Helios 44 and 44-2 - Thoughts, Words and Pictures

A short discussion of the iconic Helios 58mm f2 prime lens - a Zeiss Biotar copy
You can support this channel at / zenography

[@brianmccutcheon3205]

I not long ago discovered your videos and been going through them almost every day. I appreciate you my friend and your knowledge, it's been of great assistance. I have started building my Russian camera collection because of you. Thank you again

[@zenography7923]

And thank you!

[@r3t0r1]

Same here, discovering years of knowledge. Great channel.

[@amitjha6726]

It's so nice to see you're an avid reader yourself. The bookshelf at the back is ❤️. The way you explain lens and it's characteristics is awesome.

[@zenography7923]

Thanks!

[@barrycohen311]

The first vintage lens I purchased. I was blown away. Still am.

[@zenography7923]

Me too, a fantastic piece of glass!

[@thebeardedgeordiephotography]

Because of your videos I’ve just had a 1974 44-2 mated with my Sony A6000 and it’s amazing!

[@zenography7923]

It's a great piece of glass, no doubt about it!

[@johnwest7228]

love my Helios lenses, I have quite a few of them, been trying to pick a favorite but so far they are unique in many ways and all special. I found that often cheapest way to buy them is with a camera, so now I have quite a collection of Zenit cameras as well. I found a really good, honest seller, though not always the lowest in price, I have never been disappointed in any purchase. Love your channel-

[@zenography7923]

Many thanks, glad you're enjoying the channel!

[@barrycohen311]

Double aperture throw is also useful on SLRs /DSLRs. Allows you to focus with maximum light (F2), and then throw the ring down to your desired aperture. Of course with manual shooting, you will have to expose for the desired aperture. Helps in low light situations.

[@zenography7923]

I agree, a very useful feature, and good for video too!

[@soxrox4093]

I enjoyed this presentation. I have bought a Helios 44 lens just now. Thanks for the upload.

[@zenography7923]

And thanks for watching! Hope you're enjoying the Helios.

[@davidheadonvisualsandsound]

i have both the 44-M and the original 44. the M is less messy.but in the older 44, the bokeh is amazing. Take your pick. Thanks for the vid, very accurate.

[@marcelocampoamor4761]

Thank you very much indeed a very nice chat and explanation

[@zenography7923]

Many thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@NevardArt]

6.31 the image, fantastic. always love your stuff.

[@zenography7923]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@philhodgkinson1460]

I have a few Helios 44 derivites....one I have converted permanently to a Canon DSLR.... Playing around with my 44M-4 took the back off slipped aperture ring off discovered you can make it stepless...as I discovered... I like you have grown up with cameras from quite a young age...like myself... It's all in me... developed my own scene.....

[@polishaztec]

I love my Helios lenses, photos look so pleasant to the eye

[@zenography7923]

They are indeed a fantastic lens, not perfect but certainly unique! Thanks for looking in.

[@3flyte_3flyte]

The 44-2 is the all-time great. The 44m-6 is coated, with better contrast, but edgy because of the coating...works in some situations, but not all.

[@djrudog1158]

Great video presentation as always 👍

[@zenography7923]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@annaisannaing]

This was a fantastically informative video, and the info about the collar was very helpful -- thank you! :)

[@zenography7923]

Many thanks, glad you found it useful!

[@thomasradovnikovic6518]

Hi I’ve got MC 44m-6 plus adaptor to my canon eos 400d. Superb lens typically produces Zeus image quality

[@zenography7923]

It's a great lens for sure - one of my favourites!

[@marktimmins48]

Good to see you back, Great review as always, you seem to like all the same or similar gear they I do. Excellent ☺

[@magik8566]

My Helios 44M-4 has a stepless aperture ring BTW :) Love these lenses. I have also a Helios 44-2 adapted to get infinity focus on my Nikon D800.

[@barrycohen311]

What are you on about? My Helios on my D810 is basically a macro lens. Can't focus past 3 meters.

[@Shaanujaanu]

Welcome back, nice review

[@zenography7923]

Many thanks, glad you enjoyed it.

[@Killtrobal]

The irony of having a photography channel and being out of focus. Thanks for your videos!

