Helios lens for free#

Its does add a bit of time, but this is the most precise way. Then, when you want to focus, open up the aperture to f1.5, focus on your subject, and then go back to f16. If you want to shoot at f16, for example, best set the clicked aperture ring to f16. The best way to focus the Helios-40 is wide open. Focusing is an interesting thing to do with the two aperture rings. I mentioned it already, this lens is a very old design. If you are walking around with this lens and are using just a wrist strap, you will certainly feel it later. The lens is very heavy–almost like I am holding a Sigma 300mm lens in a much smaller package. There are no electronics of any kind present on the lens, so nothing can go wrong in that department. It’s an old design and that shows–both in terms of optics and mechanics. The Helios-40 stands well apart from any other 85mm lens on the market. It’s not a Zeiss lens, but it has personality. The Helios is built from metal and glass, and you can feel it. It’s a bit tight on my copy, but it allows for smooth focusing. The focusing ring, located further towards the back of the lens, has a knurled surface and is thus easy to use. It takes a bit of thought to use at first, but you do get used to it.

Helios lens for free#

The second ring allows for free aperture movement between f1.5 and whatever f-stop you set the first ring to. The first ring has stopped positions which go from f1.5 down to f22. If you do not have have a good camera strap, your arm will feel this lens. With a 67mm thread, the lens has a screw-on lens cap which protects the front glass element. This is a big Russian lens, and it has a decent amount of weight to it. One of the most important tools during the testing phase were my black rapid straps–this lens is heavy on photo walks. I also used the Panasonic GX7 with a Fotga adapter for this review. The setup was usually put on a Brian 3 Legged thing tripod as well as a Manfrotto 682b monopod. I used a Nikon D700 and D90 as well as a Sony A7 with a Metabones adapter to test this lens. It’s easy to misfocus this lens, especially wide open.One speck of dust on the lens can ruin the whole image.An M42 adapter isn’t needed as it’s an actual F-mount lens.Depth of field and compression work together for an amazing effect.Recently, Zenit started making the lenses again, using modern mounts including Nikon, Canon and Pentax. Helios-40 lenses were clones of the Zeiss Biotar lenses, just like many other Soviet-made lenses were clones of European designs. These cameras were M42 mount, making their lenses compatible with other cameras using the same mount. Helios is an old Russian lens brand which used to come with Zenit cameras. We test new lenses all the time here–but in the nooks and crannies of the photography world lenses like this still exist. This lens, which originally dates back to the 1960s, is a passport to old school photography. After doing some research, I decided to take a chance. A friend said I should try it after they found out I was looking for a Nikon 135mm f2 DC. Out of the past comes the Russian-made Helios-40-2 85mm f1.5.