Weird Lens Reviews: Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 with samples (Full-frame and APS-C)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ก.พ. 2016
- I don't normally review legacy lenses and I'm largely going to be sticking to that rule. But I've had a tonne of requests to take a look at this particular Helios lens (and there are many different variations of it out there). This one is particularly interesting as it gives you a bit of a 'swirly-bokeh' effect. I actually held on to this lens as it turned out to be a lot of fun to use...!
I hope you all find my new test chart helpful.
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In case anyone is wondering, my Canon 70D had to be sold as I was saving up for my wedding/ honeymoon...which all went great! So I've been using my old Canon 60D quite a lot recently. In the case of this review though, I borrowed my mother-in-law's 70D for some test shots.
All pictures and footage shot by me on Canon 6D and 60D cameras.
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I love this lens. My father made me photos with this lens when I was a child and now I´m making photos with the same lens to my little son
Here In Russia the second lenses that every photographer get is the helios. and some times for free :-)
Send me one to Poland ;)
Не, я взял 50мм от кэнона
@@VitaminVS You gent them like new and cheap in Amazon. Blessings 🙏
@@wilsoneusebio777 ordered one. Lets see how good it is. Is it possible to order from some website in Russia to Poland?
What's the first?
Thank you dad for keeping your Zenit with Helios lens. Never knew I could use that lens. Oh beautiful internet :)
Lucky you
Oh beautiful ivana
Wow! My dad gave me his old Zenit with this exact lens to try. I had so many nice shots on it. Used it for about 2 years. Great memories.
Hey man, just wanted to say you make awesome videos and it really helped me on picking out my first ever camera lens. One of the most helpful photography channel on TH-cam. Keep up the good work
+Jonathan Nguyen Thanks!
The swirly bokeh effect can easily be achieved on crop sensors. No need at all for a full-frame camera. It's just a matter of distance and knowing what backgrounds and light conditions work best. That being said, this was a nice review and it's a real pity you won't be doing more. Vintage MF lenses are like a parallel universe with its own rules and time.
+Mica GBM Do all MF lenses have that swirly bokeh?
+Gnarly Vision No, only some of them such as the Helios 40-2 85/1.5, the CZJ Biotar 75/1.5 or the Leica Summitar 50/2. Other vintage lenses have star-shaped bokeh at certain apertures like the Macro Takumar 50/4 or the MC Volna-9 50/2.8. The Zenitar-ME1 50/1.7 even has square bokeh. Then you have the so-called bokeh monsters with so many blades bokeh bubbles are perfectly round (Pentacon 135/2.8 or Tair-11A 135/2.8). Hope it helps.
you can't achieve that swirly bokeh like of full frame on crop sensor cameras. it crops the center area of the optics & missed the rest of the image area.
Does it now? Try harder. There's millions of photos across the web from people who managed to succeed. Just because you can't doesn't mean it can't be achieved.
it swirls. but not enough like what you see in a fullframe, dinstance from subject won't help you. some people modify the front element but the swirling effect looks kinda weird
+Christopher Frost Photography I loved this review as the Helios 58mm is one of my fave lenses. Awesome stuff and I hope you'll 'bend' your rules again sometime in the future when you're less busy. Love your channel by the way and I know that getting one episode up is a lot of work so we really appreciate it. Take care and God bless you.
Been waiting for this review for a while. Brilliant to see how it compares to more modern lenses. I got mine primarily for video shooting, which it does nicely. Also, I found the lack of contrast actually helped in post. It's a great wee lens (if you get a good one!)
Very nice review Christopher... I really enjoy your channel! Be well and stay encouraged!!!
You make the really best lens review videos, thanks man! I really mean it! :)
I'm actually selling one with EF Mount😁
rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5575378759&campid=5338273189&customid=&icep_item=392910847080&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg&toolid=11111
@@macogottalent112 I have my own already, bought it around 3 years ago, modified by IronGlass with 16-iris blades and cinemod. Also I have anamorfaked it since with Oval disc and taken off some coatings from the sides to get it even more dream like!
@@Muwex Nice! Im kinda new to photography so can you please explain what a anamorfake is?
The quality of your review is outstanding. Thank you.
Thank you for your videos Chris! I have bought a lot of lenses because of your reviews. I find your videos to be very informative, and pictures amazing. keep up the great work my friend!
Another great review, keep them coming Chris!
I just bought this. I'm stoked to play around with it.