[@zenography7923]

My old GH2 wasn't too good at focussing! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@williambolton5679]

I have the 44-3 and the 44M-4. The 44-3, at least my copy, is a preset with the step-less aperture ring. Care has to be taken when buying some of these lenses. My 44-3 was made for the Zenith camera which though it uses an m42 screw mount has a different flange distance and required most of a day to file the mount down to properly focus on the camera. It's a wonderful lens, however, and was worth the effort.

[@zenography7923]

Glad you're enjoying the Helios lenses, and well done on adapting yours!

[@markharris5771]

I got a Zenit E with the Helios 44-2 for £15. The camera needed a little cleaning inside, but nothing too daunting and the light meter is about half a stop down. The lens is immaculate, and I've mentioned before about using it with macro rings. The wonderful thing about you knowing what you are talking about, is that you attract comments from others with experience of these lenses and cameras. Another great camera that a lot of research has gone in to, thank you.

[@zenography7923]

You can find these lenses very cheaply on Zenit cameras if you look carefully - as you have discovered! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@McRuessel]

I do own a Helios 44-3 and it has a stepless aperture ring though. Maybe it is a matter of age, when the lense was made.

[@zenography7923]

There were many different versions made - no doubt some mixing and matching took place!

[@d.r8425]

Nice video. The 44-3 does have a preset/stepless aperture. I have one.

[@zenography7923]

Ah, didn't realise that, thanks for the correction!

[@davidheadonvisualsandsound]

ooh err! gonna keep looking in charity shops then! I bloody love these Russian lenses!

[@steveeaster493]

Good review. Keep them coming. Many thanks.

[@zenography7923]

Cheers Steve, thanks for looking in.

[@UltimateTuner10]

I got a Helios 44 Zebra BelOMO, 58mm F/2.0, M39, I actually accidentally bought it looking for the 44-2. Is this still a good lens? It’s a 1970 make

[@AlexLeeder94]

Did the Helios 44-2 kmz m42 8 blade version come in silver ? Thankyou !

[@barrycohen311]

Very well said mate. I have an old 44-2. Excellent lenses.

[@tonybaker55]

Good review. I have just bought a 44M, as video is not really my thing. Also expecting a 44M-4 soon, but aware that the aperture control pin needs some tweaking, as by this time the Zenit cameras automatically controlled the aperture, so manual control is just not possible on a modern camera, as the aperture will not close without the pin being depressed.

[@zenography7923]

Would the pin not depress when mounted on an adaptor, allowing aperture adjustment?

[@tonybaker55]

@@zenography7923 not on a Sony A mount adapter, as the pin sits inside this. Simply cut about 3mm of the inner ink tube of a ballpoint pen and slide it on the pin, so when the back cover of the lens is replaced it forces the pin to push on the lever. Simple but effective.

[@onenightintaipei554]

thanks! great how you showed the photos you had taken.

[@zenography7923]

Thanks, glad you liked it!

[@seencere7284]

very first silver version (m39) from 1950s had 13-or-something-blades aperture, perfectly rounded. thus bokeh remains perfectly nice throughout f-stops range. downside: it has blue-cast single coating and produces yellowish cast on photos.

[@zenography7923]

I've just bought one and will be trying it out soon!

[@markharris5771]

I bought a 44-2 on a Zenit-e with the Olympic logo for £15 for an 'Antique' shop in Northumberland, and it’s very clean. The camera is in mint condition, which I know isn’t always a good sign with a FSU camera. But who knows? I fell very lucky with my Zorki 4K. I’ve ordered some tubes and I’m planning on using it solely for macro. My Zorki 4K is my designated 50mm camera and all my other cameras have 50mm or 50mm equivalent. I’m not sure what will happen to the swirl but hopefully it will increase.

[@zenography7923]

You'll always get plenty of swirl with a Helios - it's their trade mark! Hope you're enjoying those Russians.

[@markharris5771]

Zenography My Zorki 4K is easily my favourite camera, above my 5DIII or 7DII, it’s a joy to use. Thank you.

[@MrSimonj1970]

I bought a very tidy 1980 44M for £20 last week (2024) - bargains are still out there!

[@kafkaian]

Remember one of these, or similar, on my Zenit-E (Moskva 1980 Olympics edition) SLR. Couldn't wait to get rid at the time as I was saving up for my Nikon FM2 and lenses (the body of which was stolen in about 1985). Wish I'd kept my old Russian stuff now, but my late father had the Zenit and Helios until his death in 2006, but the lot then went missing. Oh well Thanks for the video and a trip down memory lane Ian, Birmingham, UK

[@zenography7923]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching.

