Amazing Bokeh and Resolution from a Helios 103!

[amateriat]

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

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


- Barrett

 

[ishpop]

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!

 

[johannielscom]

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 ...

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.😛

But, aren't they threading onto an LTM-to-M adapter so you can choose framelines by choosing an adapter?

 

[jonmanjiro]

But, aren't they threading onto an LTM-to-M adapter so you can choose framelines by choosing an adapter?

I think the new adapters are M-mount only. Not sure if he has an LTM version yet. See here (link).

 

[jonmanjiro]

Not to take anything away from Dingo of course. It's very impressive that he made his own adapter!!!

 

[Dingo]

Not to take anything away from Dingo of course. It's very impressive that he made his own adapter!!!

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 :

o

 

[former member]

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:

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

 

[Dingo]

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

 

[35mmdelux]

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.

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.

 

[former member]

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.

 

[lorriman]

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.

 

[35mmdelux]

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.

 

[hans voralberg]

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.

Brian there is a lot of stalk there, the diagonal one I guess, lovely pic all the same!!

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

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??

 

[Dingo]

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??

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.

 

[NickTrop]

Geez - now you got me looking at Kievs on eBay, after I swore off buying more cameras. Curses! Great pics.

 

[former member]

Brian there is a lot of stalk there, the diagonal one I guess, lovely pic all the same!!

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.

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

Please post some more photos from this helios lens...

 

[former member]

More photos with the Helios-103 and Menopta 53/1.8.

 

[januaryman]

Great shots Brian. Time for me to blow the dust off my Kiev, I'm thinking. It's been a while.