Great review - so glad you chose to do this one - I recently found an old Helios 44-2 in my loft from teenage photography days. With your information I think I'll get an adapter and try it out on my Sony A7 II.
got one a few weeks ago and it works flawlessly on my 5D II
Even if this is an old video, it's always a great pleasure, and really relaxing to listen to your soothing voice with your sweet British accent, Christopher. Also, your microphone is perfect for your voice, and this music made by the famous Kevin MacLeod fits perfectly for your videos. It's like your trademark now in some way, haha! Great video review about the Helios 44-2, thank you!
Loved your review. I just bought one of these adapted with focus rings. Can't wait to get my hands on it.
Bought Zenit-11 camera with the 44M-4 version in 1988, still use the kit for vintage shots. Thanks a lot Chris, much appreciated!
I adore most of the older Russian lenses and have quite a few of their amazing East German and Ukraine made camera's as well. The Helios 44-2 lenses I've shot does exactly as you say, but perform so well that I never regret using them on my later Japanese camera bodies since I have neutral density filters to accommodate special effects. They are solid performers, and can't really see not using them even if other lenses are at hand. Great content, and a solid review.
Amazing coincidence! I won a Zenit E plus a Helios 44-2 a few days prior to the upload of this video. The softer aperture ring, as the manual says, helps you to compose the pic also by shallowing depth of focus so you can be sure you have your object the sharpest possible when working on wider apertures.
I would like to see more weird lenses, I just discover this new hobby, thank you for posting
There are GREAT old vintage Russian lenses out there ! I am a collector of these. Amazing quality and ... can be very cheap !
A comparision between this lens, the Petzval and the Helios 44M-4 would be awesome!
PS: I missed the samples with the APS-C at the end on the video, or any footage to compare the swirly bokeh with both FF and cropped
I had a Zenith B with this lens for many years. I used the stepless aperture ring as they suggested in the manual - open it up to focus, shut it down to shoot. (Set your preferred aperture on the clicking aperture ring first). I used to meter with a Leningrad 4 exposure meter. Now I have a full-frame Canon DSLR with M42 adapter, I can meter using the camera's own system (all manual settings of course).
Just discovered your channel. I appreciate your great reviews and some really nice photography, which isn't always the case with reviewers.
I'm loving it on an APS-C sensor. Helios 44-2 is up to around $40 on Ebay now. Thanks for the explanation of the backwards aperture ring!
Great review as always. Thanks!
Thank you for another excellent review!
Excellent review as always Chris. The Helios 44-2 58mm . I paid £40 for mine but still think it's a bargain when compared to other lenses at this focal length. it is in very good condition & looks brand new. I bought it on the strength of this review & attached it to Fuji XT1.I love it
Good stuff. I like it when your videos have pics of Cardiff in them - I live there. I just picked up an Asahi 55mm 1.8 and waiting desperately for the lens adaptor !!! It looks beautiful - I love the retro look - I hope its OK !
Your videos are fantastic. Love the music too. Subscribed!
Finally a great review
Great review!
Nice for portraiture - the edge deterioration actually adds to the charm
Ruskoje lenskoje! Thanks for the review. Very informative, very professional.
My favourite lens ever
Woow this looks fantastic!
man this is a great, well detailed video.
Anyone reading who has since got on the a7c train, this lens is amazing on that body. Perfect size and balance, focus peaking makes it a joy to use. Video looks straight out of a dream. They can still be had for $50 on eBay. Absolute steal!
I've got the grandpa of the lens you have - Helios 44 produced in 60's. Very happy with it.
Cool :-)
Just picked one up today,) great video C,)
Thanks Chris! My favorite vintage lens :)
yesss vintage lens review, cool
Christopher said his copy was £25, 8 years ago, I just picked a mint copy up for £50, so not bad inflation considering the hype. Thanks as always for your great reviews.
great video! I hope you can do more vintage lensen.
I'm happy people like this lens so much it leaves all the unknown brands that are sharper and better built untouched. (check ken wheelers m42 recommendations)
Very well done review.
I agree with all you've said here. I had couple of 44-2s and surprisingly, all of them behaved differently (optically speaking). I've read somewhere that is because of poor control quality in Soviet days.
Anyways, what you should've mention is the other version of this lens are known to hit mirror of FF Canon's, just a heads up to people who would be willing to buy this. When focusing to infinity or near it, some versions will protrude significantly more into body of camera then other, causing it to hit the mirror, and possibly damage it.
I am talking about 44M-2, 44M-3, 44M-4, 44M-5, 44M-6 and 44M-7.
I was so said when I realized I had to sell my MC 44M-3, when I made my switch to 6D, because it was much sharper and contrasty than 44-2s I owned.
For any people interested in Soviet era lenses, I'd pay attention to Helios 77M-4 (50mm f/1.8) , Helios 40-2 (85mm f/1.5) and Jupiter 9 (85mm f/2). Whit exception of Jupiter, both of them have swirly bokeh, but they are much more expensive.
