Please note that there are many different versions of the lens named HELIOS-44-2 (or HELIOS-44-2). The lenses were produced in different bodies, at different factories and had many options even among the same version. You can find a general list of them in the section 'A Thousand and One Nights with HELIOS-44'.
As for this review, it shows a lens named HELIOS-44-2 2/58 and serial number 83052779 produced by the Jupiter Optical and Mechanical Plant, Valdai. Judging by the number, the lens was released in 1983. Different versions of HELIOS-44-2 lenses do not differ in principle. In general, HELIOS-44-2 is a common modification / revision of the previous version - HELIOS-44 2 / 58 (names are similar: 44 and 44-2, do not be confused).
Гелиос-44-2 (HELIOS-44-2 2/58)
HELIOS-44-2 2/58 looks like this:
HELIOS-44-2 2/58 has a ring presets aperture. With it, you can select one of the fixed values: F / 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16. Unlike the preset ring, the aperture ring rotates smoothly and with it you can set any intermediate value. The smooth running of the aperture ring is useful when shooting video. The diaphragm consists of 8 petals that form a hole in the form of regular polyhedrons. Unfortunately, the diaphragm blades are poorly blackened.
The focus ring rotates 270 degrees (!), The progress of the ring is smooth. Manual focus is quite convenient. During focusing, the front lens does not rotate, only the frame rim lengthens. HELIOS-44-2 2/58 has a focus distance scale (only in meters) and a depth of field scale for F / 2, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16.
The lens uses simple chemical enlightenment and poorly tolerates side and back light. Also, HELIOS-44-2 2/58 does not have blackened chamfers of lenses, which can adversely affect the contrast of the final image.
Image quality and sample photos
In the center of the image, the lens is sharp enough even at F / 2.0. On covered diaphragms, the edges and corners of the image return to normal. HELIOS-44-2 2/58 is a little yellow. Like other lenses of the HELIOS-44 family, version 44-2 twists the background (legendary 'twisted bokeh' of helios). Such a lens can be a great find for the amateur photographer :).
Source files can download from this link (26 photos in the '.ARW' format, 623 Mb). On camera Sony a7 I used HELIOS-44-2 2/58 with no problem adapter M42-NEX.
UPDATE 1
Examples of photos on Helios-44-2 2/58 and cameras Nikon D5100, D5300 photographer shared with readers of Radozhiva Vladlena Lapshina:
UPDATE 2
Examples of photos on Helios-44-2 2/58 and a camera Canon EOS 60D photographer shared with readers of Radozhiva Andreeva Elena:
UPDATE 3
Examples of photos on Helios-44-2 2/58 and cameras Canon EOS 60D / Canon EOS 5D Makr II a photographer shared with readers of Radozhiva Dmitry Gusalov:
UPDATE 4
Examples of photos on Helios-44-2 2/58 and cameras Nikon D5100 / Nikon D750 photographer shared with readers of Radozhiva Lilia Nemykina:
UPDATE 5
Examples of photos on Helios-44-2 2/58 and a Sony Alpha 7s II camera with readers of Radozhiva shared photographer Ksenia Orlova:
I have been using about 10 lenses HELIOS-44-2 2/58 different manufacturers, the specimens did not differ in any way from each other. For some reason it so happened that this review, which you are reading now, is the most popular of all reviews of the old Soviet optics. This is most likely due to the mass and availability of this lens at flea markets. If you come across a normal Helios-44-2, then it will not be any worse than other lenses in the HELIOS-44 line, which use simple (not 'MC') enlightenment.
Supplement: video review of such a lens - Helios-44 2/58 (KMZ, 8 petals, metal case)can see on my channel here.
Helios-44-2 2/58 (HELIOS-44-2 2/58). Lens shown on camera Sony a7. Attaching the lens to the camera using adapter M42-SONY E NEX.
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).
