There are such a large number and variety of HELIOS-44 lenses that sometimes you can get lost among them and never be found again. This article shows the main versions and modifications of such lenses.
A Thousand and One Nights with HELIOS-44
Helios-44 lenses were produced at several factories:
- KMZ - Кrasnogorsk Мmechanical Зavod
- MMP - Мincan Мmechanical ЗAvod named after S. I. Vavilov, which since 1971 became BelOMO (Бelorussian ОbirdМmechanical Оunification)
- Optical and Mechanical Plant 'Jupiter‘, Valdai.
- Plant 'Zenith', Vileika
The manufacturer of the lens is very easy to identify by the logo:
Logos under which lenses of the HELIOS-44 brand were produced
The genealogical tree of the HELIOS-44 lenses was carried out by the manufacturers. Basically, different HELIOS-44 lenses differ in such things:
- manufacturer
- mounting thread or bayonet
- case rim
- the presence of a diaphragm repeater
- presence of aperture preset ring
- the presence of multi-coating (marking 'MS')
- names written in Latin or Cyrillic
- a bunch of other little things :)
In this article, the names and designations of the lenses are indicated as close as possible to the mark on the body frame. Therefore '58 mm 1: 2 'and' 2/58 'are considered different versions here. Please note that to make it easier to identify lenses, add new versions, as well as to accurately and quickly understand what modification is in question, I have introduced my additional lens numbering, starting with the letter 'h' (h1xx - KMZ, h2xx - MMZ, h3xx - Jupiter).
KMZ
BTK 1: 2 F = 5,8cm P h101 - BTK stands for BioTar Krasnogorskiy, the very first version of the lens, is a copy of Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 2/58. Most likely made from German glass blanks. Later, lenses under the name HELIOS-44 were produced according to a recalculated optical scheme for a domestic grade of optical glass. Uses a 13-blade diaphragm, M39x1 / 45,2 thread in a white body. It is of great collection value, since BTK 1: 2 F = 5,8 cm P was more experienced than a mass sample.
HELIOS-44 1: 2 F = 5,8cm P h102 - Uses 13-blade diaphragm, M39x1 / 45,2 thread in white body. The letter 'P' is responsible for the 'P' enlightened optics (simple chemical enlightenment), later this letter was not written. It differs from the h105 version in the minimum aperture, which is F / 22.
HELIOS-44 2/58 h103 - lens with bayonet mount for START cameras. 13 aperture blades, white body. Lenses for 'Start' cameras differ from other modifications of Helios-44 by an additional button on the body.
HELIOS-44 2/58 h103-a - lens with bayonet mount for START cameras. It differs from h103 in that the name is written in Latin letters.
HELIOS-44 1: 2 F = 5,8cm P h103-b - lens with bayonet mount for START cameras. It differs from h103 in that the lens parameters are indicated differently.
HELIOS-44 2/58 h104 - lens with bayonet mount for START cameras. 8 aperture blades, white body. Differs from h103 in the number of aperture blades.
No photos.
HELIOS-44 2/58 h105 - Uses 13-blade diaphragm, M39x1 / 45,2 thread in white body. It differs from the h102 version in the minimum aperture, which is F / 16, as well as the body frame. An overview of this modification can be viewed here.
HELIOS-44 2/58 h106 - Uses 13 flap diaphragm, M39x1 / 45,2 thread in white case. It differs from h105 in that the name is written in Latin letters.
HELIOS-44 2/58 h107 - Uses 8-blade diaphragm, M39x1 / 45,2 thread in white body. The body is similar to h105 / 106. An overview of this modification can be viewed here.
HELIOS-44 2/58 h108 - Uses 8 flap diaphragm, M39x1 / 45,2 thread in black housing. From h107 differs only in case color.
No photos. Perhaps there was no option from the KMZ plant with the spelling of the name in Cyrillic.
HELIOS-44 2/58 h108-a - Uses 8 flap diaphragm, M39x1 / 45,2 thread in black housing. From h108 differs only in the spelling of the name.
ГЕЛИОС-44-2 2/58 h109 - Uses 8-blade diaphragm, first modification with M42x1 / 45,5 thread.
No photos. Perhaps there was no option from the KMZ plant with the spelling of the name in Cyrillic.
HELIOS-44-2 2/58 h109-a - Uses an 8-blade diaphragm, M42x1 / 45,5 thread. It differs from h109 only in the spelling of the name.
HELIOS-44M 2/58 h110 - Uses an 8-blade diaphragm, M42x1 / 45,5 thread. The first lens with Blinking Aperture, from which the letter 'M' was added to the name.
