Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 Lens (Oily aperture blades)

So, these are the aperture blades of the Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 lens I recently purchased online.

As you can see, VERY oily. :(

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[v4trogaSci]

Do you know how to clean it?

[kaouthiavideo]

@v4trogaSci You basically have to completely dismantle it, clean it, then put it back together.

[kaouthiavideo]

As far as the sharpest, it varies from lens to lens really. You could get a dozen seemingly identical 44-2 lenses, and some will be razor sharp even close to wide open, and some you'll have to stop down to f/5.6 or more to get rid of all the flaring and really see the sharpness.

The quality control wasn't as great back in those days as it is today. But, for what they cost, you can afford to buy half a dozen of them, compare, and then resell the ones that don't work for your style of shooting.

[kaouthiavideo]

@alextheromanian The difference between the M39 one and the M42 one is simply the size of the screw thread that mounts it to the body. As far as I'm aware they both still project the same size image (35mm film frame), so as long as you get the right adapter you should be golden.

The only one I've ran across so far that I've had to modify was the Helios 44M-4. The 44-2 works as-is, but the modifications to the 44M-4 were simple (I'll put a video up on how to do that at some point).

tbc...

[alextheromanian]

@kaouthiavideo can you tell me which version is the best to get???

i like the look and sound of the very first version that is all brushed metal...yeah they all look dirty but i think i can restore the exterior if the interior is ok.

which one should i avoid? aka the one which needs modification.

im also finding these im m39 and m42 mount(not the brushed one since that was pre m42 i believe)

the reason im asking is because i want to pick the sharpest best one

[UltraMusicSite]

@v4trogaSci art.photo-element.ru/ts/apertu­re_44-2/aperture_44-2.html

[DV51260]

This is a true soviet quality lens.

[fehlszene]

@kaou

I think the age of the "right price" is long gone now, the price will only climb. I rencently ran into one auction were a potential buyer asked the seller if he'd be willing to accept "buy it now" and he told him no, because he had already 40 people watching the auction

I think there are a lot of pros in these auctions, trying to get hold of these lenses to sell them at a profit later on. I think you can easily pay over 100$ for one of them, just try to outbid the pros. good luck ;)

[kaouthiavideo]

@fehlszene Indeed, been waiting for one of those to come up at the right price too. :)

[fehlszene]

@kaouthiavideo

True, but i need to save my money for a takumar 50mm f1.4 :)