Assessment: KMZ Helios 40, 85mm f/1.5 – Can the Legend Dwell as much as Its Fame?

Introduction

This time we check out one other famed classic lens, specifically the legendary Helios 40. It’s an 85mm f/1.5 lens, recognized for, let´s see if we get it from its many titles: The King of Bokeh, The Bokeh King, the Russian Bokeh King, The Funky Bokeh King, The King of Russian Bizarre Bokeh, The Classic Lenses’ King of Bokeh, and so on. and so on. and so on. Pricey baby has many names. You get it, it has a popularity for its bokeh. It is usually extremely popular amongst videographers in search of a dreamy classic look with stunning bokeh of their footage. Whereas this lens was fairly fashionable even again within the day, it has grown in recognition through the digital period to new heights and created sort of a cult round itself.

It was made by KMZ within the former Soviet Union for the Zenit vary of SLR cameras. Just like the beforehand reviewed “Helios 44”, there’s a perception that when Russians bought their fingers on Zeiss Jena manufacturing unit by the tip of WWII, they took again the expertise and drawings of many lenses to the Soviet Union, copied, and manufactured them. This one is believed to be a “copy” of Carl Zeiss Biotar 75mm f/1.5 from 1938. Whereas the optical formulation could be very related, it’s a widespread Double Gauss Planar design. Apart from, it’s an 85mm lens. Subsequently, some declare it was designed by Russian engineers themselves “based mostly on” the Biotar 75/1.5 in 1950. Anyway, let’s have a better take a look at it!

Pattern Pictures

Specs

* Weight and Dimension measured on my pattern.

Disclosure

Our reader Alexander Standfest kindly loaned this lens for this overview. Huge thanks to Alexander, with out his assist this overview wouldn’t have been accomplished. (You’ll be able to see his images on Instagram @standfest)

Variations

Photographic Lenses

There are two essential variations of this lens. The unique Helios 40 developed in 1950 (examined on this overview) and a more recent Helios 40-2,  from round 1969 to 1990. The newer model (40-2) was revived in Russia after greater than 2 many years in October 2012 as a result of Helios 40-2’s recognition and excessive demand. So, there are each pre-1992 40-2 lenses and submit 2012 40-2 lenses. Whereas the optical formulation is identical there are a number of variations between Helios 40 and 40-2.

* Canon and Nikon mounts solely on submit 2013 revived sequence

Observe that the Helios 40-2, produced after the revival in August 2012, has had a few sub-variations:

• Helios 40-2, from August 2012, with M42 screw mount
• Helios-40-2-C – from Could 2013 – with Canon EF bayonet mount
• Helios-40-2-N – from Could 2013 -with Nikon F bayonet mount

Apart from the plain mount distinction, there are additionally some minor beauty variations between them.

Different variants

There has additionally been a model (a aspect product) for tv cameras: Helios-40-T, which doesn’t have a preset ring and normally comes with TV88 mount.

Along with that we’ve got the “Cyclop”, which is a model of Helios-40-2 made for army use on night time imaginative and prescient scope. This model has no aperture in any respect, in different phrases, the aperture is fastened to f/1.5 – all the time vast open. The casing is totally different too.

Dealing with

Basic

Helios 40 is a totally guide lens and is totally product of metallic and glass. Effectively, by the point it was designed, no one used any plastic (or electronics for that matter) in any precision devices. The lens is well-built (they’re nonetheless working after 60-70 years), comparatively massive, and really heavy at about 1 kg. Though it isn’t heavier than Zeiss Otus 85/1.4, Sigma 85/1.4 DG HSM Artwork, Pentax-D FA 85/1.4, or Canon EF 85/1.4L IS USM, contemplating its full metallic development, I’m undecided what I must be fearful about if I drop the lens on the ground, the lens, or the ground. Let’s hope I don’t have to search out out. When utilizing on mirrorless cameras the scale will develop as a result of mount adapter. In case you placed on a lens hood, which it’s best to (extra on that later within the overview), then we’re speaking an actual bazooka on the digital camera.

As lens hoods are usually not included with this lens, you must discover a screw in lens hood for it. As a result of odd filter measurement (66mm) you want a step-up ring to make use of a 67mm or different bigger customary sizes like within the photos above. The early Helioses (just like the one on this overview) have an M39 mount fairly than M42. You want an adapter ring (M39 -> M42) to make use of it with M42 adapters.
Observe: That is the Zenit M39 SLR mount to not be mistaken with the Leica M39/LTM mount.

