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The Helios 58mm is actually a clone of the Carl Zeiss Biotar 58mm f2 (ok, now you see where this is heading). For photography lovers looking for a camera lens that captures clear foreground images while providing unique and beautiful bokeh affects, the Helios 44-2. It was the prime lens of many Soviet Era cameras (most notably the Zenit cameras). Images of the Helios 44-3 were kindly provided by S. The Helios 58mm f2 is one of the most manufactured lenses ever. The swirly bokeh is fairly distinctive of the Helios optic. The 85mm Helios is also is surprisingly affordable as photography gear goes. It is also preferred version of many users as it delivers more stable results and has a slightly shorter minimum focusing distance of 50cm. One of the more affordable vintage lenses that gives a distinctive bokeh and is also a perfect portrait focal length, is the Soviet made Helios 40-2 85mm f/1.5 lens (for Canon / for Nikon ). The Helios 44-3 is the latest installment of the Helios 44 lens variation. How good the quality control on these lenses is and how representative these data are of an average sample I dont know. Aperture settings: f2 – f2.8 – f4 – f5.6- f8 – f16 Konica 50mm Hexanon f1.7 - this lens is very sharp wide open and very inexpensive, dont think its radioactive (is the bokeh any good) Nikon 50mm f/1.
#Best bokeh lens helios lenses manual
Contrary to the Helios-44-2, this version has a manual / automatic aperture switch. The bokeh from those 2 lenses are just to die. In Australia, I found this Helios 44-2 for 80 AUD. The last, and perhaps most important, reason is that it is possible to find some really good quality vintage lenses for a very low price. If you are looking for a manual lens for portrait photography that is compatible with your Nikon SLR/DSLR, then Helios-40-2 would be the most suitable portrait lens for you. Helios-40-2 Vintage Lens Manual Lens 85mm F1.5. this results in a less circular aperture, which in turn slightly degrades the bokeh. The Helios is a lens made for film cameras, so it requires manual focus when used on a digital camera. Focal length is 55mm covers up to 82.5mm. The Helios-M has a different type of aperture blades as these are bent upwards. The Helios-44M feels a bit more solidly build than the 44-2. It can't and shouldn't be the be-all and end-all of the photo, cuz then you might as well just shoot without a lens and all and get ultimate bokeh.Image taken from the original Soviet manual of the Zenit-E cameras that were exported There are a few versions of this lens, and it's easy to get the wrong one. The aforementioned catalyst for my love of vintage glass. Lenses are easily mounted on modern cameras with appropriate. Pentacon 135mm f/2.8: 'The Bokeh Monster'. an added bonus or an aid for drawing the attention in an otherwise interesting photo. An excellent feature of these lenses is soft, warm images and swirling/blurred backgrounds (bokeh). or a 50mm f1.8 on a speedbooster on a mirrorless camera can do it even more.Ī mega expensive leica or voightlander f0.95 lens can get killer bokeh too.Ī mid range prosumer camera with a kit lens can be coaxed into making bokeh on certain types of shots, although using a more telephoto lens makes it easier.Īll of these cameras can do a wonderful job of making excellent bokeh, but their photos will be absolutely different, as will their ease of use, the type of photos you can get, and of course the price range goes from like $15 for some vintage film camera to $15000 or more.īokeh is like. They were made at different manufacturing plants over that time, and there are several iterative versions. These lenses were manufactured between the late 1950s through the early 1990s. The focal length of 58mm is a bit unusual but comes in handy for portraiture shots.
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The lens itself is also reasonably sharp when stopped down. It is a Soviet-era copy of the well-regarded Zeiss Biotar lens formula. Known by many for its swirly bokeh, the Helios () 44-2 is one of my favorite lenses for so many reasons. As all lenses that are based on the Biotar formula, the Helios 44 has an interesting twirling bokeh. My Galaxy S6 gets shockingly pretty bokeh when used to take macro shots of small things.Ī medium or large format film camera with a nice long lens can get incredible bokeh.Īny camera with something like the sony/minolta 135mm lens with the apodization can get incredible bokeh.Ī 400mm lens even at f8 can get incredible bokehĪ 50mm f1.8 lens can do it. The Helios 44, and all its variants, is a 58mm f/2 lens (minimum aperture is f/16).
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