[@infamismworldwild6248]

Very informative, thank you

[@zenography7923]

Thanks!

[@ianhand5006]

I’ve bought an FD to M42 adaptor so that I can use my Helios 44 on my Canon A-1.

[@barrycohen311]

"Now you're cooking with peanut oil" :-)

[@donaldong3924]

Thanks for the video, after viewing this video I straight away purchased the Helios 44M-4 online. But just realized what type of adapter should I purchase for attaching this lens to my Nikon D700?

[@zenography7923]

Well, it's a bit tricky to adapt vintage lenses to Nikon cameras - the cameras have a very short flange length and most vintage lenses need a larger one, so, it will mount, but you won't get infinity focus. You need an adaptor with an extra glass element to provide correction; they're available on ebay. M42 to Nikon - with the corrective element!

[@QuicksilverSG]

I have a similar 58mm f2 44-2 with dual aperture rings that was retrofitted with a Nikon F-mount. Focuses out to infinity and I believe this is the only way to adapt a Heios to work on a full-frame Nikon camera. The Nikon mount makes it usable with an MFT speedbooster as well, producing an 80mm equivalent FOV at f1.0 on an MFT camera.

[@zenography7923]

Hi there, these are tricky to adapt to modern Nikons, but it sounds like you've gone about it the best way. Enjoy your Helios, and thanks for watching.

[@philhodgkinson1460]

You are a very wordy person Nigel... and maybe its something to do with comic writing you mentioned at some point... Been straining my brain to recall something you said about.. loving the gear you use camera wise and getting close it... that sort of thing... help would be appreciated thank you in advance....cheers!

[@zenography7923]

The thing is, I can't help appreciating some machines - cars and cameras being two examples - and I do kind of find a bond with them, which makes them easier to use, more natural, more like an extension of yourself. The fact that I've been fascinated by cameras from a young age helps too! I hope that makes some kind of sense!

[@arsulaksono881]

I want one, probably 44-2... because it seems most popular

[@zenography7923]

Get one! I promise you won't regret it!

[@lincolnfajardo7287]

Thanks for all the wonderful info. I have a question about filter size. The Helios lenses are marked M52x0.75. Is this compatible with the 52mm typical filters or is different Russian system? Thanks.

[@zenography7923]

Your Helios needs a 49mm filter. Glad you're enjoying the channel!

[@lxhk3595]

Not only the machines were brought to Soviet Union, but also workers and engineers. Just for the sake of completeness.

[@georgeparkins777]

I just bought a 44-2! The focusing ring won't turn, but it was 3 dollars and there are tutorials for opening it. Worst case scenario it has damage to the helicoid and I wasted 3 dollars. Best case I have cool new Soviet glass!

[@zenography7923]

It's really simple to clean and lubricate the H44 and 44-2 - there's a video on this channel on stripping it down.

[@mikelborrega5821]

Thanks for your videos. I have one 44-2 and it is my favourite lens because of it’s character. Could you recommend me other lenses with such an special look or character?

[@zenography7923]

If you're looking for a characterful lens, the one that springs immediately to mind is the Helios 40 85mm f1.5. If you like kooky lenses you'll love this one! There's a review of it on this channel if you're interested...

[@alexblaze8878]

Can you tell me which version you have? There are 3 of the 44-2 lenses. The KMZ The MMZ And the Valdai. This is a horrible lens that produces a milky haze over every image. It has the worst optical AND build quality of the 3. See here to determine which one you have: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5-tY2ZjnpuVndk

[@samuellawrence3239]

I need your suggestion for a lens in the vicinity of 500-600 mm for wildlife photography. Vintage lens, M42, for use on Canon DSLR. I'm not a pro, and photograph only for the love of it.

[@zenography7923]

I'd like to help, but I'm afraid I have no experience with lenses as long as these, unfortunately.

[@LeendertCordemans]

Is the Helios 44 lens special made for the Zenit's at that time or where there other Russian cameras branches who's has the same working?

[@zenography7923]

The Zenit was the only camera I know that came with the Helios, though there may be others, Zenit was the main brand they were fitted to.

[@Enrico2806]

Very interesting review, thanks. Just out of curiosity (if you don't mind): do you own all of the cameras/lenses your review in your videos?