Aperture

The Helios 40 has an aperture preset mechanism with two rings; one, the higher one, with variable distant aperture markings on it, which clicks fairly stiffly at every f-stop to set “the smallest aperture you wish to work with. The decrease aperture ring is clickless and turns extraordinarily easy and may set the aperture from vast open to the worth you could have set on the higher ring. (Instance: say you set the higher ring to f/5.6, with the decrease ring you’ll be able to set/change the aperture with none clicks from f/1.5 right down to so far as f/5.6 however not past it). This can be a good function for video makers because it means they will exactly management the sunshine ranges as they shoot and alter the aperture with none shaking through the filming and with out “jumps” within the scene mild degree when going from one aperture setting to a different.

This lens has 10 aperture blades. The attention-grabbing factor about it  is that it has double layers of aperture blades, 10 aperture blades in every layer, which feels lavish on such an “odd” lens. I made a video to point out that.

Focusing

The main target ring turns an enormous 280 levels, it runs extraordinarily easy and could be very effectively damped, it’s a pleasure to make use of. Nevertheless, its placement and the truth that it’s smaller than the clickless aperture ring make it complicated to seize it with out it. I grabbed and turned the aperture ring typically after I wished to focus. The gap scale on the main focus ring, in meters solely, is engraved and stuffed with paint. There’s additionally a depth of area scale below the ring.

Additionally, observe that on outdated Russian (or German) lenses like this one, it is rather widespread that the grease within the focusing threads will get dried and makes focusing stiff, this pattern has not too long ago been serviced/re-greased thereby the smoothness that it ought to have.

Tripod Mount

There’s a fastened tripod mount with a ¾ inch screw socket on the lens, to place the digital camera on a tripod. It appears this model was made till 1965, from 1965 a detachable clamp with the socket on it was added to the development. 

Sadly as a result of adapter ring or/and the M42-NZ adapter the socket doesn’t align straight below the lens when mounted on my Nikon Z digital camera, however you’ll be able to all the time tilt the tripod head a bit to make the digital camera stand horizontally on the tripod.

Optical Options

Sharpness (≈20 m)

This lens can’t focus at infinity, at the least not whether it is used unmodified with an M42 adapter on fashionable digital cameras. The lens block does merely not recess sufficient to have the ability to set the main focus at very lengthy distances. The reason being that M39 digital camera flange distance is 45.2 mm, whereas an M42 digital camera flange distance is 45.46 mm. When utilizing an M42 lens adapter on fashionable cameras, there’s a distinction of 0.26 mm. The lens is 0.26 mm too removed from the sensor when it’s set to infinity and subsequently not in right focus place. It’s doable to change the lens by a (comparatively easy) surgical process to treatment the difficulty although.

See the next pattern photos, for all of which the lens was set to infinity!

The main target is at about 20 m when the focusing ring is at infinity marking.  At f/1.5 DoF is simply about 5 meter, you’ll be able to see that solely the grass within the foreground is in focus. By f/5.6 the timber with none go away are in focus however not the conifers within the background, which is able to sharpen up at f/8, the place the DoF covers as much as about 60 m away. For many panorama it is sufficient to cease right down to f/11 the place as much as 300 m shall be in focus. For getting the infinity in focus you must cease right down to f/16. This can be a widespread downside with Helios lenses with M39 mount on any fashionable digital camera utilizing an M42 adapter, until you surgically repair the difficulty with the lens.

For this sharpness take a look at, we take a look at three areas of the picture, middle, mid-frame, and nook, see highlighted areas within the picture beneath!

So, let’s take a look at farthest it could possibly focus at, about 20 meters!

F/1.5: Sharpness is sweet vast open within the middle however distinction could be very low, additionally there’s some glow  seen as a result of spherical aberrations. We see a drastic fall of sharpness within the midframe to see a small enchancment within the nook. That is as a result of robust area curvature, which is according to the MTF chart.

F/2: Enchancment in each sharpness and distinction within the middle, the glow is gone too, however midframe and nook are roughly the identical.

F/2.8: The midframe will get a litte higher, however the nook will get even worse, It appears that evidently the lens suffers from astigmatism that reveals itself within the corners when the spherical aberrations are gone.

F/4: It’s higher within the midframe, it’s fully usable, however the nook continues to be unhealthy.

F/5.6: The midframe is sweet and the nook has develop into higher however not good but

F/8: Now the midframe and the nook have caught up with the middle to an virtually excellent degree. It appears the lens is at its peak efficiency at this aperture, the place you may get a pointy picture over the entire body.

F/11-F/22: The sharpness deteriorates on this vary as a result of diffraction.

