For one time, I make a transgression in this blog devoted entirely to analog. But it is not so strange, because the passion for vintage photographic gears leads, inevitably, to accumulate lenses, thanks to appropriate adapter, can also be used on digital cameras, taking advantage of some positive features . One of these is the Bokeh, which is the practical result of the reduced depth of field (D.O.F.) using wide apertures.
Often, the “vintage” lenses have very specific bokeh (that many love and many despise), sometimes due to their own optical defects but which may cause an enjoyable effect. The Helios 44 is a 58 mm f/2 mounted (with several variations) as standard lens on many Soviet cameras. In this case, I used the one that accompanied the Zenit 11 I mentioned in a recent post.
For a few Euros (less than 10) …. I bought an adapter ring M42 -> X Mount Fuji and so I could test this lens on a Fujifilm X-E1. I mainly tested the bokeh but, as you can see in the last two shots, I also assessed in a “normal” use. The use on the Fuji was, of course, fully manual, both for time & aperture, as for focusing. Using the Focus Peaking feature on the camera is wasn’t too difficult focusing carefully also wide open.
Bokeh proved pleasant (at least for me): typically “Swirly” (i.e. circular) in certain situations and at the widest apertures (f/2 and f / 2.8), while it is soft, mellow and progressive when stopping down a bit (f/4 or f/5,6).
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(Versione Italiana)
Per una volta, faccio una trasgressione in questo blog interamente dedicato all’analogico. Ma la cosa non è poi tanto strana, perché la passione per gli strumenti fotografici d’epoca (fotocamere ed obiettivi) porta, inevitabilmente, ad accumulare lenti che, grazie ad opportuni adattatori, possono essere utilizzati anche su fotocamere digitali, sfruttandone alcune positive caratteristiche. Una di queste è il Bokeh, ovvero il risultato pratico della ridotta messa a fuoco utilizzando diaframmi molto aperti. Spesso, le lenti “vintage” hanno dei bokeh molto particolari (che molti amano ed altrettanti disprezzano), a volte dovuti ai loro stessi difetti ottici ma che possono provocare effetti piacevoli e divertenti. L’Helios 44 è un 58 mm f/2 in dotazione (con diverse varianti) ad molte fotocamere sovietiche. In questo caso, ho usato quello che accompagnava la Zenit 11 di cui ho parlato in un recente post.
Per pochi euro (meno di 10)…. ho acquistato un anello adattatore M42 -> Fuji X Mount ed ho potuto così testare questa lente montandola su una Fujifilm X-E1. Ho cercato principalmente l’effetto sfocato ma, come si può vedere negli ultimi due scatti, l’ho anche valutato in un uso “normale”.
L’utilizzo sulla Fuji è stato, ovviamente, completamente manuale, sia per le accoppiate tempi/aperture, che per la messa a fuoco. Grazie al Focus Peaking presente sulla fotocamera non è stato però troppo difficile focheggiare accuratamente anche ai diaframmi più aperti.
Il bokeh si è dimostrato piacevole (almeno per me): tipicamente “Swirly” (cioè circolare) in determinate situazioni ed ai diaframmi più aperti (f/2 ed f/2,8), mentre è morbido, progressivo e pastoso chiudendo di un paio di stop.
Tech data:
Camera: Fujifilm X-E1 – Lens: Helios 44M 4 58mm f/2 – Postproduction: Images from Jpeg files corrected for contrast/luminosity. A little bit of sharpening added.
Interesting use of the centre swirl. The background emphasizes the statue in a fine way!
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Thanks! That was exactly what I wanted to. Unfortunately. the distance from foreground and background wasn’t too much. A little bit more I could have obtained a better effect… 😉
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The Helios is a classic lens. I have a few myself. The earliest example I have has an M39 mount and was made specifically for the Zenit 3M. The 3M was a hybrid mix of the Zorki RF camera and the early Zenit SLR design, thus the mount is not the regular M42 it later became. I suspect that this early copy will produce even more swirl, being an early silver version. Here are my photos from a later $$M-2 version: http://sjp.id.au/oldgear/helios-44-lens-review/
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I’ve just got a Zenith 3m and the Helios 44 2 M39 mount is on the way home…. 😉
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Beautiful! I managed also to pick up the M39 Jupiter 11 for it. It’s the super chunky version !
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I’m on the lookout for a Mir 1 37mm and then, maybe a Jupiter 9…. 😉
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