Great video and its always great seeing people discover the old Helios lenses, a few things: - In the Batman, Helios 44 was used purely for the car chase scene and it was because they did not want to risk any of the $100,000 Arri Alfa lenses that they used for the rest of the film as the chase scenes were filmed very realistically which put the lenses at risk. The Helios 44 was used because it is scary close to the Alfas but 99.9% less money. ;) (Which says a lot about how damn good the Helios is) More recently though the mighty 44-2 showed up in some scenes in Dune 2 and not in action scenes as a stand-in for more expensive glass. It says a lot when a cinematographer with almost unlimited budget specifically chose to use a $150 Soviet lens rather than any other lens imaginable on likely the biggest film of the decade. - The 44-2 is great but I also highly recommend grabbing yourself a 44-4 to give yourself more options. The 44-4 has the same swirly bokeh effect as the 44-2 but it benefits from some slightly more modern coatings so is sharper and handles flare a bit better. Not to say it should replace the 44-2 but having both is a killer combo as it lets you choose "how much" of a soft vintage feel you want. - The Helios 40-2 85mm F/1.5 is another insanely good lens that Zenit actually started manufacturing again a few years ago. It comes natively on EF mount and is an incredible lens.(Though its a bit of a beast). It cuts beautifully with the Helios 44 and is one of the greatest 85s ever created imo. - If you are looking for a wider lens that cuts nicely with the Helios 44s, the Zeiss Flektogon 35mm f/2.4 is fantastic. The Helios 44 lenses were a copy of the Zeiss Biotar which shares very similar properties with the Flek as they were created in similar eras and both are designs that the Soviets took back to Russia when they emptied out the Zeiss factories after WWII - Another great lens I'd suggest is the Jupiter 9 85mm. It doesn't cut as well with Helios as it renders color very differently, but it is another lens like the Helios that will go down in history as just a sensational optic. - One of the biggest traps people fall into with the 44s is that they become obsessed with chasing swirls. Which can look cool, for sure but the swirls feel like a gimmick. The magic of the Helios 44s isn't the swirls. Lots of lenses produce swirls, and many such as the old Petzvals produce far more distinct swirls than Helios 44. But rather, the magic of the Helios is how it renders focus transitions coupled with how it transmits color and the way it flares. People who spend all their time chasing swirls often forget to actually use this lens for its greatest properties. (Not saying you have this issue at all, there is a ton of gorgeous footage in this video, just a general comment)
Hey) your colours in your photos/videos are really pretty)) but you are showing a different version of a Helios in your video, not the one mentioned in the title.
How damn true!! i've filmed and photographed all my professional career and this lens has pretty much grounded me in a way that has kept me inspired throughout the last 15 years :P
@@BrockRoberts Great. I've been using the Canon M50 MK2 for the past year, but thinking of upgrading to the Sony FX30 in the next month or two. Have you gotten the chance to try the FX30 out? And do you know if I could potentially get similar results out of that camera as you did with yours? Really love the way your shots looked, thanks.
@@Karmapolice28 The oval insert just mimics anamorphic bokeh. Some modded copies of the lens also will have a narrow reflective string down the middle of the oval which mimics anamorphic flare. (though it can make the Bokeh really weird in some situations so I'm not a huge fan) That said, it is only a mimic. This does not actually make the lens anamorphic. It won't have a squeeze factor and if you want to do an ultra wide aspect ratio you have to crop to it which is what the creator of this video would have done. It cuts scary well though with true anamophics which is why say they could get away with using one on The Batman cut together with $100,000 Arri Alfa glass which is true anamorphic. (That said, there is a reason they used the Alfa's for the vast majority of the film. The Helios 44 is AMAZING, but there is still a gap between it and something like Alfa)
@@BrockRoberts cool beans man, I’m from Arkansas, I just got into filmmaking seriously, I’ve upgraded from a GH4 to a Sony FX6 maybe we can collaborate sometime my guy!
I absolutely love this Helios lens!
Great video and its always great seeing people discover the old Helios lenses, a few things:
- In the Batman, Helios 44 was used purely for the car chase scene and it was because they did not want to risk any of the $100,000 Arri Alfa lenses that they used for the rest of the film as the chase scenes were filmed very realistically which put the lenses at risk. The Helios 44 was used because it is scary close to the Alfas but 99.9% less money. ;) (Which says a lot about how damn good the Helios is) More recently though the mighty 44-2 showed up in some scenes in Dune 2 and not in action scenes as a stand-in for more expensive glass. It says a lot when a cinematographer with almost unlimited budget specifically chose to use a $150 Soviet lens rather than any other lens imaginable on likely the biggest film of the decade.