Effectively, the sharpness comes by no means to a superb degree, distinction barely to an excellent degree, at f/8 you could have only a good sharpness all through the body although. By including some distinction in submit you need to use the entire body at f/8, however at wider than 8, it’s best to solely depend on the middle space.

Sharpness (Portrait)

Let’s take a look at the factors of curiosity for portraits on the portrait distance: the very middle, the middle’s inside periphery  (1/3 rule intersection), and the middle’s outer periphery (1/4th intersection).

F1.5: Within the middle of the body, the sharpness is already good vast open, however the distinction could be very low and subsequently it seems to be a bit mediocre. By simply including some distinction in submit you’re going to get an excellent outcome. The inside and outer peripheries are usually not good in any respect.

F2: Heart sharpness is superb, the distinction is sweet now. The inside periphery is simply OK now, however the outer periphery continues to be unhealthy.

F2.8: Sharpness is superb within the middle with excellent distinction. Superb sharpness within the inside periphery, and simply OK within the outer periphery.

F4: Wonderful sharpness within the middle, excellent within the inside periphery, and good within the outer periphery, however the distinction has fallen a bit.

It’s a very strong sharpness efficiency within the middle of the photographs. Just a bit additional away is one other story, you must cease right down to 2.8 or 4 to get good sharpness there.

Sharpness (Shut-up)

The closeup sharpness is excellent however the distinction is low at f/1.5. The distinction will get higher at f/2 and glorious at f/2.8. Sharpness additionally will get higher by stopping down.

Lens Distortion

There’s just about no distortion, probably some negligible barrel distortion however it’s as point out negligible.

Vignetting

• f/1.5: 2.0 EV
• f/2.0: 1.2 EV
• f/2.8: 0.7 EV
• f/4.0: 0.4 EV

Aberrations

This Helios suffers from each spherical aberrations (SA or focus shift) and longitudinal chromatic aberration (LoCA or shade fringing).

The SA makes which you could see some comfortable glow across the object particulars, like a veiling haze or a comfortable focus impact. That is the defect that’s to this lens’s profit for portrait pictures because it provides an impact of basic portraiture at wider apertures.

The LoCA is a unfavorable impact within the form of inexperienced and blue/purple colours fringing on the edges of the objects with some distinction. It occurs largely at wider apertures and over all the body. This one makes no good to the image and you’d wish to do away with it. You’ll be able to repair it in submit although.

The lens has good management over lateral chromatic aberration, so that you don’t want to fret about that one.

Flare Resistance

Effectively, I want I might solely say that the flare resistance is weak, or within the worst case unhealthy. It’s the factor that I can’t say something about it, as there’s none. The pictures get fully ruined as quickly because the solar or another (robust) mild supply comes into or close to the body. Really, not even that, in some circumstances on overcast days you may get veiling flare within the photos (tabs f and that i). In the very best case, you get “simply” some decreased distinction in an already low-contrast picture. This could additionally occur to simply a part of the picture (tab f).

The truth that the lens has a bluish coating makes issues worse as you get a robust blue shade forged within the photos too. When this lens was designed all people took solely B&W photos, so no difficulty then. On the later 40-2 model the coating is modified to a extra impartial shade. In some conditions having the lens hood may also help dramatically. See photos below tabs g and h. I took them from the identical level with the identical angle on the “similar” time (seconds between them). So, utilizing a lens hood always is very really helpful.

Coma

Coma is essential if you wish to do astrophotography, nightscape pictures, or considerably if you happen to want nook to nook sharpness. For this lens not one of the talked about functions are related, subsequently we don’t take a look at the coma correction.

Sunstars

Sunstars are full irrelevant for this lens’s utility, subsequently not examined.

Focus Respiration

Bokeh

Ultimately, one thing that everyone seems to be at if they’re on this lens. Effectively, briefly, on this division you’ll be able to both fall in love with this lens or you’ll have a really robust opinion. I can say that on this part, the lens is notably multifaceted. You will get creamy comfortable bokeh, swirly bokeh in the precise situations, or a basic classic busy bokeh. It could actually even generally seem like it’s a brush portray.

As bokeh is essentially the most fascinating (an probably solely) cause to purchase this lens, I make this part additional lengthy with additional many pattern photos to totally discover its totally different traits .

Bokeh Balls

The bokeh balls are good vast open. They’re evenly lit, with comfortable transitions, no onion rings, and no (coloured) rings round them. Sadly, as quickly as you cease down (f/2-f/4), you’re going to get noticed blade shapes in specular highlights. Much more stopping down (to f/4 or smaller) provides you with ninja star shapes (or cogs). I would like them to the noticed blades.

So, let’s see what they seem like in real-life photos!