No photos. Perhaps there was no option from the KMZ plant with the spelling of the name in Cyrillic.
HELIOS-44M 2/58 h111 - Uses an 8-blade diaphragm, M42x1 / 45,5 thread.
MS HELIOS-44M 2/58 h112 - Uses an 8-blade diaphragm, M42x1 / 45,5 thread. Version h110 / h111 with multi-coated optics
Гелиос-44М-4 2/58 h113 - Uses 6-blade diaphragm, thread M42x1 / 45,5.
HELIOS-44М-4 2/58 h113-a - Uses 6-blade diaphragm, thread M42x1 / 45,5. No repeater / aperture switch. It differs from h115 only in the spelling of the name.
Гелиос-44М-4 2/58 h115 - Uses a 6-blade diaphragm, M42x1 / 45,5 thread. No repeater / aperture switch.
Photo is missing.
MS Helios-44M-4 2/58 h177 - Uses 6-blade diaphragm, thread M42x1 / 45,5. Without diaphragm repeater. Added multi-coating.
No photos. Perhaps there was no option from the KMZ plant with the spelling of the name in Cyrillic.
MC HELIOS 44M-4 2/58 h118 - Uses 6-blade diaphragm, thread M42x1 / 45,5. Without diaphragm repeater. There is no dash between 'Helios' and '44M-4' in the name.
ZENIT Helios-44K-4 58mm 1: 2 h116 - version with Pentax K bayonet. Modern body.
ZENIT MC HELIOS-44K-4 58mm 1: 2 h114 - version with Pentax K bayonet. Modern body. It differs from h116 in multi-coated optics and a different spelling of the name.
ZENIT-IR 2/58 MOONLIGHT PRODUCTS INC h119 - unknown for me version of the lens, most likely for special devices.
AUTO COSMOGON 1: 2 F = 58mm h120 - an unknown version of the lens for me.
Гелиос-44-1 2/58 h121-a - lens for ZENIT-7 cameras.
HELIOS 44-1 2/58 h121 - for cameras ZENIT-7. differs from h121-a in the spelling of the name.
Helios-44-D 2/58 h124 - for Zenit-D cameras with a specific mount.
Гелиос44-7 2/58 h122 - lens for ZENIT-7 cameras, black.
Гелиос44-7 2/58 h123 - lens for cameras ZENIT-7, zebra
MMP
Helios-44 2/58 h201 - 8 petals, white body, thread M39x1 / 45,2.
Helios-44 2/58 h201-a - 8 petals, white body, thread M39x1 / 45,2. It differs from the h201 version only in the spelling of the lens name.
Helios-44 2/58 h202 - 8 petals, zebra, thread M39x1 / 45,2.
No photos. Perhaps there was no option from the MMZ plant with writing the name in Cyrillic.
Helios-44 2/58 h202-a - 8 petals, zebra, thread M39x1 / 45,2. It differs from the h201 version in the case.
Helios-44-2 2/58 h203-a - 8 petals, zebra, early body rim, thread M42x1 / 45,5.
Helios 44-2 2/58 h203 - 8 petals, black, thread M42x1 / 45,5. No dash between 'Helios' and '44 -2 ′
Гелиос-44-2 2/58 h204 - 8 petals, black, thread M42x1 / 45,5. An overview of this modification can be viewed here.
HELIOS-44-2 2/58 h204-a - 8 petals, black, thread M42x1 / 45,5. It differs from the h204 version only in the spelling of the lens name.
Гелиос-44-2 2/58 h204-b - new case design, similar to h205-a
MS Helios-44-3M 2/58 h205 - black, thread M42x1 / 45,5, multi-coated optics.
MS Helios 44-3 2/58 h205-a - black, thread M42x1 / 45,5, multi-coated optics. There is no dash between 'Helios' and '44 -3' An overview of this modification can be viewed here.
Helios-44M 2/58 h206 - the only version from MMZ with a blinking diaphragm.
Plant 'VALDAI'
At the Valdai factory, lenses were produced immediately and only for M42x1 / 45,5 threads. At this plant, Helios began to produce around 1969.
HELIOS-44-2 2/58 h301 - the first lens 'Helios-44' of the Jupiter plant.
Гелиос-44-2 2/58 h302 - similar to h301, but with a modified body.
No photos.
Гелиос-44-2 2/58 h303 - similar to h301, but with a modified body, easily identified by the red aperture marks
No photos.
Helios-44M 2/58 h301-a - blinking diaphragm. 6 petals
Helios-44M 2/58 h301-b - blinking diaphragm. 8 petals.
