Helios 85mm f1.5 ( helios 40 ) m39

[AlexMax]

Hi,

Afaik, not all m39 glass is rangefinder coupled, in fact, not all m39 glas isLeica compatible, for instance, the Paxette m39 glass has a bigger registry distance than the lsm m39... So, what I want to know is wether the Helios 40, being an m39 mount, isLeica lsm compatible in terms of focus, and rf coupled.

Does anyone know better.. ??

Best,

Alex

 

[ruby.monkey]

No. It's designed for an SLR (early Zenit). Registration distance is the same as that of the M42 universal screw mount.

 

[DNG]

This? http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/reviews/helios-40-2_85mm_f1-5_review.html

This is for the early Zenit SLR that had a m39 threaded mount, and, no RF coupling. you can adapt it to DSLR and SLR cams.

sample of lens IQ

Swirly Bokeh at f/1.5 with the right BG

At f/1.5, wrong BG for swirly effect

 

[AlexMax]

Awwww... 😡

Too bad it won't fit in my leicas, ( and bessas ), having an f1.5 without precise focusing, sort of, defeats the purpose... 🙁

...oh well... 😛

Its a pity, I just luuv fast glass..

 

[f16sunshine]

M39 is a reflex lens
L39 is Leica screw mount (LTM)

The paxette a rangefinder and is 39mm screw thread but, as you state correctly has a different register to LTM.
There are few lenses for the system and mistakes are uncommon.

Be careful when looking for Russian glass especially. There are several M39 lenses. Many are excellent but all M39's are for reflex cameras.

The Helios 40 and 44 are Zeiss Biotar Clones for M39 Cameras (1.5/85 and f2/58mm respectively).
You will find some with M42 mount as well as find M39 with M42 adapter rings.

Cheers!

 

[ruby.monkey]

Awwww... 😡

Too bad it won't fit in my leicas, ( and bessas ), having an f1.5 without precise focusing, sort of, defeats the purpose... 🙁

...oh well... 😛

Its a pity, I just luuv fast glass..

M39->M42 adapters are readily available and there's no shortage of good M42 SLRs out there.

 

[AlexMax]

If Clint Eastwood would use Leica Rangefinders, this would prolly be his outfit... 😛

 

[AlexMax]

They came upside down... Damn...

 

[AlexMax]

This is a Komura, 200mm, with a 2x teleconverter, rangefinder coupled 🙂

In short... I use a 400mm telephoto in my M5, along with the Leitz 400mm finder... 😀

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Although I believe most of the Japanese manufacturers fell into line, bear in mind that not all M42 SLRs have the same lens register. The difference was not usually great but Eg. Contax S/D and some early Prakticas from memory were slightly different. It's usually tolerable but depending on which lenses go on which body sometimes you will be able to focus slightly beyond infinity or not quite get there.
Cheers
Brett