One of the most well-known Soviet lenses, the Helios-44M is one of the classic ‘Nifty-Fifty’ lenses that the Soviets produced.
This lens, was modelled on the German Carl Zeiss 58mm F2 Biotar design. However, the Soviets had to redo the optical design to use Soviet glass in the calculations. The Helios 44M was introduced in 1975, manufactured in different factories across the USSR, including the KMZ (Zenit) and Valdai plants. The lens boasts excellent bokeh characteristics, low levels of coma and distortion, and minimal chromatic aberration, all of which are attributable to its Carl Zeiss Biotar lineage.
The Helios 44M lens is known for its central sharpness, even at f2. However, the corners of the frame can be less sharp. Optimal sharpness is achieved at around the f8 to f11 range. The lens has eight aperture blades, and the build quality is commendable, with a durable metal and glass design. Despite some possible cleaning marks on the front and back optical elements of my copy, the lens is robust and can withstand drops. The focus ring is easy to turn, and the aperture clicks every half stop.
Adapting the lens to modern cameras is easy, particularly for mirrorless cameras, due to its M42 filter thread. The Helios 44M lens imparts its own character onto the image, with beautiful out-of-focus highlights and the famous swirly bokeh effect. It performs worse with backlight in the frame, but chromatic aberration is well-corrected. The Helios 44M shines in video production, where its bokeh can be fully utilised.
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