Гелиос-44М-4 2/58 h304 - with a blinking diaphragm.
No photos. Perhaps there was no option from the Jupiter plant with the spelling of the name in Cyrillic.
Helios-44М-4 2/58 h305 - with a blinking diaphragm.
ZENIT MC HELIOS-44M-4 58mm 1: 2 h306 - the first multi-coated version of the Valdai plant. You can view the lens view here.
ZENIT MC HELIOS-44M-5 58mm 1: 2 h307 - multi-coated version of the Valdai plant. You can view the lens view here.
ZENIT MC HELIOS-44M-5 58mm 1: 2 h307-a - compared to the h307 has a changed focusing ring.
ZENIT MC HELIOS-44M-6 58mm 1: 2 h308 - multi-coated version of the Valdai plant. You can view the lens view here.
ZENIT MC HELIOS-44M-6 58mm 1: 2 h308-a - unlike h308, it has matte aperture blades.
ZENIT MC HELIOS-44M-6 58mm 1: 2 h308-b - unlike h308 has a different focusing ring
ZENIT MC HELIOS-44M-7 58mm 1: 2 h309 - multi-coated version of the Valdai plant. You can view the lens view here.
Plant 'Zenith', Vileika
Found here here one more unusual copy which, judging by the logo, was made at the Zenit Optical-Mechanical Plant, Vileika, Republic of Belarus.
ZENIT MC HELIOS-44M-5 58mm 1: 2 h401 - M42x1 / 45,5, black case
I am sure that there are much more modifications. If you know useful information on any modification, please indicate its serial number hxxx, describe the distinctive properties in the comments, and attach photos with its appearance. I will add new modifications only if there are photographs where it is clearly visible that the modification differs from existing ones.
In the future, this article will be finalized. There is no need to write in the comments 'but I have this one, it is not here'. It is better to send information about him in the comments, I will add it.
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.
Thank you for attention. Arkady Shapoval.
And so
You messed up a little with modifications 102 and 105. Part of the photo (second and fourth) in the paragraph about frame 102 - lenses with frame 105 and early marking. Modification 105 changed the marking to 2/58 already in the production process and thus can be divided into 105a and 105b, by analogy with the 13-petal start.
I met lenses with a frame 102 with serial numbers with three and four zeros.
I saw a conditional modification 105a with numbers 001xxxx. C 002xxxx already 105b
but, I beg your pardon, you do not divide them by marking. Then just a part of the photo from mod.102 - not 102)
And I still don't see a zebra-colored lens - black, with chrome projections on the focus ring. I saw such both with m39 and m42
great job. thanks
Here is such a modification, from Helios 44-2 2/58 h203 it is distinguished by the yellow color of enlightenment without a lilac hue.
Profile view
there is HELIOS-44-2 2/58 79351924 Valdai factory logo Made in USSR, m 0,5. 0,6. 0,7. 0,9 1. 1,3 1,5 1,7 2. 3 4 6 10.
I fell into the hands of a black (not a zebra) Helios-44 (Cyrillic letters) М39, 8 petals, number at number 50…. BelOMO logo. It differs from my old export “zebra” M39 8 petals (# 80 ...) in that “not a zebra” is completely black and the name is Cyrillic. Stands on Zenit-3M # 65 carcass ... .. (the lens is also produced in 1965)
It does not fit into your family tree.
Hello!!!! I have a helius44m-4. Tell me which camera is better to buy so that he would sit on it .... preferably a professional segment ... or a very amateurish one .. but what would continue to buy this camera and other soviets .. lenses ??????
Sony Alpha A7S II
Canon EOS 5D Mark 4
Olympus OM-D EM-10, Fujifilm X-T10 + adapters :)
Zenith E
It’s also great to cope with the task of Nikon D5, although for the start and D4s is suitable)
I collect Helios 44 series. The question is, can 44-2 determine which version it is? Version numbers (h-xxx) written somewhere on them?
I also collect Helios 44 series. How can I find information on the years of release?
Good afternoon, photo lovers. I have a G44 from Start 0004xxx such as Metis described, I was in a perfect condition (I got this for the first time in my life). Of course you have to be crazy so that
for him to give such money as he asks. But the glass is really unusual, this is the best G44 that I held in my hands. I bought it honestly for resale, but when I took it off, I decided to keep it for myself. The portraits from it are just beautiful. Before that I shot portraits on The Meyer-Optik Oreston 1.8 / 50 is also ideal, but the G44 is no worse.
https://ibb.co/nReY7w
https://ibb.co/kBdh0G On the mezzanine, my mother found these HELIOS 44-2. New ones. What is it?
