Helios 44-2 

I swear this is one of the best channels on youtube

The aperture lock is actually for brighter/better focusing. Let's say you want to use f11 so you set the lock to f11. Since f11 being a pretty "dark" aperture, for focusing you wanna open the lens up all the way to f2. Then when you are ready to take the shot you can quickly close the lens back down to f11 without looking at the lens itself (cause you have locked it there). Hope that makes sense. Cool videos, keep it up!

his thanksgiving shots... on december... cant wait for the christmas footage on valentines

Your picture at 4:41 is amazing man, can definitely see why that would be your all-time best.

Helios? Heli-yes

One of my favourite lenses. I think with more vintage lenses you kind of accept there will be softness and different quirks but that's a big part of their pull.

It’s also worth mentioning the higher the “dash number” (44-2, 44-4, 44-7 etc) the sharper they are. If the aperture lock puts anyone off the 44m variant has a conventional aperture ring and an auto/manual stop down switch. Great vid as always!

I've only watch the first 13 seconds of this video so far. That may be the best opening to a RU-vid video I have ever seen

My favorite part of this video and all other film photography videos is the photo of the side of a building.

Thank you for healing my mental health

I'm so glad this came up in my recommended! Not only was this video well made.. I LOVED your commentary. You've got yourself a new subscriber :) I've had my helios for almost 2 years now and it was my go-to lens for a while. I just love the look, it even gives digital photos a sort of softness that I love from film.

I have the Helios 44-2 lens and have been using it off and on for the last 55 years. It is an amazing optic and incredibly versatile. Works best with a very deep and very large lens hood. As it has ultra low contrast, it takes a lot of getting used to. When it comes to bokeh, it’s a Biotar - get over it, and stop down to the sweet spot of f2.8 - not f2. At f8 to f16 it really sharpens up and becomes a lot more contrasty. Personally, I love the colour rendition. If it came to it, and my only option was one lens for the rest of my life ...... it would be the KMZ Helios 44-2.

I love your videos so much! Your sense of humor is gold!! keep uploading :)

You are insanely good at what your are doing, whatever it is that you are doing. Thanks, looking forward to new videos.

One of my favourite vintage lenses. Love that swirly bokeh!👍

killer shots man. great vid , as always

These lenses have such a dope look and the deer pic is so good man 👍

The best picture you took of those elk, looks amazing, top notch lad.

Ah amazing, another video. I have every version of this lens and love it for stills and video. 44-2 is defo my fav. Has much lower contrast than the other 2. It's much cheaper here in the U.K.. I find it at car boot sales all the time for £5 Or less

Self deprecating humour with healthy dose of sarcasm leads to a new subscriber. Great video, nice presenting style.

Freaking awesome videos, Have seen a bunch, learned a lot and I'm laughing the hell out of them!!! Respects!

The idea of the aperture lock is that you select the aperture you want, But focus wide open, this allows for a lot of light through the viewfinder and it helps focusing When you are ready to take the shot, move the ring to stop down and shoot

Glad to see the channel growing.

I use my 44-6 on a digital aps-c sensor, gives me an 87mm equivalent and still keeps some of the swirl, great for portrait. I never used an earlier version, like the 44-2, but some people say that the later versions have a sharper center wide open, mine looks really sharp, but a slightly less pronounced swirl.

As usual, your videos are so funny yet educating😂😂😂

Can you please dedicate an entire video taking nothing but Baxter photos Thanks

dude i love this video, it's as good as the office !

Love my Helios. Thanks for the video ! Bought mine on Ebay. It was 'de-clicked' and had focus gears applied for about $100.

Your photographs are incredible man.

Are you the best photographer in the world? Nope but who is? What you are is an awesome humble human who makes me smile every time I get a notification that there's a new vid up. There's clearly a lot of thought, effort and passion put into these videos and your photography. Your deadpan sense of humour is also very refreshing and I wish more film photo channels were a little more like yours. Wishing you more subs and views in the new year!!! That's all folks.

Bro that deer pic was insane!!! Looks beautiful

I use the same lens on my Sony a7iii, and images are looking almost the same as it would be shot on film. I love it!

Thank you for having a sense of humour bro ❤️

Dude, you posted the video right after I got the lens. Didn't even watch the video yet and I know it's going to be interesting.