[@zenography7923]

Some I own, some are loaned to me!

[@LeendertCordemans]

A question. Can you do a review about the Zenit 3M? I ask this, because I like your reviews and you do this very well. There is little few reviews on internet or books.

[@zenography7923]

I plan to include it in a review soon - it's a very nice little machine!

[@KIFQHESE]

And one more funny fact. You might have noticed I use Helios 81 with Nikon body. I used to have Nikkor 50/1.8, but it was rather poor performer, so I gave it away and got the Helios. I'm happy that I've done that and I'm OK with the photos in terms of IQ this lens delivers.

[@zenography7923]

Never tried the Helios 81, though I've heard it's pretty nice. I think image quality is to some extent subjective too... All depends what you want and what you find pleasing. Thanks for looking in.

[@neilpiper9889]

I have a Zenith EM which has an M version which of course has an aperture pin to make it automatically stop down when you take the shot. This pin is a problem with some converters.

[@zenography7923]

The later Helios lenses can be sometimes tricky to adapt; apart from the pin, the body of the very latest ones sometimes won't fit on an adapter.

[@mike1140]

I have a 44-3 with the stepless aperture ring.

[@zenography7923]

A very nice lens, hope you're enjoying it!

[@huwpenson2678]

perfectly out of focus ,, very arty

[@zenography7923]

Imperfectly out of focus I'm afraid, should've checked the autofocus more carefully; sitting 3 feet away from a 2 inch screen with 50 year old eyesight is not the best recipe for sharp focus! Still, let's pretend it's intentional and arty... :)

[@mkphotonet]

@@zenography7923 It’s still not clear to me. I can’t see that the M39 mount is smaller.

[@philhodgkinson1460]

Think I have 4x Helios 44 variants...the oldest one looks different to newer ones I have to say....relatively speaking....

[@KIFQHESE]

Good to see you back! Thanks for the video! One remark: Helios is a lens for magical, moody photos, that's it. If you're looking for fast, sharp normal lenses, there are simply other options known for this virtue. Same goes for 'everyday' lenses, Helios 44, sharp or not, native mount or adapted, misses open aperture metering convenience.

[@zenography7923]

It's true, the Helios isn't perfect, but then which lens is? I find image quality to be a very subjective thing. An image, in my opinion anyway, is a metaphor for reality, and reality itself, at least as we experience it, is probably a metaphor for something else. Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for looking in.

[@barrycohen311]

Boo hoo hoo. Don't be gay! Helios is the best lens ever made.

[@puebloviejodetampico]

gracias , amigo

[@zenography7923]

Many thanks for watching!

[@SnapographyAP]

How does it compare to the original Biotar?

[@zenography7923]

Check out the most recent video for the answer!

[@worldadventuretravel]

Unfortunately, the prevalence of KZbinrs talking about these and mirrorless geeks looking for vintage videography has sent the prices on all these lenses through the roof. You're better off buying a Lensbaby Optic Swap system.

[@maxgrau9083]

I got 44-3 does it indicate Thorium ?

[@zenography7923]

No, as far as I'm aware there's no thorium, or any radioactive element, used in any Helios lens.

[@borderlands6606]

One supplier kept sending me 39 thread SLR lenses for my rangefinder, in the belief all lenses of that thread pitch fit, and the examples must be faulty. Fortunately he let me keep them. Need to find an early Zenit to put them on now. I'm amazed the Helios sells for 50 quid, a few years ago every charity shop in the land had a few knocking about. Does the name Helios denote all Biotar copies, such as the Contax/Kiev fit Helios 103?

[@KIFQHESE]

While Zenit 3M is a brilliant little camera, with something like 80% frame coverage and simple ground glass it's not really comparable to Japanese bodies, you know. Cool piece, but not a versatile tool. You can use M39 to M42 adapter, the lenses have the same register and should work just fine, at least in theory. Not all Helioses are derived directly from Biotars, its a general name for (post-) Soviet Gauss-type normal lenses, but optically and mechanically these are different designs. Take 81H - no swirly bokeh to my eye, it's optically closer to one of Japanese designs. If you're looking for swirly bokeh, one of earlier ones, with recessed front element, seems like the the safest bet IMO.

[@Lawful_Rebel]

Borderlands I found an M39 converter for M42 cameras on eBay for a few pounds, it works a treat.