Some other Jupiter lenses are also interesting. I'm considering buying a bunch of them. Is there Anything I need to know before i do?
these lenses were made on different plants, thousands of miles apart Produced from differently sourced glass and coated by different processes. w
What quality control are you on about???
Јел препоручујеш апарат?
I found this Lens in my attic. Did some work on the focus mechanism and it works amazing.
I've got the Zeiss equivalent on my 5D and the Helios on my Olympus E-5. Both result in pretty interesting pictures with a distinct vintage look
I bought this lens because of your review, thanks !
What a neat little lens!
I own one. Got it for $60 on Ebay and thankfully the seller lived in the US since they are mainly produced in Russia.
It's attached to my Fuji XT-1 and it is an amazing portrait lens. Never really bothered on achieving the swirly bokeh look since I prefer shooting someone closely with just enough background for a little depth. Aside from all that I definitely recommend this lens and you save a pretty penny and you will not be disappointed.
They have gone up in price a lot since I made this review
Oh, wow It's all your fault!! lol j/k
St Gonzalez
Also its worth noting that you can often find vast differences in quality in these lenses--I've found mine to work beautifully, but some people have noted that due to age or other issues, that the lenses can act totally differently.
Does the adaptation of vintage lens ( m42 lens + adapter ring to EF + EF to EOS M mount ) apple a further crop ?
if i use the helios 44-2 m42 mount with a canon ef mount then on a ef-m mount ( canon m50) .. will it produce a crop due to using double adapters ? pls reply ?
I have been using my 58mm Helios lens on my APSC A6500 with a Kipon 0.7x M-42 to E-mount Focal Reducer and it works quite well... I also use the Kipon on my A6500 when I shoot with a Meyer Optik Gorlitz Orestor 135mm f/2.8 lens...
In love this lens.
Great review. Is your aperture ring very loose? It’s nice there’s no hard stops, but the slightest changes the F stop.
great video! I think i'm going to buy it just for the fun :)
This is my favourite lens. I have one on every M42 mount body I have. I've shot some incredible video with this as well with the cropped censored A6000.
I'm shooting a review of this lens myself soon. Cheers.
arjun rai I would get an M42 to E-mount adaptor and check out some Helios and other M42 classic lenses.
arjun rai Also check out old Zuiko (Olympus) lenses.
Old Cameras hi. Is the m42 adapter going to work on canon 5D? I am clueless. I need an adapter with af confirmation chip. I have been using it without the chip and it's making me nit want to use it but when i nail it it's beauty
The kit lens is not at all bad. The Kit lens of a6300 is actually a remarkable wide angle lens. Consider this, its a 16mm f3.5 on an APS-C body, which has a sensor slightly larger than Canon or Nikon APS-Cs. Nikon and Canon usually provide a 18mm f3.5 base kit lens. Imagine the landscape photography on that lens. f3.5 is a good aperture speed for landscape. You don't need anything lower unless you're going low light for landscape. Overall its an amazing lens and not worth any criticism, considering it comes free of cost. You just need to know to make the best of the lenses. I use A6000 with the Kit lens as my Wide angle lens, Sigma 30mm f1.4 as my portrait lens and the Sony 18-105mm f4 as telephoto. If you're into portrait photography, Helios 44m is a great and cheap option. Its an excellent lens. But considering your budget, your Kit lens is the best Wide angle option you have.
Takumar has a nice 3.5/28 mm manual lens. I got it for like $30 on Ebay (used). Also a great attachment for Fujis X-series. It also works with Fotiox M42-FX adapter (which is needed for this lens) so you don't need to buy a separate adapter.
I recently bought one of these on a trip to Uzbekistan that is very similar to the one you reviewed. Yours was made in 1985, and mine is slightly newer, with the manufacture date of 1988 (The first two numbers on the serial number are the manufacture date). I found your review to be very useful as I begin my journey with vinatage Soviet lenses on my mondern Fujifilm camera.
Swirly bokeh can be achieved on APS-H camera, too. I used Helios 44-M lenses since 1995, had two of them, now just one, 44-M4. Anyway, thanks for the review.
Lovely, in-depth review Christopher :)
I am buying one for my SonyA6000 (APS-C)
I have the same question, does the swirly bokeh produce different result when not used on FULL FRAME?
Also, What adapter should I use?
Can you do a petzval 85 vs Helios 40-2 c comparison ?
