Thanks for video, got a Helios 44m who's auto/manual switch wasnt working and was unsure about taking the back off. Have done thanks to your video and it turns out it was the large lever pivot screw had abit of corrosion that locked the lever in position. Just a blob of oil and working the screw back and forth freed the pivot and is now work fine!
I had the exact same problem with my Helios 44M when I managed to get a slim adapter stuck on it, the nearest camera repair shop I have access to aren't savvy with vintage lenses and were advising me to look for another repair shop to service the lens. But thanks to your video, I was able to remove the stuck adapter, and was also able to tighten the screws on the back of the lens, as my copy was a bit wobbly toward the back. Great video my good sir! Thanks so much!
Now you have a cinema lens then. 🤷🏻♂️ If you can find a small enough ball bearing later in some other device, that might be a way to solve your dilemma.
Thank you so much for this...I have no idea how to repair cameras and bought a Zenit EM last week as I want to get into photography. Your guide helped me get the manual/auto diaphragm working as the auto setting performed just like manual
That is awesome! Glad I could help! That lens is a really neat design, that switch is a bugger so dont worry too much about the complexity of it, kinda sounds like you have a handle on it already. 👍📸
@@davidsaylors Yes, I notice the auto isn't perfect but it works well considering the camera overall cost me 30 quid, with a flash and an extra 135mm lens and UV filter!
Thanks. I had debated about not making it a video but finally thought it would be neat to record the event. It was really tough to video, to be honest.
I know this is an old video, but i’m having the same problem as you were having with the final screws not aligning when reassembling the lens. my 2 small plates (the .:. looking things) look identical, but the screws are in pairs with different sizes. what did you turn on the lens to match up the slots correctly and for the plates to slip through? been very frustrated trying to fix this lens, any help is appreciated and thank you for the video!
It is probably assembled backwards like mine was. If you will reverse the orientation of the central part in the housing it should go together. I talk about this towards the end of the video.
Few days ago I decided to tske mine apart to lubricate the focus which is smooth but stiff. I found the two tiny balls which makes the aperture ring steps from one value to the next, I really can't mount both back. As far as I can see you didn't mount them back but i will prefer to have the steps. Any clue how to fit them both in again? Thanks
I dint put them in on the video but did put one back afterwards. It is fairly easy since it is near the end of the assembly sequence. The trick it to “glue” the springs and balls into the sockets with grease. Just enough to hold them together and keep them from falling out of the spring pocket. Then it takes three hands to put the aperture ring back on over them. 😂 But I only had one to work with so it was a lot easier. Hope this helps.
@@davidsaylors thanks for the reply, actually putting back one is quite easy, it is the second one that really makes me wonder how they did produce them. I will think more over it but at the moment is a real mistery. It does work with only one though. P
That is probably why mine only had one in it when I got it... someone had already been inside mine when I got it. Get a friend to help, that is how I would try it. That third hand makes a huge difference.
Thanks for the vid, I just needed to take off the rear elements to try and clear out some gunk between the lenses. Unfortunately the culprits were inbetween two cemented elements so there wasn't a lot I could do but give the glass a polish and a dust :/
@@davidsaylors Certainly not forward thinking by those designers, though I doubt they'd anticipated the popularity of these lenses some decades ago. Thankfully it's not a major issue, just a mild annoyance that theres a few specs of something stuck in there good! The lens is still as sharp as soviet glass can be :)
I love what this lens does, but I don't know that I want to go through all that for it. Do you have experience with the 44-2? Is it the same issue? I'm trying to decide between the two! Thanks for the vid.
If you put this lens on a Nikon DSLR, it wont focus past about 9 feet because of the flange distance. Vintage Nikkor glass is the best route, of course, but I guess through research, one could figure out which cameras from the film days had a shorter flange so there is room for an adapter. The M42 to Nikon adapter killed infinity focus for me though... that was another reason I like mirrorless camera designs, the flange is much closer to the camera and you can mount a variety of vintage lenses on them.
Thank you! I dont think they used any thoriated glass in the making of these lenses. That material was kinda expensive in the day and these lenses were known for their economical price, this leads me to believe that it probably doesn't have radioactive elements inside...