[@Lawful_Rebel]

Luke J My first real camera was a Zenit E, it still works perfectly and I still use it as often as I can.. It's great to go out with a no frills camera, a manual lens and a roll of Tri-X sometimes.. no distractions ☺️

[@KIFQHESE]

I started my photography with a Smena :D I find impossible to frame and focus reliably with all Zenits. For me this is distracting.

[@zenography7923]

That supplier sounds like a silly fellow, but an easy mistake to make I suppose. I'm not sure about the other Helios lenses but wouldn't be surprised if they owe at least something to the Biotar design - it's stood the test of time after all. By the way I do have an M39 Zenit body available at the moment in nice condition, with case - email me at [e-mail] if you're interested. Thanks for looking in.

[@gintarasstgintaras4546]

good...

[@alexblaze8878]

Nigel, please advise viewers to avoid the “Valdai” version of the Helios 44-2. There are three versions of this lens based on the factory in which it was made… Valdai (the worst one by far-avoid this lens as it produces a milky haze over every image) MMZ And..KMZ Both the KMZ and MMZ are great but the Valdai has the worst optics AND the worst build quality. See here to understand how to tell the difference in the versions. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5-tY2ZjnpuVndk FYI: The credit for this knowledge goes to the YT channel “Retro Foto House”

[@Lawful_Rebel]

Great to see you back with another video. I've recently acquired a very nice Helios 44-2, they're a pleasure to use, after a period of getting used to manually stopping down the aperture, I overexposed a few frames thinking the Spotmatic would do it for me. I've only tested it with film I was testing at the time (AGFAphoto APX 400), but I'm looking forward to getting out again with it soon, it, an old Jupiter 37A and a Mayer-Optik Lydith have become my favourite SLR lenses ☺️. A test shot with the Helios: flic.kr/p/U3DFo3

[@zenography7923]

Glad you enjoyed the video, the 44-2 is a lovely lens; I always shoot wide open, so no worries about stopping down! Thanks for looking in.

[@mikafoxx2717]

The Helios 44m and 44m-4 etc will have a pin to close the aperture like the spotmatic lenses do. Just don't go putting a spotmatic Takumar lens on a Zenit-E, I did and it got stuck because of a tiny pin that caught on the screw holes in the zenit mount.

[@bambi--5]

'No lens is like it with the swirly' Not true... my Rolleiflex 2.8 with a close up filter has the swirl...

[@rjmatter]

Received my Helios 44-2 today. Beautiful lens. Very well made. Here is an indoor test shot: bit.ly/2FvnTbR. Can't wait to take it out on the street with a film camera.

[@zenography7923]

Nice shot. I must admit the Helios is the lens I use the most, not the most technically advanced but a unique look to the images it makes, and a good looking lens too.

[@norbertstepien9185]

Very interesting videos on Russian lenses. A question I have is what was the quality control like, ie variations between lenses?

[@zenography7923]

Well, some say there's great variation in the quality of the Russian lenses, however I must say I've never found it to be true in my experience. I may just have been lucky, but all the Russian lenses I have are good.

[@andreihossu2749]

Stopped at 0:33. Why is it so difficult, especially for self proclaimed photo historians, to learn the pronounciation of Zeiss? Open the Wikipedia article about Zeiss and click the audio file to hear the pronounciation. It cost you half a minute.

[@zenography7923]

Hi Andrei, I use the anglicized pronunciation of 'Zeiss' as it seemed appropriate for an English language channel; I hope you won't judge me too harshly!

[@andreihossu2749]

@@zenography7923 No souch thing as anglicized version of names. A name is a name is a name, it has no versions. What is you real name? I would like to use the germanised pronounciation of it. Well... I would like to "judge" the video and its content. Who know, maybe it is good. But somebody claiming to have thoughts about photo history and does not know German at least at the level of pronouncing correctly the few words often used in this thematic is for me like a physician not knowing latin. He also has not the tool to communicate with others from his speciality.

[@alinazang6651]

@@andreihossu2749 you should spell in English properly, and your English grammar is atrocious.

[@marianl8718]

Russian propaganda.

[@acalciu]

Booring...

[@zenography7923]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.

[@Ofiouhos]

why so depressed?

[@toremali6957]

he's not depressed, he is a thinking man unlike you obviously