- The 44-2 is great but I also highly recommend grabbing yourself a 44-4 to give yourself more options. The 44-4 has the same swirly bokeh effect as the 44-2 but it benefits from some slightly more modern coatings so is sharper and handles flare a bit better. Not to say it should replace the 44-2 but having both is a killer combo as it lets you choose "how much" of a soft vintage feel you want.
- The Helios 40-2 85mm F/1.5 is another insanely good lens that Zenit actually started manufacturing again a few years ago. It comes natively on EF mount and is an incredible lens.(Though its a bit of a beast). It cuts beautifully with the Helios 44 and is one of the greatest 85s ever created imo.
- If you are looking for a wider lens that cuts nicely with the Helios 44s, the Zeiss Flektogon 35mm f/2.4 is fantastic. The Helios 44 lenses were a copy of the Zeiss Biotar which shares very similar properties with the Flek as they were created in similar eras and both are designs that the Soviets took back to Russia when they emptied out the Zeiss factories after WWII
- Another great lens I'd suggest is the Jupiter 9 85mm. It doesn't cut as well with Helios as it renders color very differently, but it is another lens like the Helios that will go down in history as just a sensational optic.
- One of the biggest traps people fall into with the 44s is that they become obsessed with chasing swirls. Which can look cool, for sure but the swirls feel like a gimmick. The magic of the Helios 44s isn't the swirls. Lots of lenses produce swirls, and many such as the old Petzvals produce far more distinct swirls than Helios 44. But rather, the magic of the Helios is how it renders focus transitions coupled with how it transmits color and the way it flares. People who spend all their time chasing swirls often forget to actually use this lens for its greatest properties. (Not saying you have this issue at all, there is a ton of gorgeous footage in this video, just a general comment)
Nice stuff dude!
I've actually got 2 of the 44-2 and I friggen love them. Super fun and interesting for sure.
Appreciate it! They’re dope. So fun to mess around with.
Hey) your colours in your photos/videos are really pretty)) but you are showing a different version of a Helios in your video, not the one mentioned in the title.
Ive got a 44-2 and it is easily my most used lens, it produces such unique images in comparison to my L glass
I love them!
How damn true!! i've filmed and photographed all my professional career and this lens has pretty much grounded me in a way that has kept me inspired throughout the last 15 years :P
Your grading is also 🔥
Thanks bro! Just using my own LUT’s & some film grain!
Just got mine and I love it already!
Nice!!
Great video, have been to wanting to get into filming more instead of photography. Gonna have to pick up this lens!
Appreciate it! You’ll love it!! Highly recommend!
what do you look for when buying one of these lenses for the canon c70 on the used market ? what about avoiding fungus?
Finding reputable sellers on eBay is the way to go! That’s what I did and I had no issues!
Great lens and all BUT CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE PITTIE??!?!
What camera did you pair up with the Helios 44m-2 in your shots in this video?
Mixture of the Canon C70 & the Canon R6 MkII!
@@BrockRoberts Great. I've been using the Canon M50 MK2 for the past year, but thinking of upgrading to the Sony FX30 in the next month or two. Have you gotten the chance to try the FX30 out? And do you know if I could potentially get similar results out of that camera as you did with yours? Really love the way your shots looked, thanks.
Did you use a anamorphic adapter or did your lens come modified 1.33x the way it came?
It came modified with the oval insert in the back element!
@@BrockRoberts the oval insert gave it the black bars? Looking to grab one soon so I’m on the search. Thank you I hope I find one moded like this.
@@Karmapolice28 The oval insert just mimics anamorphic bokeh. Some modded copies of the lens also will have a narrow reflective string down the middle of the oval which mimics anamorphic flare. (though it can make the Bokeh really weird in some situations so I'm not a huge fan)
That said, it is only a mimic. This does not actually make the lens anamorphic. It won't have a squeeze factor and if you want to do an ultra wide aspect ratio you have to crop to it which is what the creator of this video would have done. It cuts scary well though with true anamophics which is why say they could get away with using one on The Batman cut together with $100,000 Arri Alfa glass which is true anamorphic. (That said, there is a reason they used the Alfa's for the vast majority of the film. The Helios 44 is AMAZING, but there is still a gap between it and something like Alfa)
next will be - FishEye!
Maybe so! Haha
Hey brother, where are you from? I’m subscribing you have some good stuffs
Thanks bro! Appreciate it. I’m near Raleigh, NC!
@@BrockRoberts cool beans man, I’m from Arkansas, I just got into filmmaking seriously, I’ve upgraded from a GH4 to a Sony FX6 maybe we can collaborate sometime my guy!
@@JacobFilmss Nice! That’s awesome!!
oohh ok! im in Arkansas, i just uploaded my first video on film making. please give me a try!
@@BrockRoberts