Looks like that "plunger" as you call it, is just another take on the "aperture pin" found on many old lenses. This method ensures that film SLRs and DSLRs always stay "stuck" at the widest open aperture when mounted on a body. This way, you always focus through the view finder at the maximum level of light, regardless of your set f-stop. Ever notice the DOF "Preview button" on a D810? This will show you the actual DOF, (it stops the lens down do your actual set f-stop.) And of course, the viewfinder will get darker when you press that button. .
Have the same, blades looks yellowish, probably oily because there is effect on the photo. Close focus is also much better than infinity, not sure if I can a dress this to the blades. Interesting lens though. Cheers
David Saylors If you are Nikon user helios 81 H(81N) is a good one to try, a bit less swirly but mush better resolution and color rendering is also nice. Can go straight to Nikon, mine is not very good condition, but optically is really nice. Flaring is the same and its huge :)
Lens flare is kinda magical if you know it is going to be there. 😂 Otherwise it is scary!! 😆 I do enjoy some lens flare when shooting certain subjects.
I like click-less apertures. In fact, I often select aperture by eye-balling the size of the Iris opening itself, while spinning the aperture ring. "Now your cooking with peanut oil." :-)
Damn Dave I was certain you would one up that Russian and use duct tape to put it back together. Now I have to watch out for super glue lenses on eBay. Mark
This was so satisfying to watch. Thank you!
Thank you for watching my video, I had fun making the video almost as much as taking the lens apart... haha.
Thanks for video, got a Helios 44m who's auto/manual switch wasnt working and was unsure about taking the back off. Have done thanks to your video and it turns out it was the large lever pivot screw had abit of corrosion that locked the lever in position. Just a blob of oil and working the screw back and forth freed the pivot and is now work fine!
That is awesome! Im glad I was able to help a little in some way. 👍😉📸
I had the exact same problem with my Helios 44M when I managed to get a slim adapter stuck on it, the nearest camera repair shop I have access to aren't savvy with vintage lenses and were advising me to look for another repair shop to service the lens. But thanks to your video, I was able to remove the stuck adapter, and was also able to tighten the screws on the back of the lens, as my copy was a bit wobbly toward the back.
Great video my good sir! Thanks so much!
love you videos and a huge fan of your channel!
Thank you. I appreciate you watching the videos, that makes it all worthwhile.
I have that same lens and lost the tiny bearing ball from the aperture ring while cleaning it 😢
Now you have a cinema lens then. 🤷🏻♂️ If you can find a small enough ball bearing later in some other device, that might be a way to solve your dilemma.
16:55
The previous owner probably took out the half stop ball bearing on purpose. I did that as well because I prefer having only full stops.
That makes a lot of sense. It had me a little confused. 👍📸
Thank you so much for this...I have no idea how to repair cameras and bought a Zenit EM last week as I want to get into photography. Your guide helped me get the manual/auto diaphragm working as the auto setting performed just like manual
That is awesome! Glad I could help! That lens is a really neat design, that switch is a bugger so dont worry too much about the complexity of it, kinda sounds like you have a handle on it already. 👍📸
@@davidsaylors Yes, I notice the auto isn't perfect but it works well considering the camera overall cost me 30 quid, with a flash and an extra 135mm lens and UV filter!
Wow! 😳 I am so glad you are able to enjoy the hobby so economically!!! Well done!!! 😎📸 Thank you for sharing your story with us.
hi can you assist me cdavey06@gmail.com
Cool to see the lens disassembly
Thanks. I had debated about not making it a video but finally thought it would be neat to record the event. It was really tough to video, to be honest.
@@davidsaylors I bet
I know this is an old video, but i’m having the same problem as you were having with the final screws not aligning when reassembling the lens. my 2 small plates (the .:. looking things) look identical, but the screws are in pairs with different sizes. what did you turn on the lens to match up the slots correctly and for the plates to slip through?
been very frustrated trying to fix this lens, any help is appreciated and thank you for the video!
It is probably assembled backwards like mine was. If you will reverse the orientation of the central part in the housing it should go together. I talk about this towards the end of the video.
Few days ago I decided to tske mine apart to lubricate the focus which is smooth but stiff.
I found the two tiny balls which makes the aperture ring steps from one value to the next, I really can't mount both back.
As far as I can see you didn't mount them back but i will prefer to have the steps.
Any clue how to fit them both in again?
