Author Topic: HELIOS-44M-4 lens samples ***** (Read 7999 times)

adash · « **on:** June 27, 2010, 04:44:30 AM »

This came attached to an old Soviet-era SLR camera and cost virtually nothing, some EUR 22 together with the camera.
58mm, F/2, six aperture blades, aperture continuously variable from F/2 to F/16, automatic aperture control only.
Made by KMZ in USSR during the eighties, this one is supposedly different from 44-2 and the previous for its multi-coated glass.

Samples at:

F/2:

F/2.8:

F/4:

F/5.6:

F/8:

adash · « **Reply #1 on:** June 27, 2010, 04:56:49 AM »

Details

voyager · « **Reply #2 on:** June 28, 2010, 12:20:10 AM »

That doesn't look anything like the Helios 44mm lenses that I've seen before.

adash · « **Reply #3 on:** June 28, 2010, 12:59:07 AM »

It's a 58mm, the model number is 44M-4.
I don't know of a 44mm Helios.
Here is a list for you:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helios_%28lens_brand%29

voyager · « **Reply #4 on:** June 28, 2010, 01:09:22 AM »

Ah never mind, apparently the 44 isn't the focal length. Hmm all these years and I never figured that out.

adash · « **Reply #5 on:** June 28, 2010, 01:32:48 AM »

Quote from: voyager on June 28, 2010, 01:09:22 AM

Ah never mind, apparently the 44 isn't the focal length. Hmm all these years and I never figured that out.

These are Soviet-era items, don't try to figure out the logic. All their merchandise had misleading model numbers.

cosinaphile · « **Reply #6 on:** June 28, 2010, 07:43:15 AM »

it looks ok at f 2, thats great

i have a soviet lens lens a 37mm 2.8 brussels grand prix ...made in ussr
inscribed on the barrel 1958
in some sort of screw mount anyone have a thought of an adapter or will i have to fashion one myself?

adash · « **Reply #7 on:** June 28, 2010, 08:35:14 AM »

Picture the lens. From what I hear it is a MIR (Russian for "Peace" and "World"), most probably MIR-1, M39 screw mount, but non-standard flange-back distance of 45.2mm.

asterinex · « **Reply #8 on:** July 01, 2011, 11:29:54 AM »

I don't think this Helios lens is multicoated. It isn't mentioned on the lens.
But I'm quit pleased with the results.

Details

adash · « **Reply #9 on:** July 01, 2011, 11:46:42 AM »

Congrats then! It performs very well, I guess it is a matter of lack how good one's copy of Helios 44M-4 is. This probably has something to do with vodka consumption in the QC department back at the times.
BTW, can you picture the front of your lens? There is a factory logo.

asterinex · « **Reply #10 on:** July 01, 2011, 11:57:38 AM »

this is the serial number : 86203002

Details

adash · « **Reply #11 on:** July 01, 2011, 12:08:29 PM »

One of my lenses has the Valdai Optical-Mechanical Factory too, but its front plate is quite different. I can't judge based on SN, but I guess yours was made in 1986. Mine are probably made in 83 (KMZ) and 89(Valdai).

asterinex · « **Reply #12 on:** July 01, 2011, 12:13:41 PM »

Quote from: adash on July 01, 2011, 12:08:29 PM

One of my lenses has the Valdai Optical-Mechanical Factory too, but its front plate is quite different. I can't judge based on SN, but I guess yours was made in 1986. Mine are probably made in 83 (KMZ) and 89(Valdai).

The lens I bought looks like new. It could be sold in a store and noone would see it was used.

What I really like about the lens are the colors. Bright colors and a lot of contrast.

Somewhere I read that the Soviets stole the technology from the Germans after World War II and that the Helios is a reconstruction of Carl Zeiss. I cannot verify this, I think I read this somewhere.

Maybe you or someone else knows more about this.

Em5 Pete · « **Reply #13 on:** July 01, 2011, 12:17:37 PM »

Nice results indeed, the Bokeh is very nice, is the color and sharpness..
I wander if this is a Zeiss Jena DDR copy.
The Ruskies did a pretty good job in most cases.

