Helios 103 questions

[former member]

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.

 

[lkgroup]

Here are some pictures that I took with the Helios 103 that Brian made from a Kiev Mount to a LTM mount for me.

These were taken with the Helios 103 lens on a G! Digital camera. these were at F5.6.

 

[lkgroup]

Some more pictures taken by the Helios lens. The toy truck is at 1.8 in my garage. All of the pictures came out quite nice.

Leo


Opps, how do I change the direction of the pictures?

Got the directions figures out.

 

[Trius]

All told, I think getting a Kiev with a Helios is a really good idea. I'll worry about any conversion later. 🙄

 

[lkgroup]

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

 

[januaryman]

Jim,we shared the same thoughts.........Robin

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]

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

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.

 

[former member]

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.

 

[Murray Kelly]

Ah-ha! How curious. 🙂 My two are of the latter series then.
I thank you for the info.
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.

 

[varjag]

Murray, you might be confusing it with Helios-44 SLR lens, which is indeed 58mm.

 

[Murray Kelly]

Good thinking - I have a couple of those, too. I was sure I'd seen it somewhere round here.
Murray

Murray, you might be confusing it with Helios-44 SLR lens, which is indeed 58mm.

 

[Spider67]

There is also a Helios 81m f2/53 in Nikon Ai mount for the Kiev 19.

 

[Peter_Jones]

I now feel the need for a Helios 103 🙂

 

[Murray Kelly]

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

There is also a Helios 81m f2/53 in Nikon Ai mount for the Kiev 19.

 

[januaryman]

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.