Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 Review
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The Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 lens is a quirky and fun lens to use, especially for portrait pictures. It offers great sharpness and contrast when used on a full-frame camera. The bokeh is unique and swirly when used at the right distance, and it is worth the low price.
On a full-frame camera, the lens offers sharpness and contrast when used at the right settings, making it great for portrait shooting. It's a fun lens to use and the low price makes it a good buy, especially for those on a tight budget.
Pros
- Unique swirly bokeh effect
- Great sharpness and contrast on full-frame camera
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Low contrast levels at wider apertures
- Blurry corners, especially on APS-C camera
- Noticeable flaring and drop in contrast when shooting bright lights
The lens also has a unique swirly bokeh when used at the right distance, although this effect is more noticeable on a full-frame camera.
The Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 lens is a true vintage lens that offers a unique shooting experience. It can be found on eBay for as little as 10 pounds, making it a great budget option for photographers. The lens was manufactured from 1958 to the 90s, and this is the nicest variety that the reviewer could find on eBay, made in the late 80s and in tip-top condition. It is a manual focus lens with a massive 300-degree focus ring that is a pleasure to use. However, the aperture control can be confusing at first, as it uses an older aperture design with two rings that turn in different ways.On a full-frame camera, the lens offers sharpness and contrast when used at the right settings, making it great for portrait shooting. However, the image quality quickly falls off in the corners, displaying incredible softness. The lens also has a unique swirly bokeh when used at the right distance, although this effect is more noticeable on a full-frame camera. It's a fun lens to use and the low price makes it a good buy, especially for those on a tight budget.The lens suffers from low contrast levels at wider apertures and corners remain quite blurry, especially on an APS-C camera. The bokeh is dependent on the camera used, with a swirly effect on full-frame and a more normal bokeh on APS-C. Additionally, there is noticeable flaring and a drop in contrast when shooting bright lights.Overall, the Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 lens is a quirky and fun lens to use, especially for those looking for a unique shooting experience on a budget. It excels in sharpness and contrast when used on a full-frame camera, and the swirly bokeh effect is a bonus for creative photography.
The lens excels in sharpness and contrast when used on a full-frame camera, and the swirly bokeh effect is a bonus for creative photography.
Source
This article is based on the review by
Christopher Frost
Christopher Frost is a YouTube channel dedicated to providing in-depth reviews and analyses of photography equipment, particularly lenses. Christopher Frost, the creator and host of the channel, is known for his thorough and detailed evaluations of various lenses from different manufacturers, including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, and others. To learn more, please visit the channel here.