Helios-44 Macro Photography

In this video I show portraits and macro photos I have taken with the Helios 44M-4 lens, which is a 58mm f/2 lens of Soviet design known for its characteristic swirly bokeh.

Stuff I used to take the photos in this video:

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[MicaelWidell]

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[mdschulz]

I learned to shoot macro with a new style 44-2 that had been modified to have 16 aperture blades. My subjects were lady bugs and bumble bees. Pretty early on I figured out that adding a teleconverter to my stack of tubes provided a lot of range as well as versatility - there seemed to be a much greater sweep of the focus range that was in the useful zone for me. Stopped down, the lens is simply amazing... Though I have to admit the 16 blades is primarily responsible for the bokeh remaining attractive. I have since acquired a 44-3 and 44m-7 - all of which are very nice but the 44-2 remains king of my macro lenses year after year.

[АндрійАбрютін]

I recommend using Arsat H 1: 2 50mm produced in Ukraine instead of Helios. The Arsat H has a Nikon mount and does not need adapters from the M42 and even has an Exif. Its design and price is exactly the same as that of the Helios.

[Oholisfliesandfishing]

I have helios 44m-7 58mm, last version they made. It doesnt have as swirly bokeh but it has good sharpness.... So if anyone needs that sharpness can take that one. I am thinking to get one of older versions.... Its truly a lovely lense.
Thank you for another great video 🍻🍻🍻

[geekinthegarden]

You can get a m42 to E mount focusing helicoid. When put at its shortest it acts just like a plain adapter letting you take photos as normal. Crank up the tube and it extends out shifting the max focus from infinity and giving you the macro capabilities. Makes it easy to switch from macro to portrait and back again without having to unscrew the lens.

[neuroniuans]

I lived in Sweden for only 8 months (most of it in winter) and I've never seen boring conditions there - there is somehting special about the light that no matter what it works great.

[martinunterluggauer]

Hi Micael. I use this lens with extension tubes too and I love the soft effect. It also works great with a manual reversing ring. To make macro art it doesn’t always have to be sharp. Thank you for your inspiring videos.

[geekinthegarden]

You can get m42 to E mount focusing helicoids which are basically the adapter with a built in adjustable extension tube. Fully collapsed it acts like a plain adapter but once you start to extend it the tube gets longer and the macro capability gets stronger. That lets you go from portraits to macro and back again without having to unscrew the lens.

[dutu]

it is VERY sharp, but you have to get the focus absolutely perfectly. It's as sharp as a Sigma 16mm 1.4 (I have both)

[chorton]

Thanks for this video ! I was looking for one like this.

[SinaFarhat]

Helios 44 är en kreativ och fint verktyg!
Skärpa är inte dess styrka men jag sätter den på min analoga Canon 1v så skärpan blir mindre viktig då mitt film val styr skärpen och körnet mera!

[DominikMarczuk]

I've sort of phased away from macro photography recently and usually take a vintage manual prime with me for a photo walk to shoot some plants or landscapes (and test the lens out, as I've a number of them that I still haven't properly tried out). This video makes me want to slap some extension tubes on the camera again :).

[Fessoid]

Try f2 - its the swirly bokeh story.
Also 44-2 with 13 blades is the most unique exemplar of Helios.

[nickteb.]

You can open up the back of the lens and turn around the midlle element it turns it into a macro lens no extension tubes needed

[keyadventure]

To avois the fixed extension tube, You can get a helicoid m42 adapter, that way you can focus from infinity to more than 1:1 macro.

[dimitrisplastiras]

I have a 2 and a 7. Love tthem both, although I use more often the 7 because the 2 has stiff focusing

[benjaminmesa]

I am more of a sharpness first macro person, but it's not a half bad lens. Thank you for this video!

[MathieuStern]

Wow, thats some really good results, and it's not even the good version of the lens :)

[wojtekgrabowski]

Hi Micael. I just came by to say thanks for another video and ask you one question. With that helios or for example with my sigma 17-50 f2.8...i use these lens but without extension tubes. sometimes on f2.8 sometimes at f 3.5 - but question is. is this macro photography? i know its not very important how somebody calles it-but i was wondering about "definition" of macro. i guess just simple close up of nice nature detail can also be type of macro shot. dont you think?

[stellplatz]

Hi Micael, have you ever used the Helios (or any other lens) with a helicoid adaptor? That is a kind of variable extension tube. You can get one on Amazon or ebay.