Thanks
I dint put them in on the video but did put one back afterwards. It is fairly easy since it is near the end of the assembly sequence. The trick it to “glue” the springs and balls into the sockets with grease. Just enough to hold them together and keep them from falling out of the spring pocket. Then it takes three hands to put the aperture ring back on over them. 😂 But I only had one to work with so it was a lot easier. Hope this helps.
@@davidsaylors thanks for the reply, actually putting back one is quite easy, it is the second one that really makes me wonder how they did produce them.
I will think more over it but at the moment is a real mistery.
It does work with only one though.
P
That is probably why mine only had one in it when I got it... someone had already been inside mine when I got it. Get a friend to help, that is how I would try it. That third hand makes a huge difference.
Thanks for the vid, I just needed to take off the rear elements to try and clear out some gunk between the lenses. Unfortunately the culprits were inbetween two cemented elements so there wasn't a lot I could do but give the glass a polish and a dust :/
Wish it was that! I had an old Nikkor lens that had a cemented element give up the ghost, that is never a good day...
@@davidsaylors Certainly not forward thinking by those designers, though I doubt they'd anticipated the popularity of these lenses some decades ago. Thankfully it's not a major issue, just a mild annoyance that theres a few specs of something stuck in there good! The lens is still as sharp as soviet glass can be :)
I love what this lens does, but I don't know that I want to go through all that for it. Do you have experience with the 44-2? Is it the same issue? I'm trying to decide between the two! Thanks for the vid.
If you put this lens on a Nikon DSLR, it wont focus past about 9 feet because of the flange distance. Vintage Nikkor glass is the best route, of course, but I guess through research, one could figure out which cameras from the film days had a shorter flange so there is room for an adapter. The M42 to Nikon adapter killed infinity focus for me though... that was another reason I like mirrorless camera designs, the flange is much closer to the camera and you can mount a variety of vintage lenses on them.
@@davidsaylors My hope, later this year is to buy a Sony mirrorless. The a7iii is my goal!
That is an amazing camera, you will love it. I had the A72 and it took really nice photos, so I can only imagine how much better the 3 will be!!! 👍📸
Hey David, great content please keep it up. I just recently bought this lense is this lens Radiative?
Thank you! I dont think they used any thoriated glass in the making of these lenses. That material was kinda expensive in the day and these lenses were known for their economical price, this leads me to believe that it probably doesn't have radioactive elements inside...
Looks like that "plunger" as you call it, is just another take on the "aperture pin" found on many old lenses. This method ensures that film SLRs and DSLRs always stay "stuck" at the widest open aperture when mounted on a body. This way, you always focus through the view finder at the maximum level of light, regardless of your set f-stop. Ever notice the DOF "Preview button" on a D810? This will show you the actual DOF, (it stops the lens down do your actual set f-stop.) And of course, the viewfinder will get darker when you press that button. .
hi can you assist me cdavey06@gmail.com
Sir, I raise a glass to you. You clearly have gonads the size of Texas to take on such a project.
Thanks, I honestly didnt know what I was getting into when I started down that path...
Have the same, blades looks yellowish, probably oily because there is effect on the photo. Close focus is also much better than infinity, not sure if I can a dress this to the blades. Interesting lens though. Cheers
Yeah, some seem to be better than others, so I might try to get another one at some point...
David Saylors If you are Nikon user helios 81 H(81N) is a good one to try, a bit less swirly but mush better resolution and color rendering is also nice. Can go straight to Nikon, mine is not very good condition, but optically is really nice. Flaring is the same and its huge :)
Lens flare is kinda magical if you know it is going to be there. 😂 Otherwise it is scary!! 😆 I do enjoy some lens flare when shooting certain subjects.
I like click-less apertures. In fact, I often select aperture by eye-balling the size of the Iris opening itself, while spinning the aperture ring. "Now your cooking with peanut oil." :-)
Oh and the Glass adapters from China work well enough.
Interesting. Never heard of that. Now I have to look that up. 👊😜
Thank you, now I can't assemble it anymore 😢
I am so sorry to hear that... 😞
Damn Dave I was certain you would one up that Russian and use duct tape to put it back together. Now I have to watch out for super glue lenses on eBay.
Mark
Hahaha!!!! Oh yeah, now the word is out! Super glue baby!!! Hahahahaha. Duct Tape was definitely an option though. 😉