Hey man your videos inspired me to shoot film during my time in quarantine.. now that I’m back to work I just bought a Canon AE-1 Program (promise I won’t go too skynet) and the Helios 44-2 M2.. didn’t need the camera but since you inspired me I did it for you! ps. Also got working light meter w/ motor drive and batter pack (:

My personal favourite. I bought a soviet Zenit E SLR 35mm camera for 25€ and it came with a Helios 44-2 and it's honestly one of the best lenses I've ever used

Allready have one and I love it.

I have one of the 13 blade silver ones on a Minolta srt 101. Love it. Chunky metal beast with a chrome lens 🤙

i don't any thing about film or film cameras. I stayed for the humor and because I thought the title said Halo as in THE XBOX Halo. I'm subscribed. BAM!

I think you're amazing. You're very skilled mate

I love your humour!

I no longer shoot film, but we have similar subject interests, and I do love old school photos. Love your channel.

last time I came so quick I was at the premiere of cats

You had me subscribing at “an aggressive amount of leopard skin”. 😂👌🏼

love your vids!

Always wanted to try that lens !

Best intro ever!

Finally some M42 love

This is great, you're great. Subbed

When the RU-vid recommendation comes in clutch

Baxter stan account, checking in. I've always been curious about getting one of these. Guess I should.

I have three of these lenses and I do love them I hadn’t used them in a while but mine are sharp and backgrounds are dreamy with bokeh :)

Love your style, all shill and all

Great video as always! Love the Helios! Mine is converted to Nikon F mount incl. infinity focus capability (which normally isn’t possible bc of the flange focal distance)

Cool video as usual

you're my favorite youtube channel

Thanks for the perspective

Hey! I started watching your videos recently, and it got me interested in film photography. I managed by sheer luck to find a Zenit 122 in a thrift shop for €50. It came equipped with this lens, and I'm really enjoying using it so far.

I got a helios 44 + Zenith EM for 30 bucks, glad to know its paid itself now. This is a very nice lens for video when adapted on a digital camera. ps. I wanna hug your dog.

I like it dude.

I like it man!!!!!!!!

Helios - Гелиос!) Спасибо чувак)

Beautiful,beautiful lenses these are.For a moment one can go:”it’s a bit like Mirror innit…..”,honestly with the ‘bloom,and flare,but i agree portraits are best,very kind to faces.

woah, this is my first ever and favourite lens of all time mate! I'm using it on a Zenit 12XP, cause it's really hard to adapt it. just like it's hard to adapt to all my adult responsibilities.

This video is the Christmas present I asked Santa for, thanks Santa

Great video

3 minutes into the video I bought one for my AE-1, so yeah, I'm convinced

So, crazy story. I won’t tell it now, but I will say, I live in Paso Robles. Right there. I was picking up everything that you were laying down. Fun to see another photographer’s images of the town I live in. Not saying I’m the other photographer. That’s Ted. You & Ted. So thanks. And now I’m going to look up the Helios.

Mine arrived yesterday after being lost by the USPS for 5 months. My lens has made 3 trips across the Atlantic before making it to my door. There was the original shipment, then the trip back to the Ukrane because the USPs only reads postal codes not the name of the city onnthe address and cant figure out a package was sent to the wrong post office. USPS sent it back to the Ukrane for trip 2 across the Atlantic, 3rd try across the Atlantic and some how it made it to my door. I took a couple photos and saw the same softness you spoke about. Thanks for the tips.

very funny, keep up with the good content

For pictures, either the 44m-2 or the 77m are good, but for video, the 77m is a better choice. It's 50mm instead of of 58mm, retains the crazy bokeh, and it's faster. It's also double the price, but it's worth it IMHO.

i have seen alot of reviews and cideos in this lense this was a nice unique fun and funny take epic

I had all versions from 44-2 to 44-7 but was not enthusiastic. In the contrary, still have the 44 silver version, which I consider a really great lens. Although it has the same optical formula with the 44-2 series, delivers images closer to my taste.

Great review! You mentioned that the two copies of the M42 Helios you bought were soft - I notice that they are both copies from the Valdai plant (Soviet equivalent of Walmart home-brand), you should try and find a Helios manufactured by KMZ/Zenit (same logo as your M39 version) - they're often of much higher quality.