I'll put this in the Index..

adash · « **Reply #14 on:** July 01, 2011, 12:24:08 PM »

They did not steal the technology, they had it as reparations from Germany. Many products were exact copies of german Cotax/Zeiss pieces, like some lenses, some cameras (Kiev 4 being the most vivid example). Some were even made with genuine german parts, but these were very early 1950-ies ones. Later on technology evolved, new glass types and coatings were used and redesign was necessary. Later production is a genuine redesign, loosely based on early german technology.
Helios 44 was based on Biotar, but later versions were not:
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%93%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BE%D1%81_%28%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%8A%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%29

Em5 Pete · « **Reply #15 on:** July 01, 2011, 12:28:04 PM »

To have a Jupiter 3 Circa 1950's (5cm f/1.5 Sonnar Copy) MMMMMMMmmmmmmm

asterinex · « **Reply #16 on:** July 01, 2011, 12:36:02 PM »

@Adash : it looks like you have a bad copy. The colors on your pictures are very dull. Strange.

adash · « **Reply #17 on:** July 01, 2011, 12:41:40 PM »

Both of my 44M-4 suffer from bad coating. There is nothing so horrible with it, just very high contrast scenes get lots of flare.

Quote

To have a Jupiter 3 Circa 1950's (5cm f/1.5 Sonnar Copy) MMMMMMMmmmmmmm

These aren't bad, AFIK, and not too expensive. Coating is a known weakness again.

Em5 Pete · « **Reply #18 on:** July 01, 2011, 12:48:25 PM »

Quote from: adash on July 01, 2011, 12:41:40 PM

Both of my 44M-4 suffer from bad coating. There is nothing so horrible with it, just very high contrast scenes get lots of flare.
Quote
To have a Jupiter 3 Circa 1950's (5cm f/1.5 Sonnar Copy) MMMMMMMmmmmmmm
These aren't bad, AFIK, and not too expensive. Coating is a known weakness again.

I had the Zeiss ZM update of the 1934 lens... it was designed to emulate the 1934 look, at f/1.5, and become sharp by f/2.8... a little tricky to learn how to use, but a great lens.

The 44's are pretty good lens, with a good copy. I think the MC versions may do better with flair, but the built isn't as robust as the earlier ones.

asterinex · « **Reply #19 on:** July 01, 2011, 08:24:43 PM »

here is a list of all factory logos.
My copy comes from the Valdai company and is probably a remake of the Zeiss Biotar.
http://cameras.alfredklomp.com/logos/

Em5 Pete · « **Reply #20 on:** July 02, 2011, 05:47:08 AM »

I find that list very educational ♘

adash · « **Reply #21 on:** October 01, 2011, 10:30:56 AM »

All wide open, all with curves tinkering in order to increase contrast, and none sharpened (camera JPEGs, MUTED, Sharpness -1):

Details

Em5 Pete · « **Reply #22 on:** October 01, 2011, 11:04:32 AM »

That is still a nice lens...
Colors are good also.

@Adash
I am aware that the Zeiss Contax factory was moved to Keiv during WW2, a deal to get Russia out of Germany.(with a full complement of Zeiss Technicians as part of the deal).. and Zeiss had a paralal assembly line in the same room with the Keiv assembly line when they were making the Keiv Contax RF copies.... BUT, the first years they both used the same German made body blanks and Zeiss glass, until the Russians tooled up to make their own copies of bodies and glass. (This explains why you may find a Contax I Clone without a name stamped on it from the Russian line).

Zeiss made maybe 500 Contax I's a year in Keiv plant, while the Russian line made closer to 3-5 thousand a year.
A very interesting tale from WW2 and the deals made.

adash · « **Reply #23 on:** October 01, 2011, 11:35:50 AM »

The HELIOS 44-M-4 is a much later design, and the lens itself was made probably in 1989, 44 years after WWII. It's the fourth re-design of the original HELIOS 44, (hence the name 44-M-4) and should bare little common features with the original Biotar, except for the generic layout and the single coating. It is believed to be a bit sharper too, but not as sharp as the MC HELIOS lenses.
More info in this page:

http://www.zenitcamera.com/archive/lenses/helios-44.html

(sorry, Russian only, use Google translate).

adash · « **Reply #24 on:** October 02, 2011, 11:01:07 AM »

A few from today's walk in the zoo:

Details

All shot through something (glass or cage), all F/2, all with adjusted curves, colour balance, etc, none sharpened.

Author Topic: HELIOS-44M-4 lens samples ***** (Read 7999 times)

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