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Russian 50mm prime lens

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TheGreen
Posts: 504 - Karma: 41
Hey guys, I've read in a thread pretty recently about a lens and I was interested in it, but I couldn't remember the brand to save my life.

I'm 95% sure it's a russian brand, and it's based on a zeiss model. It's a 50mm and I'm pretty sure it's a f/1.8. I think it's a old lens too.

It was a cheap lens but it had amazing bokeh and was really nice for the price.

Thanks and +k for any kind of help
Aug 31 2010 9:24PM
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Jacuse
Posts: 1792 - Karma: 1,549
Helios
Aug 31 2010 9:41PM
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50in07
Posts: 3070 - Karma: 1,471
I made a thread about Contax Zeiss lenses if thats what your thinking of. I Sold them though.
Aug 31 2010 10:03PM
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TheGreen
Posts: 504 - Karma: 41
YES that's it, thanks a lot man
Aug 31 2010 10:21PM
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TheGreen
Posts: 504 - Karma: 41
and sorry for the double post, but since they're around the same price, what would be better between the Helios 50mm f/1.8 and the canon 50mm 1.8?
Aug 31 2010 10:27PM
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MANDER
Posts: 4017 - Karma: 2,038
It all depends on your style. I have personally never used one but I think I remember Landis saying something along the lines of: The helios techinally has a ton of flaws in many peoples eyes, but many people (like Landis) things these flaws look very good and artistic. The canon will give you a more "normal" image, when the helios will make your bookeh look like artistic paint brush strokes. It really depends on the look you are going for. But I should let Landis chime in...
Aug 31 2010 10:50PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
Your doing something wrong if they are the same price. I think I overpaid and I got a Helios 44 and Nikon adapter for $36 shipped.
Aug 31 2010 10:56PM
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TheGreen
Posts: 504 - Karma: 41
yeah based on what you said I think the helios would be better for me, cause I really like the look of it from what I've seen for what I want to use it for.. but I'll wait for more info, I'm pretty tight on cash so I don't wanna waste it
Aug 31 2010 10:58PM
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Bill.
Posts: 254 - Karma: 36
I've never seen a 50mm helios, but there are a lot of 58mm helios lenses out there.

I beleive there is also at least 3 variations of the 58mm. from what i recall it is 44m-2, 44m-4 and 44m-6. The one most people try for is the 44m-6, it produces the artistic bokeh that is so sought after, although the other ones are still great. I think it is based on the zeiss biotar 58/2.
Sep 1 2010 12:30AM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
Helios 88 is 50mm 1.9, what do you know about the 44m-2 bokeh, thats the one I bought for $36..
Sep 1 2010 12:48AM
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Bill.
Posts: 254 - Karma: 36
I know that there are a few different 50mm helios lenses, but you don't see them as often as the 58's. I've never seen a 88m in person but I've heard good reviews. To tell the truth, I do not know the differences in the 44-x lenses. I've only heard from forums, and have a friend with a 44-6.  Don;t quote me on this, but i think it has to do with the coatings.

If i get some money, I hope to pick up a couple of the differnet lenses to do a fair comparason, then keep just the one i like the most, but they seem to run anywhere from 20-60 bucks a piece. but i already have multiple fast 50's and 55 super tak
Sep 1 2010 1:10AM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
Yep. I paid a total of $25 for my Helios 44-2 + fotodiox M42 adapter. They are cheap as hell, and amazing! They have so much character; the bokeh gets distorted to look like impressionistic brush strokes. It's very contrasty, colorful, and surreal. I love the trippy images I can get with this. I've shot with all sorts of $1k+ Canon L primes and I love this $25 lens much more than any of them.

Foliage from Mikko Kämäräinen on Vimeo.

Sep 1 2010 2:25AM
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family_vacation
Posts: 6200 - Karma: 7,840
huh? most of the ebay listing cost about that much just for shipping. the shipped price tends to be like 40 or so. Am I just bad at this?
Sep 1 2010 2:30AM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
maybe luck? it was a buy it now item at $20 for the lens + $5 for shipping to Alaska.
Sep 1 2010 2:33AM
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family_vacation
Posts: 6200 - Karma: 7,840
probably luck then.

it's either buy it now for 25 plus 25 for shipping or like 40-50 with "free" shipping.

I guess I'll keep looking.
Sep 1 2010 2:35AM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
Either way, $50 for a lens this awesome is a fucking steal. I might pick up a 44-3 just because I love em so much.
Sep 1 2010 2:46AM
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TheGreen
Posts: 504 - Karma: 41
Now I get why it was so hard to find a helios 50mm, they exist, but they seem pretty rare. But I'm definitely gonna look into the 44-2, seems like a lens I'd enjoy
Sep 1 2010 10:51AM
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fuck.your.tits
Posts: 935 - Karma: 20
how can a lense that sick be that cheap?
Sep 1 2010 3:56PM
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TheGreen
Posts: 504 - Karma: 41
I'm pretty sure it's because the cheaper design and technical flaws are what make it that sick
Sep 1 2010 5:13PM
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MatRich
Posts: 4789 - Karma: 1,813
hmm my threads.. the lens I saw looked sick
Sep 1 2010 5:40PM
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IanAvery-Leaf
Posts: 9931 - Karma: 9,400
it baffles me

uniformed buyers think the new lenses with auto focus and VR/IS are better, but if you dont need those extra features then old glass is ≥
Sep 1 2010 7:34PM
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*simba*
Posts: 9125 - Karma: 512
Just purchased one.
$35.00 shipped...






