4 (1 \ 60 ISO 160) lenses
    And with Helios 44-2 58mm f2 and MC Zenitar-M2s »50mm f2 lenses (1 \ 60 iso 320)

    My Helios 44m-6 58mm was donated to my father by colleagues in the GDR (1984), has no serial number and in an unpainted case (white)

  • Hleb

    There is an opportunity to purchase g44m-6 at a bargain price, does it make sense if there is a zenitar 1.7 50mm and g44m (but it is soapy compared to the zenitar)?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      I don’t see the point.

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