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

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

  • Dmitriy

    Arkady, how did you focus with this lens to infinity when using it with Nikon cameras.

    For example, a photo of the temple shows that focusing on infinity has taken place.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Take a look at the EXIF ​​strip - there is a Canon 350D camera, for which it is written in the review.

    • NikitosZs

      And a few more entries previously talked about the adapter with a corrective lens.

  • Okulov Dmitry

    I have such versions.
    http://okulov.net/Iam/?SECTION_ID=13&ELEMENT_ID=987
    Pleasant article and photo.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Thanks. The similarity of frames 5, 6, 7 is very clearly shown.

      • Gene jb

        5,6,7 is just a glass reject. lenses are exactly the same.

  • Alexander

    Helios people are redone simply for infinity and do not need a lens that spoils the quality, there is an article about it.

    • Ivan

      Tell me the link on how you can do this elementarily and so that you have the opportunity to change the aperture

      • anonym

        About infinity! I have a Sony 290 Helios 44 m 7. I pressed the pin and put super glue on it, I waited, everything works, there is infinity! Aperture works great! I can’t throw off the example of the photo, since I write from the tablet there is no this photo on it

    • Sergei

      Link to the studio. :-)

  • Levani

    By the way, on lenses in this frame, after certain manipulations, you can close the aperture to incredible values, the hole is less than a millimeter in diameter.

    • Gene jb

      Yeah, you can only trim the edges of the petals and they will glare.

  • Mikhail Rybak

    Thanks Arkady, especially for the link to the factory website.
    Very surprised http://www.zenitcamera.com/archive/lenses/zenitar-1-2-50.html

  • Nicholas

    give a link to remaking helius to infinity please

  • Vladimir

    Alteration to infinity http://photo-element.ru/ts/gelios-nikon/gelios-nikon.html

    Remade exactly such a 44m-7.
    I made a shank from a Chinese adapter (black), through long calculations and ordeals with a caliper I came to a slightly different assembly scheme. The bottom line is that the adapter should fit snugly on the lens plane and not the spacer as in the article indicated on the link, and there we will get in the way of fixing the diaphragm leash. In general, I had to make an "artistic" cutout in the adapter for this mount, which made it possible to put the adapter on a plane.
    If you need photos and explanations, say where to throw.

    • Mikhail Rybak

      Vladimir, maybe you have met where the article is or you know how to remake Pancolar 50 / 1.8 share
      on nick-forever@xakep.ru

    • Farik

      Vladimir, please photo and explanation. sergio-n1@mail.ru

    • Victor

      Vladimir, hello! I was also interested in your conversion method. Please discard photos and explanations on izobtel12@mail.ru

    • Dmitriy

      Vladimir, discard on fluffy.dima@gmail.com

      • Michael

        Vladimir, Hello, if you can then discard me mishej@mail.ru also your conversion method =)

    • Alexey

      Vladimir, if it doesn’t, then throw it to me) soarer_f3j@yahoo.ca It's time for you to lay out your creation somewhere and just crush the link! Many will be grateful. thanks in advance

    • Michael

      Vladimir, Hello, if you can, then discard your method of remaking to me too =)

    • Sergei

      Vladimir, and please drop here: teckbull@gmail.com
      44m-7 I remade my own, but I wonder what kind of art cut. :)

  • Alexey

    I have a white gelis-44 of the Minsk factory with the number 5034395. This means 1950 release. However, in the directories it is written that helios-44, was calculated in 1951, and was produced since 1958. It’s strange.

  • Michael

    By the way, about the first Helios: in their lenses (maybe not always) there are air bubbles that appear when cooking (or maybe when melting German) glass. And this is even spelled out in the conditions of the guarantee for the lens (camera) of that time, that this is not a defect, but a normal phenomenon, because the quality of the photos is not affected.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      I met about bubbles in many instructions for Soviet lenses, not only for early models.

  • Arthur

    please tell me how to put this lens on Nikok D100 ??

    • anonym

      buy adapter M42-Nikon.

      • Arkady Shapoval

        I think first you need to find out who this beast "NikoK" is and what kind of bayonet it has :)

  • Maksim

    Hello Arkady! Please help with advice: I took apart the Helios-81n for cleaning and scratched the middle lens on the case (hand-hooks) during assembly, what should I do? Will the middle lens from a Helios 81 automatic?
    Here is a photo
    http://s002.radikal.ru/i197/1303/77/96e61885d3b1.jpg
    http://s018.radikal.ru/i504/1303/6d/de4966589d6b.jpg
    http://s020.radikal.ru/i704/1303/9c/62b0f572cd24.jpg

    • Friedrich

      Maxim, collect and watch. The damage from a scratch on the native lens will be less than the possible harm from the lens of the wrong shape or the wrong optical characteristics. It will look exactly like a scratch in photographs, the contrast may slightly fall.

      • Maksim

        the lens from the machine is completely identical with 81n, the difference is only in enlightenment. the quality of the scratch has not really changed much, but multi-enlightenment in my opinion gives a brighter result.

  • Dmitriy

    Arkady, what to do with a skipping rope? Does she work for Nikon?

    Or should it be previously blocked in some way?

    After all, without a clamped jump, it is impossible to adjust the diaphragm.

  • Egor

    Great review, as always interesting to read! The lens looks very reminiscent of Helios 77m-4, the difference is only in numbers) Arkady, which lens is more like 44m-7 or 77m-4? A slight difference in focal length and aperture, both are very cool. Interesting.

  • Vlad

    Dear author, are you not mistaken when you say that the letter “M” in the lens marking means jumping aperture ?? My Pentax is equipped with a Helios 44k-4 lens without an adapter with a “K” mount with a jumping aperture. If the lens has the letter “M” on the thread, which means the thread ... Am I wrong?