from Ukraine.
Sep 26 2010 6:49PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
Enjoy waiting for 3 weeks..


seriously.
Sep 26 2010 6:55PM
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*simba*
Posts: 9125 - Karma: 512
Get it the fuck right.
It said 31 to 40 days.
lol
Sep 26 2010 8:04PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
oh fuck. ha I waited about 3 weeks. Then again his feedback said quick with shipping soo?
Sep 26 2010 8:14PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
Shipping to AK always takes forever, unless it's from Russia! Mine came in 5 days.
Sep 26 2010 8:20PM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,248
traveling backwards around the world? preposterous!!
Sep 26 2010 8:30PM
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*simba*
Posts: 9125 - Karma: 512
yo. nice.
I might be going to college in AK.
just sayin.
Sep 26 2010 8:41PM
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*simba*
Posts: 9125 - Karma: 512
Just got mine in the mail!
Click for larger image

This kills the color though. The pumpkin is actually a really deep orange.
Oct 8 2010 4:50PM
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MANDER
Posts: 4017 - Karma: 2,038
The lens kills the colour or the internet does?
Oct 8 2010 4:52PM
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*simba*
Posts: 9125 - Karma: 512
Internet.

To save time I also just uploaded to facebook then put it here, so I'll try Flickr to here if it fixes the color.
Oct 8 2010 4:59PM
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Rob_G
Posts: 817 - Karma: 2,377
What an amazing lens, the bokeh is insane.

Found this on google.
Click for larger image

Oct 8 2010 6:16PM
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EthanJPAskier
Posts: 1668 - Karma: 248
Anyone know what adapter to buy to use the Helios 44-2 with a D40?
Oct 9 2010 8:59PM
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*simba*
Posts: 9125 - Karma: 512
http://cgi.ebay.com/M42-Lens-NIKON-Adapter-D700-D300-D80-D90-D60-D30-/190441263345?pt=Lens_Accessories&hash=item2c572f10f1
Oct 9 2010 9:06PM
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EthanJPAskier
Posts: 1668 - Karma: 248

Perfect! thanks dude +k

Oct 9 2010 9:10PM
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MADDECENT
Posts: 5579 - Karma: 951
This lens, it seems amazing
Oct 9 2010 9:33PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
whoa. Thats awesome.
Oct 10 2010 2:40AM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,248
once I get an 85 1.8 and something to cover a 50ish lens range I'm selling my 50 1.8 for one of these
Oct 10 2010 2:41AM
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family_vacation
Posts: 6200 - Karma: 7,840
I'm bidding on a 44-2 right now!
Oct 10 2010 2:48AM
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family_vacation
Posts: 6200 - Karma: 7,840
Got it! 36 shipped for the 44-2 and an old zenit camera.
Oct 10 2010 1:43PM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,248
shoot some 35 too
Oct 10 2010 3:25PM
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MANDER
Posts: 4017 - Karma: 2,038
tempted to pick one of these up soon.
Oct 10 2010 3:27PM
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family_vacation
Posts: 6200 - Karma: 7,840
Maybe. The camera is pretty busted and I already have a decent nikon 35.
Oct 10 2010 7:13PM
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bootleg_BEN
Posts: 2499 - Karma: 44
Just bought a mint one with three filters, with the adapter totalled 50 bucks. What a sweet lens. I got it yesterday after a long wait, but after snapping some test shots i can tell this is going to be a fun lens to use. Plus it says made in USSR on it, and its awesome just for that.
Feb 1 2011 2:37AM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,248
haha thats baller
Feb 1 2011 3:02AM
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LBJJ
Posts: 683 - Karma: 1,730
thats wierd that exactly how i got mine too
Feb 1 2011 9:04AM
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Bryan*
Posts: 1818 - Karma: 115
will this work with my T2i?

http://cgi.ebay.com/HELIOS-44-2-2-58-Russian-Lens-SLR-M42-Pentax-DSLR-/170597540304?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item27b867e1d0#ht_5148wt_1141

with

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&safe=off&q=M42+Lens+to+canon+t2i&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=6004135545366081685&ei=RCpITY-gO4KglAfS1IStBA&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDoQ8wIwBA#
Feb 1 2011 11:09AM
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Bryan*
Posts: 1818 - Karma: 115
will this work with my T2i?

http://cgi.ebay.com/HELIOS-44-2-2-58-Russian-Lens-SLR-M42-Pentax-DSLR-/170597540304?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item27b867e1d0#ht_5148wt_1141

with

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&safe=off&q=M42+Lens+to+canon+t2i&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=6004135545366081685&ei=RCpITY-gO4KglAfS1IStBA&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDoQ8wIwBA#
Feb 1 2011 11:09AM
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bootleg_BEN
Posts: 2499 - Karma: 44
yes that is pretty much what i got. i got a fotodiox adapter also but mine was a black finish. But its the same m42 mount to Eos.
Feb 1 2011 11:39AM
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steep
Posts: 6063 - Karma: 298
soo, wait, do i need an adapter if i buy a helios to fit my t2i?
Feb 1 2011 3:20PM
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IanAvery-Leaf
Posts: 9931 - Karma: 9,400
yes
Feb 1 2011 3:25PM
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