Amazing Bokeh and Resolution from a Helios 103!

I hear thundering hooves in the distance, converging upon a certain auction site...

(Oh, dear, I'm about to hit Post #3000...)


- Barrett
 
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Hi Dingo, so cool you did this DIY adapter!

I realize I am in the minority, but I find the bokeh distracting and unlasing, go figure!!! :)

Regardless, I love these types of experiments. Thanks!
 
jonmanjiro said:
Amedeo has taken his adapters to a whole new level recently! The new locking system for internal mounts is brilliant. Wonder if he can add a lever or something that would also allow you to select different framelines ...
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His adapters surely look brilliant, he creates them himself from scratch, no existing mount refurbishing there, and it shows. All self-machined solid brass, chrome coated. Pure adapter porn.:p

But, aren't they threading onto an LTM-to-M adapter so you can choose framelines by choosing an adapter?
 
jonmanjiro said:
Not to take anything away from Dingo of course. It's very impressive that he made his own adapter!!!
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Thanks! BTW this adaptor is the most successful DIY project finished so far.

OK, one more shot posting to show the bokeh from the lens :

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I shimmed my Menopta 53/1.8 for the Nikon S-Mount, moved the optics module out 0.5mm in the mount. The Menopta is the export version of the Helios-103.


Wide-open on the Nikon S3:

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Also- I used a Sharpie permanent marker to blacken the aperture blades. Really cut down on flare when using the lens stopped down.
 
Brian,

Nice works and lovely bokeh! I think you would agree this lens knocks out a whole lot of fifties regardless of prices, and should price be a factor Helios 103 is the no.1.
BTW, among all 50/f2 Kiev lenses, my J-8 from 1955 is my 2nd best choice, what do you think?

Dingo
 
Dingo said:
Quite a lot of questions to answer :

1. All shots were taken in f1.8, that's why I was so amazed by the resolution.
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AFAIK the tonality & sharpness rivals the most expensive 50s. This is the mouse that could, David over ... [who was David over? forgot]. Most definitely a jewel.
 
Dingo- 1955 J-8 is a really great lens.

But I went with a 1955 J-3 for my Contax II...

Wide-open at f1.5, focus on the stalk running across the front.

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I also am not seeing such good bokeh.

The first photo, for example, has that vibrational bokeh that is so very undesirable.

The examples aren't a very good demo of bokeh in anycase. At least it's not as bad as flower-bokeh which makes even the worst lens look good.
 
Yes, in some instances there is "vibrational" bokeh, but otherwise fairly smooth & consistent. Not bad compared to some other lenses out there, which have consistently horrible bokeh. Of course, if you drop $2000 for a Summicron or $4000 for a Summilux then it gets better. But that's not what we're talking about here.
 
wow wonderful colors and sharpness with great bokeh, I could not believe in my eyes. People buy macro lenses worth 1000 bucks to get this resolution...

Which year of production your lens Dingo??
 
LeicaFoReVer said:
wow wonderful colors and sharpness with great bokeh, I could not believe in my eyes. People buy macro lenses worth 1000 bucks to get this resolution...

Which year of production your lens Dingo??
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It is a 82 Helios 103, unbelievable quality for such a low price. Brian, btw, you are so lucky to get a 55 J-3!!!

It seems Bokeh is always a hot topic to discuss here. To me there is no good or bad bokeh at all, it is so subjective, some people say Cron 7 element is King of Bokeh, what do you think? As I said on the first post, the Bokeh of this lens amazed me, that's it and I wanted to share with you guys.

I'll try more Russian stuff on M8 and let you know if I find anything interesting.
 
hans voralberg said:
Brian there is a lot of stalk there, the diagonal one I guess, lovely pic all the same!!
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That diagonal one- I had just shimmed this lens for the Contax II and wanted to check it out.

I've had the best luck with the 1950s J-3's. This 1955 J-3 had some internal fungus that cleaned up quite well. The hard coating came out undamaged after cleaning with ammonia. It was the left-over part from a CZJ LTM conversion that I did for a forum member. This J-3 optics module now sits in a German Sonnar lens mount.

The Helios-103 Bokeh reminds me of the Summitar. Some astigmatism produces football "swirlies" when used wide-open and close-up. It settles down quickly at medium focus, and stopped down a bit. It's not boring.
 
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