  • Vlad

    yes example so-so ... Give from your point of view the difference in the lenses mentioned by me. Helios 44K-4 and 44M-4. I don’t see any difference in them and the diaphragm has nothing to do with it, in both it is jumping like a bunny, except for the mount, thread and bayonet. Here everything is obvious. You can look at other helios marked “K”, there will be the same thing. with "K" there were not many lenses released. but the fact that in your example there is no letter M, well, there is no it and there is no, it means there will be 100% thread

    • Arkady Shapoval

      An example is quite sensible. The difference between 44K-4 and 44m-4 is obvious and the main difference is the bayonet / seat thread. The diaphragm is not jumping, but blinking - 'M', in your case K is the designation of the bayonet, in the case of the designation M it is the designation of the Blinking diaphragm. There is nothing to argue about here.

  • Vlad

    Perhaps there is nothing to argue about. The fact that the letter K stands for the mount of the bayonet, I knew for sure. What is the difference between a jumping and a blinking diaphragm, I don’t understand! The fact that a pin is used in the thread, and a lever is used in “K” is clear and obvious , which cannot be otherwise! The main principle is that the diaphragm is constantly open and closed during descent or is manually controlled by a ring. Do you see the difference in jumping and blinking? Here is a quote from your article at the link above. You yourself are two of these concepts level:
    “The difference between the lenses Helios-44-X and Helios-44m-X is that the versions without the letter“ M ”in the lens name do not have a jumping (blinking) aperture, therefore, the aperture in such lenses works only in manual mode. Such lenses are more convenient to use on modern digital signal centers, since there is no need to block the mechanism of the aperture jumping device for manual control. Lenses with the letter “M” in their designation, such as the Helios-44m, have a jumping (blinking) aperture mechanism and do not have manual aperture control. ”
    You are somehow confusing something ...

    • Arkady Shapoval

      I am not confusing anything. Today people use the term 'bouncing' instead of the term 'blinking', so I write with the explanation of 'jumping (blinking)'. If I was confusing, then you would give me a counterexample where there is an 'M' designation and no blinking aperture. I gave you an example of a lens without the letter M, but with an M42 mounting thread.

      • Vovka Good

        Hello, Arkady! Repeatedly met the version that “M” in the marking specifically Helios 44m means “modernized”. And regarding the difference between K and M, affected by your aponent, I can say that the difference between the lenses is significant, even by the fact that the diaphragm closes by rotating in opposite directions!

  • Vlad

    Well, you gave an example, I agree, I did not intrude into such small details. I needed a lens with a bayonetorm "K", I was looking for it and along the way. By itself, I gathered some information. I'm not special in this, I'll say right away ... All knowledge is based on the Internet, but they are very contradictory in the articles of the authors, so I ask. You yourself told me above that in the lens with "M" it is not a jumping, but a blinking diaphragm, but I gave you a quote from your article, where you separate these two terms. And, by the way, not only you separate them. I also read an article by another author, so he categorically separates these two concepts. In my opinion this is some kind of nonsense. In a jumping and blinking diaphragm, as I mentioned , in my opinion there is no difference, they are one and the same, but the principle of actuation by the diaphragm does not play any role in determining the name here. A pin-lever, well, what's the difference? I believe that there are two types of diaphragms: manual and mechanical from the camera. Here is the link: http://olympus.ourlife.ru/forum/index.php?s=8a81c1634f800f3a76156a64bbf6af0f&showtopic=3949&st=480 there Ivan N, the seventh post from above, very much separates these two concepts. Some ravings. And there are a lot of such controversial situations in different areas of photography, one writes this way and the other, and each defends his point of view, confusing the others, what's the point then in these articles?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Everyone writes how convenient it is. I experimentally tried to explain to you my attitude to the designation of Helios-44x-X series with and without M lenses.

  • Vlad

    Yes, everyone writes in different ways and everyone has different views, so it's difficult to collect accurate information, that's the problem. I realized one thing, you need to get to everything by your own experience and listen to others less ...

    • Arkady Shapoval

      In the general case, this is exactly the case. If it were new lenses, for which everyone knew everything, and so these old people are 10-20 years old, the cat wept.

  • Dima Sever

    Hello Arkady! I want to buy a Nikon D7100. What can you say about it?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      If you find - buy, one of the best crops.

  • Paul

    Hello Arkady!
    I really like your reviews, thank you very much for your work!
    I appeal to you for help. Please advise a Soviet portrait.
    I have a Nikon D70. I doubt between Helios-40-2 and 44m-7. 81n, of course, is also good, but a little expensive for me. As you understand, I'm new.

  • Lily

    Arkady hello! I have helios: 44m-4; 44m-7; 44-2; world I am a beginner and I still do not understand the advantages and disadvantages of each of the lenses. I read your articles about everyone. Which one should I pay attention to first?

  • Alexey

    I don’t know, maybe anyone is interested, but I met the Helios 44m-7 model with 8 aperture blades

  • Gennady

    And how do you like this: http://youtube.com/watch?v=XBDtt8n0O5k.
    :)

  • Vladislav

    hello Arkady, I'm interested in what kind of helios http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Russian-Helios-44M-58mm-f2-m42-Lens-Biotar-copy-for-Canon-Sony-Nikon-Pentax-/111149489212?pt=UK_Lenses_Filters_Lenses&hash=item19e1069c3c#ht_323wt_1018 and how it will work on the Nikon d5100 do I need perhodniki if so then where to get them? what quality is the lens on it as I understand it there are no numbers 5 6 or 7 I would like to try this lens is not expensive is it worth it to take for my camera ??

  • geks81

    dobriù den '! MC HELIOS-44M-7 58mm 1: 2 interesyet etot obektiv! est 'li v nalichii? spasibo!

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