…t incredible in so many ways. There are many versions of this lens with the 44-2 model being the most common. All versions though were based on the amazing Zeiss’s Biotar 58mm, which explains why Helios 58mm is so well regarded. It’s always the first lens I recommend to anyone wishing to try out vintage lenses. It pretty much has it all including the beautiful dreamy flares, very unique swirly bokeh and a great sharpness (providing you get lucky w… Continue Reading
…l know that I absolutely love vintage Russian lenses, especially the Helios 44-2. When I started using the BMPCC though, I suddenly found that my favorite Russian Trio suddenly became a set of telephoto lenses, all because of almost 3X crop on the pocket cam, so I started looking around at what other Russian lenses could give me a wider field of view. I even posted a question online, but no luck. After a quick search on Ebay, I ended up buying a M… Continue Reading
…nvinced me of the need to pick lenses that were interesting were the Helios 44-2 58mm F2 and 40-2 85mm F1.5. They were sharp all the way open and also happened to create a swirling, mesmerizeing bokeh at the same time. I knew that I had to shoot on them. With the swirly and rapidly decreasing sharpness from the center to the lenses edges, they both felt the most dreamy. The flare on both, especially the 40-2, is difficult to control, but it’s what… Continue Reading
…y back in 1954. It was manufactured in USSR (along with my favourite Helios 44-2) and was mainly made in 2 mounts, M39 and more popular M42 (although both are adaptable to modern cameras). The design of the lens was based on Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm f/2.8 and unlike Helios 44-2 was not a complete clone, but using same optical formal as Flektogon 35mm f/2.8, which is definitely a good sign considering how much more affordable they are than ju… Continue Reading
…me) in combination with 2 taking lenses I’m very familiar with, the Helios 44-2 (my favorite lens) and Dollonds 135mm F3.5 (one of the first lenses I tested). The 3min video above is full of amazing footage shot in beautiful, often golden hour light, bringing the best out of the setup Sam uses. Below is compelling insight to into his anamorphic journey and the Sankor 16F itself. Over to Sam: It was JJ Abram’s Star Trek that sparked my interest in… Continue Reading
…finally answer this question. My top 3 most used vintage lenses are: Helios 44-2 58mm F2 Canon FD 50mm F1.4 Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm F2.4 I don’t want to repeat what was said in the video above, so here are my additional thoughts about each lens. Helios 44-2 58mm F2 – The Character Lens. I’m not going to be original when I say this is my favourite lens. I use it every time I get a chance to! It really does make anything look good, thanks to… Continue Reading
…hould become one? 😀 ) LUX-GEAR improved the focusing experience with Helios 44-2, especially with a PL mount at the back which obstructs the tiny focusing ring I’ve been using LUX-GEARs for just over a month now and so far they work great. It’s hard to say how long they will last, since their rubbery material, (high-durometer silicone to be more precise) is obviously not as though as metal, but they cost accordingly too and if I need to replace on… Continue Reading
…pecially at F2.8. It doesn’t have as much character as the legendary Helios 44-2, but in its own way it’s just as nice and is more suitable in certain situations, especially when using this lens in combination with modern lenses. Same goes for the contrast, which is very high for a vintage lens at this price point. Again completely opposite to Helios 44-2 which goes into a dreamy/low contrast/flare mode when pointed towards a bright light source…. Continue Reading
…characteristics of such lenses. In fact, one of the main reasons why Helios 44-2 is one of my favorite lenses is because the flares this lens produces are absolutely amazing. Not many lenses come close! Below a talented editor, filmmaker, blogger & of course vintage lens fan Vashi Nedomansky is sharing with us his top 4 vintage lenses with amazing flares. All 4 are very affordable and can easily be bought for under $100/£50, some even for under $5… Continue Reading
…bad thing, but those of you expecting the dreamy character found in Helios 44-2 and other Russian lenses will not find the same magic here. Again, this doesn’t mean this is a bad lens, in fact it’s more suitable for many projects because it matches modern lenses much better and its character is more suitable for general shooting. EDIT: I’ve made a silly mistake my holding the focusing ring and rotating the lens, which made me think the front elem… Continue Reading