It looks like lenses from integral lenses, i.e. disassembled part of the lens.
Kind.
Nashol such an instance of 16 petals.
https://ibb.co/cYh6fG
Homemade)
The review is good. It would be nice to sort by year of manufacture. Then there would be even more modifications. :)
One point is interesting - where did the numbering of models in the form of “h10x” come from?
Good afternoon, tell me, I found such an export version - “Helios-44” 58 mm f / 2 M39 (Zebra, export) №8052611
The question is how to work and how to choose the right adapter for the footwear.
Today I met at AVITO (maybe already Boyan), but -
Zenit-3m with an unknown modification of the bayonet with a lever lock and a brown Helios-44 “zebra” lens (12 aperture blades) with the first two zeros and with a repeater key like Start.
The camera itself has been deeply modified, which is described in a book-brochure published by the German book-publishing house on the Internet orders “Lambert Academician Publishing” (you can buy it in the “Glavkniga”). Doden wedges in the viewfinder.
In the photo you can compare with the usual Zenith-3m and START.
Everything was done at the factory in 1969. At the KMP, there is no information about him, except that they said it was made specifically for Germany. Negotiable price. Expensive.
“HELIOS-44M 2/58 h110 - No photos”.
--------------
I have such a lens with the inscription “HELIOS” in Russian.
On which email photo should I send?
Hello! I want to try to take macro shots on Helios, but I don’t understand and I can’t select which model 44-2 / 44-4 and so on. My question is, can I use a duet with my Nikon D5300 (without a motor)? How to choose an adapter and a macro ring? where to look for information on such a narrow topic (find answers to my questions) ??? thank you in advance !!
ZENIT MC HELIOS -44M-4 2/58 -
Uses 6 flap diaphragm, M42x1 / 45,5 thread.
Without a diaphragm repeater.
Added multi-enlightenment.
Similar to ZENIT MC HELIOS-44M-4 58mm 1: 2 h306 except for the manufacturer - KMZ!
https://ibb.co/iii3uU
https://ibb.co/iCV58p
https://ibb.co/n6HP19
Hello everyone, I read various articles about this lens and became interested, but here the prices for them are somehow sky-high, can anyone have cheap or out of use?
1500-2000 Russian rubles on Avito.
Is it expensive?
I was hoping to find it even cheaper, thanks for the answer
Look at AVITO not a lens separately - but a camera with Helios ...
Without leaving -
Ryazan
400 rub + delivery
https://youla.ru/ryazan/foto-video/fotoapparaty/zienitie-5c19e14180e08e16102e8c32
If you live outside the Urals :)
https://youla.ru/ulan-ude/foto-video/fotoapparaty/fotoapparat-zienitiet-5be2a344dbdf0f108376a7d2
Recently, a lens different from the ones described in the article fell into the hands. White Helios-44 P F = 5.8 cm, etc., 13 blades, m39, the minimum aperture is not f / 22, but f / 16. Experimental copy, No. 0008607.
Foto to the studio !!!
I did not find a lens similar to mine, differences from HELIOS-44-2 2/58 h301 focal length 6 then 20 and infinity, maybe it's 302 or 303
1
2
3
4
Where do you get your old lens? There are many dubious resources ... And on the official (like the Bright World network in St. Petersburg) there are very few of them from the word at all
At the flea markets. Avito, olkh to help
Good day ! I shot Zenith TTL from 1989 to 1994, I don’t remember which Helios was standing there. Shocked by the variety of models !!! The bow to the review author !!! On the constructive side, the differences between the modifications have become more or less clear. It remains now to figure out what will be the differences in the shooting for all these lenses, which picture each gives, which bokeh, etc.
Гелиос-44М-4 2/58 h304
Error, this is HELIOS-44M 2/58 h110
G-44 at the "Start". 8 petals. Sorry for the phone snapshot. How to take it off with the aperture closed, without a finger
A rare example, of course. But the number corresponds to sort of like an eight-petalled series.
If the button on which to twist your finger then the diaphragm closes to the set value, it works on the 13-blade one.
- G-44 at the "Start". 8 petals.
This is such a lens on your Start. I have two Helios from the start. One 13-petal. I remade this one for modern cameras. And the second one - yes, 8-petal. I left this one as it is with the Start in the collection. The 13-petal is assembled on numbered lenses, and the lenses are amber coated. The 8-blade is blue coated. Quality is difficult to give preference to, both are good lenses.