Overview of HELIOS-44K-4 58mm 1: 2 ZENIT

According provided by lens HELIOS-44K-4 58mm 1: 2 ZENIT many thanks to Ivan Koronevsky. And a separate gratitude to the Pentax office in Ukraine for the camera PENTAX K-1 Mark II.

HELIOS-44K-4 58mm 1:2

In short

This review shows the HELIOS-44K-4 58MM 1: 2 ZENIT M52x0,75 lens with serial number 880813 and the KMZ logo (ZENIT).

The letter 'K' in the lens name indicates that the HELIOS-44K-4 58MM 1: 2 is using bayonet 'K' (Pentax K). Helios-44-4 bayonet lenses are not common. The original HELIOS-44K-4 58mm 1: 2 was used on Soviet Zenith cameras with a K mount. Nowadays HELIOS-44K-4 58mm 1: 2 is interesting for owners of Pentax DSLR cameras, as the lens mount is mechanically compatible with them.

I have seen the same lens, but with the 'MC' attachment, which implies the presence of multi-coating optics.

In addition to the bayonet mount, the HELIOS-44K-4 58MM is not much different from the huge number of other similar variations of the Helios-44-4.

HELIOS-44K-4 58mm 1: 2 with Pentax mount

Main technical characteristics of ZENIT HELIOS-44K-4 58mm 1: 2

Review Instance Name	HELIOS-44K-4 58MM 1: 2 ZENIT M52x0,75 880813
Basic properties	Bayonet mount Pentax K manual focus only aperture control ringas well as semi-automatic iris control using the ring aperture and the corresponding camera mechanism that has it lens suitable for full-frame cameras
Front Filter Diameter	52 mm, metal thread for filters
Focal length	58 mm On Pentax cameras with APS-C sensor EGF lens equals 87mm
Zoom ratio	1 x
Designed by	for film cameras with a frame size of 24 x 36 mm
Number of aperture blades	6 petals
Tags	focus distance scale in meters depth of field scale for f / 4, 8, 11, 16 'R' mark for infrared operation red dot mark for attaching the lens to the mount
Diaphragm	from f / 2 to f / 16. The lens has an aperture control ring. There are marks on the ring for F / 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16. You can set one additional value between each pair of numbers (except between F / 11 and F / 16). The diaphragm ring rotates with clicks.
MDF	0.5 m
The weight	November 256, XNUMX
Optical design	6 elements in 4 groups. Optical design type 'Planar' (Planar) The optical scheme was copied from the Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 2/58 lens with conversion to Soviet optical glass. The same optical scheme is used and other modifications Helios / Helios 44 2/58, as well as all modifications of Biotar 2/58.
Lens hood	screwed into the front filter, marking of the original hood not found
Manufacturer country	USSR, made at KMZ.
Period	Unknown
Price	About 40 cu for used option. Prices for modern HELIOS lenses can be viewed here.

HELIOS-44K-4 2/58 made in metal case. The focus ring does not have rubberized inserts, ribbed, rotates approximately 225 degrees (5/8 of a full revolution). The ride smoothness of the instance from the review is not uniform. The diaphragm ring in the specimen from the review has a longitudinal backlash. The original front cover without latches, just snug against the frame of the case, it can easily be removed with a random movement. During focusing, the front retractable body does not rotate. Focusing occurs by moving the entire lens block.

HELIOS-44K-4 58mm 1: 2 with Pentax mount, diaphragm leash

Aperture blades are not blacked out, normal matte shiny metal. This can cause additional reflections and loss of contrast during shooting on covered apertures. Also used total 6 petals, which leads to discs of blur in the shape of a hexagon on covered diaphragms.

HELIOS-44K-4 58mm 1: 2 with Pentax mount serial number

The lens uses simple chemical enlightenment and poorly tolerates side and back light. But unlike, for example, from HELIOS-44M 2/58, HELIOS-44K-4 2/58 has much better blackened chamfer lenses.

HELIOS-44K-4 58mm 1: 2 with Pentax mount. Aperture leash

Sample photos on the PENTAX K-1 Mark II

Important: unfortunately the HELIOS-44K-4 58mm 1: 2 does not transfer the aperture value set with the aperture ring to modern Pentax CZK. Because of this, Pentax cameras in 'AV' aperture priority mode can only operate at f / 2.0.