Reviews for the Helios-44 2/58 lenses:
- Helios-44 2/58 [KMZ, 13 petals, M39, silver, No. 0220423]
- Helios-44 2/58 [KMZ, 8 petals, M39, silver]
- Helios-44 1: 2 F = 5,8 cm П [KMZ with replaced lenses, No. 0007220, review of the lens from the reader Radozhiva]
- HELIOS-44M 2/58 [KMZ, 8 petals, serial number 7843528]
- HELIOS-44M 2/58 [Jupiter plant, Valdai, 8 petals, serial number 8027170]
- HELIOS-44-2 2/58 [plant 'Jupiter', Valdai, 8 petals, serial number 83052779] + autofocus review
- MS Helios 44-3 2/58 [MMZ, 8 petals, 8619437, 9167912]
- MC Helios-44M-4 2/58
- Helios-44K-4 58mm 1:2 [KMZ, 6 petals, Pentax K]
- MC Helios-44M-4 58mm 1: 2 [plant 'Jupiter', Valdai, 6 petals] + autofocus review
- MC Helios-44M-5 58mm 1: 2 [Jupiter plant, Valdai, 6 petals]
- MC Helios-44M-6 58mm 1: 2 [plant 'Jupiter', Valdai, 6 petals]
- MC Helios-44M-7 58mm 1: 2 [plant 'Jupiter', Valdai, 6 petals]
- An article about most of the major modifications of the Helios-44 series
- Gallery of pictures on MC Helios-44M-4
- Look at modern the lenses 'Helios' can at this link
- A lot of Helios of all varieties can be found on ebay this link
Original 'Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 2/58 ':
- Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 1: 2 f = 5,8cm T [17 diaphragm blades, M42]
- Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 2 / 58 T [12 diaphragm blades, M42]
- 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.
Results
HELIOS-44-2 2/58 (aka Helios-44-2 2/58) - one of the most common lenses of the Helios-44 series. The mass production of such lenses did not benefit the image quality. The lens can and should be used for any creative ideas. On cropped cameras, it can serve good portrait lens.
Share the review on social networks. If you have any questions about the lens or about 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.
Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram
I have been using this lens since 2014, in fact, since I bought the camera. I use it not because I really like it, but because there are no other options - the whale 18-55 is not interesting at all, and there are no others, with the exception of the “pancake” - Industar (I am not engaged in photography professionally, so I don’t allocate large budgets for equipment turns out).
Actually, I would like to say that the lens is not bad (I barely squeezed these words out of myself), the picture, as for a “free” lens (I got it from a cabinet with trash and a broken Zenith), is pretty good. But if you come across a lens that cannot be “twisted” for realignment (like mine), then everything will be very sad. You have to take pictures with an adapter with a lens, and the OU lens JUST ONLY kills all the beauty of the frame, bokeh. How many did not try to promote it according to numerous instructions - all to no avail. Apparently, there is something with carvings. I took a couple of pictures without a lens, yes, the picture is cool. But somehow I want to take pictures of objects that are a little further than 2 meters from the lens. So, here's how lucky. The lens is evil. You don't even need to talk about constant lightning and fogginess of pictures. Although, again, this is due to the adapter to some extent occurs.
My dream is to quickly get rid of the need to use this glass :)
BUT! I'm not saying glass is awful, no. Very cool for a certain range of tasks. But obviously not for “all occasions,” that's for sure.
Here is a striking example of how a lens eats up the whole highlight of this lens (twisted bokeh), for the sake of which many only use this lens: https://flic.kr/p/25zhvXJ
And there are a whole bunch of examples of such, and almost all the pictures with an adapter lens were made: https://www.flickr.com/photos/148639284@N07/sets/72157685479935144
Twisting in bokeh is not for everybody. Most of it falls off due to the crop. The lens, if of high quality, changes the picture, but not critically. In the photo on the link, the bokeh does not bother, the white balance and exposure are more confusing: maybe you had such an idea ...
Yes, you are right about the crop. The lens is of high quality, and yet I do not agree with you that it does not change the picture much, it is quite noticeable as for me (in terms of the background). Comparing my pictures with pictures of other people, I made the following conclusion. And at the expense of W / W and exposure - perhaps you are right, I have a very specific perception of colors (due also to the physical parameters of the eye).
I only wrote about this shot, I liked many others. I don't know what you dislike about blurring the background: for this lens it is quite nice. Twisting depends on several things, including the structure (you can simply say from the variegation) of the background itself. The more uniform the background, the less curl will be. But in the background there are small flowers, gaps through the foliage, garland bulbs, circles on the fabric, etc. - with a sufficiently open aperture and distance from the subject, it rotates noticeably. Well, the twist of course from the edges is stronger, and the crop cuts it, leaving the central part where it is less pronounced.
but for me, you have good shots! I'm also trying this lens now with a Pixco adapter, with a corrective lens and a Nikon D90 / just-https: //www.facebook.com/media/set/? set = a.1988638004542661.1073741882.100001894422240 .1 & type = 43 & l = d8fb1dXNUMXaa
For someone who is not a professional photographer, you have a very good vision of the frame. And the model is nice :) You simply owe yourself a gift in the form of a more serious lens. Not to make the staff better, but simply for your convenience. You could please us with shots from situations where a more lightning-fast response is required, in other words - autofocus.
:) Be modest, Pavel! Photosyour with Helios 44-2 - wonderful !!!
On the digital Pentax it is good ... I already have Takumar 50 \ 1.4, but I still can't refuse this Helios. In some situations, he draws more interesting.
