Leo sent the Helios-103 to me to figure out a way to make it into LTM. And it had to be "cost effective", meaning using a focus mount that could be found for fairly cheap. Buying a Summarit to convert a Helios-103 is "not cost effective". So- the Focussing helicoid for the Collapsible lenses was the way to go. They can be found for under $50. It was a lot of work, and a real "Hack". The Helios is too big to fit into a J-3, such as I used for Raid's Luxon. Now, I'm trying to figure out a good way to mount a CZO 50/1.5 into LTM... The same Helicoid will work for it as well, but I've got a Summarit to play with. J-3 mount works for the pre-war and wartime CZJ 5cm F1.5's, but not the Opton lens.
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lkgroup
Guest
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lkgroup
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Trius
Waiting on Maitani
All told, I think getting a Kiev with a Helios is a really good idea. I'll worry about any conversion later. 
L
lkgroup
Guest
Trius,
You are so right. Get a Kiev and a Helios. I have a 1952 Kiev that has been to Eddie Smolov for loving CLA and works perfectly. I put Grip Tac cover on it from Camera Leather and use a Helios 103 lens for the main lens. A really good shooting camera..
But being what we are I had to have a Helios for my LTM cameras, so therefore the creation by Brian Sweeney of the LTM Helios.
Leo
You are so right. Get a Kiev and a Helios. I have a 1952 Kiev that has been to Eddie Smolov for loving CLA and works perfectly. I put Grip Tac cover on it from Camera Leather and use a Helios 103 lens for the main lens. A really good shooting camera..
But being what we are I had to have a Helios for my LTM cameras, so therefore the creation by Brian Sweeney of the LTM Helios.
Leo
januaryman
"Flim? You want flim?"
Yeah, you probably got on his waiting list first. I just need to dust off the Kiev that already has a sparkling Helios 103 mounted, and just do it.
Murray Kelly
Well-known
Brian, the lens is nominallly 58mm. Did you in fact have to alter the internals of the lens (eg move the front/rear groups closer) or did you accept the difference to the Fed and Leica (different) standard focal length in some way?
I have long wanted a H-103 in LTM as I've said elsewhere and even have some FSU lenses I would sacrifice for the project.
Thanks
Murray
I have long wanted a H-103 in LTM as I've said elsewhere and even have some FSU lenses I would sacrifice for the project.
Thanks
Murray
The Helios-103 is ~52.5mm and marked 53mm, same as J-8's and J-3's. For Leo's lens, I set it for a sweet spot of ~10ft, and then tested at 3ft and 30ft. The DOF covers the residual error well enough to use close-up and wide-open.
I did modify one Helios-103 for my Nikon by moving the rear element and then shimming. The earlier Helios' have a second shim for the rear module. Not sure about the later ones, after 1983.
I did modify one Helios-103 for my Nikon by moving the rear element and then shimming. The earlier Helios' have a second shim for the rear module. Not sure about the later ones, after 1983.
Murray Kelly
Well-known
Ah-ha! How curious. My two are of the latter series then.
I thank you for the info.
Murray
My two are of the latter series then.I thank you for the info.
Murray
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varjag
Guest
Murray, you might be confusing it with Helios-44 SLR lens, which is indeed 58mm.
Murray Kelly
Well-known
Good thinking - I have a couple of those, too. I was sure I'd seen it somewhere round here.
Murray
Murray
Spider67
Well-known
There is also a Helios 81m f2/53 in Nikon Ai mount for the Kiev 19.
Peter_Jones
Well-known
I now feel the need for a Helios 103
Murray Kelly
Well-known
No, those are definitely for the Zenith SLR. Prime. But I 'do' have an H-103 spare here that calls out to be mounted in some sort of LTM.
I have a retired tool maker friend with not much to keep him busy. Maybe I could stretch a freindship with that one? Have to seriously consider that.
Murray
I have a retired tool maker friend with not much to keep him busy. Maybe I could stretch a freindship with that one? Have to seriously consider that.
Murray
januaryman
"Flim? You want flim?"
I now feel the need for a Helios 103
Best cheap way to try one out is to get it from ebay with a Kiev 4AM as a rear lens cap. Not a terrible camera, a bit rough, but such a wide base you can't really NOT focus correctly. I think alex-photo-goods sold me mine. Which I still need to blow the dust off of, in order to start shooting.