Important 2: in aperture priority mode 'AV', the camera ignores the aperture control ring when the shutter is released and always shoots at f / 2.0. Measurement exposure on F / 2.0 it is executed correctly. But in order to shoot at other apertures, you should use exclusively the 'M' mode.

For convenient work with PENTAX K-1 Mark II and HELIOS-44K-4 58mm 1: 2 follows:

in the custom settings menu 'C4' set item 26 'Aperture ring' to 'Enabled'

turn off and on the camera. When turned on, the camera will ask you to set the focal length of the manual lens. I chose 55 mm, as this is the closest possible value to 58 mm

In the camera setup menu '5', under 'Button personalization', select 'Program selector.' and the green button 'O' should be set to 'Offset excerpts TV '

set the camera to 'M' mode, set the desired ISO

set the desired aperture using the aperture ring on the lens itself

press the green O button, which allows you to get the correct shutter speed at the current ISO and aperture

set the camera to focus mode AF.S

in the custom settings menu 'C4' enable item 24 'Focus trap', this will allow the shutter to be released only with precise focusing

a little tricky, but you can get used to it. With minor changes, this technique is also valid for other Pentax central control centers.

On the PENTAX K-1 Mark II Matrix stabilizer works perfectly and the old HELIOS-44K-4 58mm 1: 2 on a modern camera receives not only automatic aperture but also a 'stabilizer'.

All sample photos were taken with a camera. PENTAX K-1 Mark II, on-camera JPEG, image management mode 'AUTO' with default (basic) settings. There are few photos, since the camera fell into the hands of a limited period of time. But in the original archive there are a bit more technical photos. While shooting in JVI it can be seen that the corners and edges of the image are very poor. Behind the monitor, the angles and edges on F / 2.0 are just awful. Perhaps a specific instance of this HELIOS-44K-4 58mm 1: 2 is not the most successful. But with aperture, the edges and corners are pulled to a normal level.

Archive with source files can download from this link (38 JPEG files, 600 MB). All shots on a covered aperture were shot at F / 8.0.

HELIOS-44K-4 58mm 1:2

Sample photos on crop

Pictures on the camera with the APC-C sensor Kf = 1.5 Sony Alpha NEX-3N. Taken using an adapter FOTGA DIGITAL ADAPTER PK-NEX. Part of the photo was taken using a polarizing filter Marumi 'delta' DHG Circular PLD 52mm made in Japan. Photos are slightly modified in the editor.

Source photos can download from this link (22 photos, 300 MB).

HELIOS-44K-4 58mm 1: 2 with Pentax mount. Petals form a hexagon

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.

HELIOS-44K-4 58mm 1: 2 with Pentax mount, lens focused on MDF

Results

You can always take pictures of flaming fire, running water and sample photos on the next version of Helios-44.

HELIOS-44K-4 58mm 1: 2 is another variant of the lens from the Helios-44 / 44-4 family. Let me remind you that the lenses of this family were among the most mass-produced in the whole world.

First of all, the HELIOS-44K-4 58mm 1: 2 attracts with its 'native' Pentax K bayonet.

main advantages

metal case
there is a scale of focusing distances, depth of field and a tag for working in the infrared spectrum
a 'special' drawing partially inherited from Zeiss Biotar 2/58which can sometimes be used as a good artistic device
good sharpness starting at F / 2.8 in the center of the frame
a focal length of 58 mm instead of the classic 50 mm can sometimes be a pleasant trifle
good combination of maximum aperture and focal length
52 mm standard filter diameter
The diaphragm automatics with modern Pentax central control valves are preserved. Also, on Pentax CZK, you can use the built-in matrix stabilizer
fairly low cost

main disadvantages

looking at the shortcomings of the lens, you must always remember that it is from the past era and for modern central control systems, it is, first of all, a creative lens, and many shortcomings can be forgiven for a creative lens

no multi-coated optics (although there is the same 'MC' version of this lens)
diaphragm ring play (only possible on copy from review)
threaded hood, original cover without latches
only 6 aperture blades
aperture blades are not blackened, shiny
poor lateral light resistance
variation in the quality of the manufacture of individual copies
very low sharpness at the edges and corners of the image
poor color rendition on modern CZK (especially paired with PENTAX K-1 Mark II) due to the old type of enlightenment

RADOJUVA