I remember that a forehead comparison of the usual Helios-44 with thorium takumar 50 / 1.4 led to the complete collapse of the latter - it turned out to be darker even due to low light transmission, and soapier on equal T-stops, and in general, his picture is not that Super super. Interesting, of course.
And I have thorium Takumar - but with light glasses (not yellow). Good too. You are right, on a completely open one - it is more soapy, but the soap is also difficult - but some kind of "artistic". But at medium aperture values, my copy - in terms of optical sharpness and contrast - uniquely beats Helios. But, on the other hand, this is not always necessary. That's how you "run" between these two fifty rubles :) Under "one mood" - Takumar, under "another" - you catch Helios ...
Good day, I have Zenith Zenith and Zenith 11, and to them the Helios 44-2 and 44m-5 lenses. So from 44m-5 you can focus on infinity without problems, and 44-2 doesn’t want to at eleventh, only a macro lens didn’t seem to be redone, the alignment ring was native, it was still in the garage with the USSR. What could be the matter?
Maybe the back group of lenses is not screwed to the end.
Good day!!! There is a Helios-44-4 2/58 lens on which the diaphragm does not completely close. Please tell me, is this a normal phenomenon or not ???
And "completely" is how? to 16 and that's it + don't forget about the diaphragm pusher.
Closes only until 4 and that's it !!
Try spinning the preset ring)
Good day! What difficulties and limitations await (including focusing on infinity) if you install Helios-44-2 on Sony A6000 (with the adapter you specified)? For example, have to grind?
There should not be any difficulties, restrictions and grinds on the BZK.
Thank you!
Hello. Nikon D3300 adapter with lens and chip. On the aperture F2, a picture is soapy. What could be the problem?
In a lens or a failed lens. Perhaps inaccurate focusing.
At f = 2, there is a very small depth of field for helios, as a result “getting into focus” is much more difficult.
Hello! Tell me, which lens will be more interesting and better than HELIOS-44-2 or HELIOS-44M-4 58/2. Thanks!
Hello, please explain to me why the adapter for sony is so deep? Why is this done? When you use it, the default zoom is obtained, in order to take a photo of a person in the apartment you have to get out of the window. I tried to disassemble Helios (successfully), I thought that I needed to pair them, partially succeeded, but now the camera shows in general it is not clear what (already forgot, it seemed to be blurry). What am I doing wrong?
Everything is so, if you use it on a crop, then the angle will be narrow, and the EGF of 87 mm in the room is not always convenient.
The adapter is deep, because the working distance (the distance from the lens mount to the film-matrix) of the lens is large, and the camera is much smaller. To compensate for this difference put a long adapter.
Gentlemen, tell me, is this lens dead?
There are scratches, oil on the diaphragm. The photo shows. What do you think?
The flea markets are full of more lively specimens in good condition cheaply.
Photos did not insert at first
I advise you to simply find any other normal one and do not worry about it at all.
Thank you!
Hello
This lens (Helios-44-2 2/58) I really like just because of the bokeh.
But I have a problem with it on the full-length Canon 5 D MK 4. Despite the different options for the M-42 adapter, when focusing on infinity, the mirror freezes.
Tell me how to fix it.
So Geliki even with the adapter shitty feel on Nikon and Canon cameras. Somewhere the mirror touches, somewhere there is no infinity. Alteration of the shank of the lens is needed.
Is not a fact. All the G-44-2 I used to use on the first-timer were “friends” with the endless and did not cling to the mirror. If the mirror does not cling to the first one, then on other FF canons they will not cling even more.
Perhaps the above copy of Helios was in the hands of the Nikonists. To obtain endlessness, they disfigure the lens under the flange of Nikon - at best they shake out the adjustment rings, at worst they resort to filing. After these procedures, naturally, when installing on other cameras, infinity is lost, because the adapters are designed for a standard RO 45,5mm.
“I used four HELIOS-44-2 2/58 lenses from different manufacturers, the specimens were no different from each other.”
And as for me, the lenses of different factories are very different.
I like the Minsk one very much (the characteristic “zebra” frame). Unlike Valdai, it has not purple, but yellow enlightenment. The picture is warmer, the colors are completely different. The assembly is better. At first, “zebras” went without the “-2” index at the end of the designation, then the name was changed to “correct” (with the “-2” index).
Krasnogorsk, as a rule, are better than Valdai ...
There, inside the batch of one plant, the quality is different.
And as for the picture: lenses with yellow illumination, on the contrary, give the picture colder compared to the same lens with purple or blue enlightenment, so something does not fit your physics argument.