I actually use a lot of M42 lenses adapted to my EOS RP. My favorite is a Mamiya 50mm f/2 that came as the kit lens for my Mamiya/Sekor 500DTL SLR.
my next lense, thx for review
1:45 wow that shot is so good looking
The silver m42 adapter you used introduce allot flare when the lens is wide open. I recommend people using a black coated one unless you want a "special" effect.
Thanks for your video
Great review
What is that adpater you are using Chris? Is it good one? I am actually in need of one of those with Focus confirmation chip
Christopher what is the best converter to use for Canon, with the AF confirm chip or without ? I noticed you have an AF confirm... I use a Kiss X4 (t2i Rebel).
Also you can find swirly bokeh in the crop frame, but it's only at certain combinations of distance, background, and aperture
Note the symbol on the lens, it's the logo of the factory that made it. It was produced in 3 separate factories; KMZ, Belomo and Valdai. Of those, lenses produced in Valdai have the worst build quality, and highly likely worst picture quality, and this is the lens in the video.
I have the Helios - 44M f2/58 which I bought for £20 from a charity shop. Works well on my E mount Sony with a M42 adapter. It's certainly very solid and heavy, all metal design and whilst it does have its optical faults it does produce nice pictures.
I have bought one like 2 weeks ago and i love it!
+Daniel Gális
Awesome! :D
I own a similar lens (Helios 44M-4)
didn't pay anything for it, found it in my grandma's locker :)
I absolutely love this lens, the only disappointment is that it has some significant play in the focus ring. Makes focusing really annoying sometimes.
I wonder if it is my particular lens problem or they're all like that.
Also, the "swirly bokeh" effect is there on the APS-C cameras as well. It just depends on a background really.
Thanks for your reviews, they are really helpful and fun to watch ;)
Nice review..I use it mainly for video work.
Hi. I love the way you took photos and enhance the color and tones. It would be a pleasure to know how to edit your photos with great color and tones. Perhaps you should make a video about editing photos. Thanks.
Superb presentation.
Could you review Jupiter-9 85/2 ,which I'm really interested in??
i really like this lens and till now i still using it ,
I just ordered this even though I have the 85 1.5 already
excellent video
Hi Chris, does the af confirmation chip work?
Bought one really ancient with big green "Made in USSR" stamped onto it. Works great on my 600D, bokeh is less swirly but still very nice considering it's probably 30+ years old piece of equipment. Plus it's cheap (depends where and when you buy it) and build proper being all metal you don't have to worry about it too much when shooting outside.
Hi Chris, I managed to get this lens along with the Zenit E for just $10 or Indian ₹700 just 2 days back . The fellow selling this had no interest or knowledge of what or how valuable the stuff is. That was a lucky bargain, now just waiting for the adapter to arrive so that I also can try my hands on my first vintage lens.
i have a zenit 44m-5 1/2 58mm. which adaptor do i have to buy for my canon EF-S mount? thank you. great video
i had the mark 6 and its awesome, one day felt to the ground and its okay the lens dont break or get desalineated
Thank you very much, could you tell me which Adapter to use when using this lens with the Sony Alpha 6500 camera?
Thanks to you, I just got myself one of these with a plain adaptor. I can't wait to try it out. I notice yours has contacts on it. Is this for focus confirmation and does it work?
+Mel Sebastian Yes and yes, but I tended to use liveview anyway
Seis años después de este excelente video, sería de utilidad saber cómo funciona el Helios en una Nikon Z full frame. Y cuáles son los adaptadores recomendados tanto para colocar el objetivo vintage en la montura de la cámara o en el FTZ.
Hi Christopher,
I am wondering if you could review the Viltrox DC-50 (or DC-70) monitor , which has FOCUS PEAKING and works with Canon/Nikon cameras.
You've reviewed many manual focus lens, and I guess you could probably give a very insightful review to these monitors.
There's something about doing a scientific test on a creative lens that just doesn't sit right.
Thank you for your review 😊. It's the valdai version of helios 44-2. Image quality of kmz ane mmz versions should be better.
It is an incredible lens. Got mine via Ebay for about 60 bucks, adapted for Nikon and modified for infinity focus and I love it. Please, please review the Jupiter 21 200 mm f4 if you can.
*Suggestion: maybe you could review some of the M42 Takumar lenses, these are brilliant in my experience.
This video literally saved me
Chris thanks for this tutorial and review on the Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 lens, you have done a really detailed and awesome review, thanks. What is the brand name of the adapter? I noticed the adapter has contact points? Is this brand of adapter available in Micro Four Thirds? I want to pair this lens with the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K.
I can't remember what the adaptor was, sorry about that
I would love to see a review of the Pentax Takumar 55mm f1.8 M42 lens.. beautiful budget lens on Canon.