Haha, don’t listen to your therapist. Keep going 😉 another great video!

i love your joy

Oh this video is so relaxing after a day of sports and a cool shower on a hot summer day, in an air conditioned room, of course.

Was very surprised to see this lens in your reviews. I prefer some more modern like Helios 44-7 seems more sharp to me, also I have some modification of 44-K4 for Pentax. And they do not have the shitty lock of aperture and I can definitely advise to give them a second try :)

So excited to hear there is a m42 to fd adapter

Hey Jason, i LOVE your channel! i've binged just about every video you've put out over the past few days. I had a question about something you said in this video about getting the perfect exposure (about 7:20). How exactly does that work in practice on an AE-1? What exactly are you referencing on the AE-1 light meter to know when the exposure is correct with the method you suggested? do you ride the aperture until the needle is at 5.6? I was under the impression that needle simply points to what aperture the camera wants you to use? Sorry if that seems like a dumb question. Thanks for the great content.

Baxter just too cute !!

Love these bois, I have a normal one and a fake anamorphic modded one (aperture was replaced with an oval shape boi so it looks like your shot was expensive even tho it was like $45). The Helios 44M is also kind of hot and less swirly/soft but I broke mine bc I thought I could handle cleaning dust out of it.. I could not.

Great video. Thanks for sharing it. Have you try the Helios 40-2 85mm 1.5 ?

Your best photo was nice

I am years late to the party, but that aperture control design you call ass-backwards is actually why all the "F-stop" terms exist. You are stopping down the aperture. You put the F-stop ring to where you want it, focus and stop down your aperture before shooting. Of course automatic aperture made all this fuss obsolete, later Helios 44 versions had auto-aperture prong on their mount. I'd highly encourage everyone to try the newer multi-coated versions. They have noticeably better contrast and sharpness wide open while all the swirly swirl is just the same - only the coating changed.

6:33 I bought a 44-2 a good couple months ago and only realised now that there's an aperture lock...

Well, at least you have very good taste in bourbon. Haven't tried a Helios yet. Played with the Minolta Rokkor 58/1.2 for a spell and the Canon FL 55/1.2...kept the Canon and use the 55 on my film and digital gear.

Actually black lenz that you have its 3rd version like ps3 slim - cheaper and got some cons. Second is made in Minsk and got white marking instead of green. And its well made without any oil inside and give a little more contrast.

Reverse the front element and see what happens.... I bought mine on EBay for $30. It shipped from Russia. It took 6 months to get to me. The "package" was round and white and the size of a softball. Removing the white plastic revealed that the lens had been wrapped in pipe insulation. But the lens was in great condition.

The older versions allegedly are sharper than the newer ones. There are tales that the ones produced under Stalin's time had better QC because they would literally throw workers in the gulag if they though they were doing a bad job manufacturing the lenses.

This lens is great but between my takumar 50mm f1.4 and the voiglander apo lanthar its the odd man out. the takumar is the best hands down IMO. Soft lenses are underrated tho I got my buddy to pick one up for his first lens on an a7 I sold him so he didn't break the bank as a noob

Me courting my crush: “There might be a little ghosting...”😂

It must vary between versions as mine looks like it was used as a clay shooting disc but its razor sharp wide open.

Hey Jason! When you say that you "You can actually get more accurate exposures this way - by riding the aperture dial until the light meter on the camera says you're perfectly exposed" - what does "the light meter on the camera says you're perfectly exposed" actually look like through the viewfinder? My AE-1 Program just shows me "suggested aperture" numbers, which seems a little hard to parse.

What kind of glasses are you wearing if you don't mind me asking? They are dope.

3:08 favourite part ! Hello !also a hellios shooter :)

The 'original' Helios 44 was also available in M42 (it was without the preset aperture afaik) - but 60$ for a 44-2 seems a bit much (sold my last one with a Zenit E for 30€).

hahaha Loved the Intro

fuck fuck fuck. i was doing research on this lenses for the longest, happy to see you did a video on it. best channel on the tube of yous

If i have a canon egos 650, which is a ef mount, would i still have to purchase an adapter to be able to use it with my camera