In my experience, the warmth of the color of helios can be divided as follows:
Blue-eyed -44 №00 ..., violet №000 ..., ordinary valdai 44M / 44-2, MC Heliosa-44M-x, yellow-eyed -44 - from the warmest to the coldest.
Similarly, the I-61LZ is warmer than the I61L / D, and the LZ MS is somewhere in the middle between them.
Maybe AWB adjusts the color temperature this way? It is necessary to try to compare different specimens on the same settings “head-on”.
Likely. But with a fixed BB, the difference is noticeable.
I decided to buy this lens (Helios 44-2) with an adapter, connected it to my Olympus (olympus om d em mark 2) and nothing happens, just a black screen! Maybe some settings need to be made, like "no lens"
It was like this on omd-em5-2 when Jupiter-22 set it, but it was corrected by twitching the diaphragm, rebooting the device, etc. In short, poke and work
Hello!
Tell me, if I finish working with infinity, then the lens block will not touch the mirror on the Nikon d5200?
Thank you!
Good day! tell me, I’d like to achieve at least sometimes a beautiful round bokeh with a twist! EVEN THE OBJECTIVER HAS A LIKE SUCH HELIOS-44-2 2/58! APPARATUS ME SONIA A99! HOW DOES I CORRECTLY GET OR ORDER TO BUY AN ADAPTER FOR CARCASES ??? TELL WHERE? THANKS TO ALL!
From this review: SONY / MINOLTA: For cameras with the Sony / Minolta A mount, you need the M42-Sony A adapter, such an adapter without a chip can be found at this link, with the chip at this link.
can you please throw some kind of link to me
B.R.P. copied the text from the review, it has blue links. Re-read the review.
Thank you, I’ll try to somehow get it
Good day! I am with you again with questions! I bought Helios 44-2 on the Canon 600d, but later appeared in my family 6d mark 2. So that's the problem, the lens scratches the mirror (judging by the few information on the network), and I put the lens on ff at my own risk. , shot for the test, without pushing the lens towards infinity. Since it is clear that the lens will touch the mirror. Is there any way to change this? I really liked Helios and the way he shoots on ff, judging by the photos on the Internet. Maybe the adapter needs to be changed? Thanks!
Hello. I bought a new almost unused Helios 44-2 BelOmo. The quality is good, but the diaphragm value is vice versa, i.e. 16 is the largest and 2 is the smallest hole. Can this be somehow corrected or adapted?
It is necessary to understand what is happening, this is not a breakdown or a feature of the lens. This is the eye-visible value of the difference in the ring-controlled diaphragm and the preset diaphragm ring. Buy the materiel of this particular Helios.
Apparently, the lens was disassembled and, during assembly, the aperture was crammed in the opposite direction.
I have a Helios 44-2 lens in a new condition, in a wardrobe trunk. I’m unlikely to become a “great” photographer, and it’s a pity to disfigure him under a DSLR, if only to change the nikon system to a mirrorless. I don't know whether to sell or not, as they say 50/50.
It makes no sense to sell, it costs a penny, it is better to redo it.
I don’t know about you, but for now I like to mess with him .. I’m renting on Nikon d7000 (adapter without a lens) https://ibb.co/LJj15yQ
https://ibb.co/L9WF7vs
https://ibb.co/mtycvvq
https://ibb.co/hKvL33q
So far everything suits me. I rent on Nikon d7000 (adapter without a lens)
Thanks for the photos
Tell me, I have a Canon 5D mark 3 camera, is it possible to combine Helios 44 with it?
Through adapter m42 - canon EOS. Details here - https://radojuva.com/2011/12/optika-na-canon-old-lens/
I have two Helios 44-2 lenses. Based on this, I’ll try to make a subjective conclusion. The first Helic acquired with clean lenses, the condition is new, but its sharpness was not very good. As I read earlier, I came across a not very successful instance. The second Helios 44-2 I got successful. The sharpness is at an acceptable level, even on an open aperture. The bokeh is beautiful. The only difficulty is manual focusing, the adapter (ring) with the chip does not work reliably, it makes mistakes on the open aperture. I have to take a few frames, rotate lens.NOT CONFIDENCE E IS WORTH TOGO.Kitovy lens I set aside, and try to use Heliosom Fixiki CANON 1,8 / 50.Glavnoe that you got a good copy.
Arkady, hello!
I have Helios 44-2 No. 9085052
Judging by the badge of Minsk production.
Interested in the purity and safety of this lens in terms of background radiation.
Was thorium or lanthanum used in the manufacture of glass?
For Helios-44, special glasses were not used, usually everything is safe there
Arkadiy tell me if weasel is an object more beautiful for Olimpus E420 for macro through the adapter m42
Ahead of the sluggish!
Great creative lens.
https://youtu.be/cr5ZQp9DFPc