🇺🇦 RARE KMZ Helios-44 – early m39 ZTM lens with 13 aperture blades of aperture, s/n 0083766

$189.95

RARE silver Helios-44 58mm f/2.0,13 blades of aperture!

Signature slightly swirly Biotar bokeh

MADE IN USSR!

Ships from 🇺🇦Ukraine with tracking number

1 in stock

Soviet HELIOS-44 58mm f/2.0 vintage m39 ZTM lens
MADE IN USSR!

This is an early copy of Carl Zeiss Biotar 5,8cm f/2.0. silver barrel, m39 ZTM, still 13 blades of aperture!

Standard fast 58mm f/2.0 lens for  early Zenit SLRs, can also be used on for photo & video o modern digital cameras via adaptors: Canon, Nikon, Sony NEX, Olympus Pen, Panasonic G, Canon EOS M, Nikon 1, FujiFilm X-mount etc.

The m39 ZTM are lenses for early Zenit SLR cameras – flange distance is slightly different from the later adopted commonly known m42 standard.

As a result this lens will not quite reach infinity focus when used on m42 cameras or via m42 adapters – but this is only noticeable on open apertures.  When stopped down to f/11-16 the increased depth of field covers the whole range, including infinity focus!

Of course using this wonderful vintage lens shooting landscapes would be a misuse. When used for portraits one would not feel this limitation.

Helios-44 series of lenses comparing to kit zoom lenses

Helios-44 is a vintage soviet line of fast fixed focal length(prime) lenses, in high demand nowadays for their fast aperture(f/2), which opens up a world of possibilities for photographer – selective focusing, low light photography, great portraits with vintage feel and beautiful bokeh courtesy of Carl Zeiss Biotar formula in use; for their ability to be mounted on various camera systems via affordable and easily available adapters.

 

HELIOS-44 comparing to other Helios-44 versions

The Helios-44 is appreciated most of all for it’s 8 blades of aperture, which create more natural looking bokeh(later versions of the lens although often sharper have less blades in aperture, rendering highlights in the background as less natural shapes).
Helios-44 also has silent(clickless) and gradual(stepless) aperture control ring – great news for videographers.

m39 Zenit Thread Mount
49mm filter thread
8 diaphragm blades

F/2-16 max-min aperture
50cm minimum focusing distance
6 lenses in 4 groups
220g of weight
38/20 line per mm optical resolution
(center/edges)

The m39 ZTM lenses are lenses for early Zenit SLR cameras – flange distance is slightly different from the later adopted common m42 standard.
As a result this lens will not quite reach infinity focus(noticable on open apertures), but when stopped down the increase depth of field covers the infinity focus.

We include m39 to m42 step up ring to enable usage of the lens with modern m42 adapters:

NEX adapter – for Sony NEX E mount cameras
Fuji X adapter – for FujiFilm X-mount cameras
Micro 4/3 adapter – for Panasonic G, Olympus Pen etc
EOS M adapter – for Canon mirrorless cameras
Nikon simple adapter & infinity adapter – on Nikon (D)SLR
Canon EOS adapter – for Canon (D)SLRs
P-K adapter(or infinity) – on Pentax K-mount cameras

Also available “tilting” adapters for Micro 4/3, Fuji X and Sony NEX E and many others here

Creates beautiful Biotar style bokeh –

out of focus highlights are rendered as beautiful discs(in the right conditions),

making the background swirl slightly.

13 blades of aperture translates into nice organic bokeh on any aperture – much better then the later eight  and six blades Helioses.

The lens s/n 0083766 is in very good overall condition.

Lens barrel has some visible signs of normal use/age.

Glass is clean and clear – has no fungus, no haze.

Rear lens’ coating layer has visible micro scratches / scoffs which is hard to show on the product photos but it’s reflected in the reduced star rating.
Two air bubbles are also present in the lens – which is acceptable and does not affect image quality.

Some internal dust is also present, but will not have any effect on photos.

Mechanics are excellent – focus is smooth and uniform.

Aperture blades are free from oil.

 

Comes with both lens caps + m39 to m42 step-up ring included.

Optics:
★★★★
★ ★★☆☆☆

Mechanics:
★★★★
★ ★★★★★

Appearance:
★★★
★★ ★★★☆☆

Overall:
★★★★
★ ★★★☆☆

This product ships from 🇺🇦Ukraine with tracking number

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