Overview of the MC HELIOS-44M-7 58mm 1: 2

For the opportunity HELIOS-44M-7 58mm 1: 2 lens review Many thanks to Bohdan Moysyuk.

Overview of the MC HELIOS-44M-7 58mm 1: 2

Overview of the MC HELIOS-44M-7 58mm 1: 2

Interesting, but I never met lenses 44m-5 (6,7) with the name written in Cyrillic - MS Helios-44m-5 (6, 7) 2/58, but saw only the names in Latin - MC Helios-44M-5 (6, 7) 2/58for example, such MC Helios-44M-7 58mm F2.0as in this review. If someone has information about the existence of lenses 44m-5, 44-m6,44m-7 with Cyrillic designation, please unsubscribe in the comments. The four latest versions of the MC Helios-44m-X series lenses, where X = 4, 5, 6, 7, come with the inscription 'Zenit' next to the name of the lens, and the logo of the optical-mechanical plant on Valdai.

As an exception, you can still find 'MC Helios 44M-4 2/58' (Valdai) without the Zenit inscription and without a dash between the name and number, or with the Latin script 'MC Helios 44m-4 2/58' (Krasnogorsk plant).

MC HELIOS-44M-7 58mm 1: 2 lens and its aperture

Lens MC HELIOS-44M-7 58mm 1: 2 and its aperture. The diaphragm petals are metallic, which is embarrassing.

By the way, there is another interesting modification of class 2/58 lenses - this is a rare version Helios44-7 (not MS) from the Zenith-7 camera, it should not be confused with version 44m-7.

MS Helios-44m-7 2 58 - front view

MC Helios-44m-7 2 58 - front view

Concerning MC Helios-44M-7 2/58 - that is the sharpest a copy among all lenses of the 'Helios' brand with the specification 2/58. Its resolution is 50 lines / mm in the center and 30 lines / mm at the edges of the image. Information on the resolution of Helios 2/58 you can see here. I do not recommend overpaying for the best option in the face of MC Helios-44m-7, since the real situation with the sharpness of the lens very much depends on its real state, because Soviet lenses pretty old. Personally, the 44m-7 lens that I had for this review seemed less sharp than the version Helios-44m-6 58mm F2.0 MS. You can read an interesting comparison of sharpness Carl Zeiss Planar 50 / 1.4 and Helios 44M-7 MS 58/2.

Helios-44m-7 2 58 MS - side view with MDF and focusing at infinity

MC Helios-44m-7 2 58 - side view with MDF and focusing at infinity

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.

All Helios lenses with F2.0 58mm were built on the basis of the optical scheme of grandfather Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 2/58.  MC Helios-44M-7 2/58 - is a kind of flagship of the Helios-44m-X line. If I were asked what modification of the Helios-44 lens I kept for myself, then my choice would have stopped at one of the first Helios-44 lenses with a white body due to the fact that the first Helios-44 lenses had a 13-blade diaphragm and a diaphragm control ring ... You can read about the 13-petal white version for the m39 thread here.

MS Helios-44m-7 2 58 - serial number

MC Helios-44m-7 2 58 - serial number. My copy came to me for review in perfect condition.

Also, interesting conclusions about the Helios-44x-X line are written on the website of Sergei Elizarov here. By the way, there are rumors that the first white Helios-44 lenses were made from German glass, which was taken out of Germany after the end of the war. If you have information about this, please leave it in the comments on this review.

A characteristic highlight of the MC HELIOS-44M-7 58mm 1: 2 is the twist of the bokeh. Many people like the 'twisted' bokeh, and MC HELIOS-44M-7 58mm 1: 2 also has a nice 'pattern' in photographs, especially when used at open apertures.

Type of enlightenment of the lenses of the MC Helios 44m-7 2 58 lens

Type of enlightenment of the lenses of the MC Helios 44m-7 2 58 lens

The lens has a smooth focusing, a metal focusing ring. When focusing, the front lens does not rotate, and the lens trunk extends by 1 cm. The focus ring rotates approximately 220 degrees. The minimum focusing distance is 50 cm. The aperture ring can be fixed at F2.0 to F16. The number of aperture blades is 6 pieces. With the number of diaphragm blades, their shape and blackening, 44m-7 disappointed.

The lens has a blinking aperture device. In order to MC Helios-44M-7 2/58 to obtain aperture control when used on digital cameras, you need to lock (clamp) the automatic aperture control lever. Lenses that have a blinking aperture are designated by the letter 'm', for example, 'Heli0s-44м'. Personally, I shot everything at F2.0.

View of the lens Helios 44m-7 2 58 on a digital camera

View of the lens Helios 44m-7 2 58 on a digital camera

Sample photos from crop factor 1.6x (Canon APS-C), while EGF equals 93mm.

Photos without processing. Shot on Canon 350D, RAW, converted to JPEG with automatic levels.

Sample photos on APS

Photos without processing. Shot on Nikon D700.

In general, 58mm lenses cannot be called fifty dollars, because of the longer focal length they are stronger blur the backgroundthat can be used for creative ideas and highlight key elements in the photo.

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.

Two lenses: MC HELIOS-44M-7 58mm 1: 2 and Helios 44-2 2 58

Two lenses: MC HELIOS-44M-7 58mm 1: 2 and Helios 44-2 2 58. Strong differences are seen in the frame of the case.

Conclusions:

MC HELIOS-44M-7 58mm 1: 2 is an excellent sharp lens. On modern digital cameras MC HELIOS-44M-7 58mm 1: 2 can serve as a good portrait lens, a lens for creative shooting. The lens gives an interesting 'twisted bokeh' effect.

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: Arkady Shapoval

 

 

Comments: 239, on the topic: Review of the MC HELIOS-44M-7 58mm 1: 2

  • Pokemon

    Helios 44M-7 converted for Nikon F mount

  • Pokemon

    my Helios 44M-7 converted for Nikon F mount

  • Sergei

    Is it possible to reinstall the rear lens from Helios 44m-7 to Helios 44m-4?

    • Alex

      Can. Helios of this series differ only in resolution.

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