Min. Focusing Distance (The Extremely Tender Bokeh)

In case you are shut sufficient, close to the minimal focusing distance, you throw the background in a creamy tremendous comfortable state of oblivion past any recognition.

Very Shut Vary (Tender & Dreamy Bokeh)

With a long way, however at shut vary (shut portrait distance) you might be nonetheless within the zone of the dream land with a really easy bokeh. Even stopped right down to f/4 or f/5.6. Right here the ten blades of aperture present what they will do.

Regular Portrait Distance (The Robust Space)

We step backward from the topic, now we’re on the (head-n-shoulder) portrait distance. Right here you’ll be able to virtually get no matter you need if you happen to compose accordingly.

Within the image above, you’ll be able to see a number of forms of bokeh mixed. Each comfortable, swirly, and a few elements which can be within the busy division, relying on the place within the image you take a look at.

Lengthy Distance (Traditional Classic Bokeh)

At longer distances, you’ll be able to largely get a so-called basic classic bokeh sort. That might be a bit busy, with a pop of the topic in distinction to the background. In the precise situations, you can even get the swirly bokeh.

Swirly Bokeh

With regards to one in all its most attribute and sought forms of bokeh, the so-called swirly bokeh, as I learn someplace, this lens doesn’t fail to disappoint. It’s best to have it clear that it doesn’t produce swirls out of skinny air. It’s worthwhile to work arduous with the composition to get that impact. A few of it’s seen within the canine portrait above. As arduous as it’s, the satisfaction and rewards are higher that anticipated when you’re going to get it, generally extra and generally much less. There are some examples right here and a few extra among the many pattern photos at first and the tip of this overview.

“Classic” Bokeh

It is rather straightforward to get a considerably “classic” look within the bokeh or background blur with this lens. That could be a busy and generally double-edged particulars ans some gentle swirl within the background blur. That is partly as a result of astigmatism that we noticed the signal of within the corners of the body within the sharpness part. You’ll find a number of examples of it within the pattern photos, however listed here are just a few:

Effectively, finally the bokeh is a subjective matter. I discover this lens extraordinary in the case of creating the several types of  bokeh. I prefer it when it’s tremendous comfortable, I prefer it when it’s swirly. Even when it’s a little busy I prefer it because it has a classic look that may work in sure scenario, relying on how busy it’s. It may be very busy and unsightly but in addition not too disturbing with good topic popping traits.

Take a look on the many photos on this part and likewise on the pattern photos initially and the tip of the article to see if you happen to prefer it. I’d like to learn your opinion concerning the bokeh of this lens in feedback. Good or unhealthy, it doesn’t matter, I’ll be glad to know anyway.

Conclusion

As we’ve got seen, the lens is hardly appropriate for any panorama or different common pictures as a result of mediocre long-distance sharpness, low distinction and really unhealthy flare resistance. The one pictures utility this lens can shine in is portrait pictures. You will get stunning and sharp portraits with quite a lot of bokeh qualities, together with the swirly bokeh. It’s worthwhile to be very cautious together with your composition although. The lens will not be sharp at portrait pictures apertures within the nook and is a catastrophe within the midframe, so make certain to make use of the body middle in your topic or an important a part of your topic. So, in case you are into all these bokeh variants, both you purchase three totally different lenses to get the all or purchase this one that may produce all of them in a single lens.

After all, it is a superb lens for headshots in videography too, with a classic look within the video footage.

If you wish to make investments on this lens, I like to recommend getting the newer Helios 40-2 (See below Alternate options). They’re much less outdated and subsequently have much less threat of breaking, additionally they arrive with M42 mount, which is a bonus, and have a typical 67 mm filter measurement. Moreover, they’re greater than 100 g lighter. If you wish to apply it to a Nikon or Canon DSLR, the post-2012 Helios 40-2s are even higher, as they are often purchased within the Nikon F and Canon EF mounts, and still have double layers of coating on the lens, which ought to assist to enhance the flare resistance at the price of much less classic look of the photographs/pictures.

In case you are fascinated by shopping for this lens or any of the lenses within the Alternate options part, you’ll be able to help our efforts by utilizing the hyperlinks beneath or given below every lens. It received’t value you a penny and it received’t have an effect on the value, however it’s going to assist us a bit.

Alternate options

Helios 40-2
The obvious various to the unique Helios 40. Similar optics and traits, made in the identical manufacturing unit because the Helios 40, however lighter, with M42 mount, tripod clamp as an alternative of fastened screw socket, a extra impartial coating, and never as outdated as Helios 40. This can be a more sensible choice, however is a bit more costly.
Purchase used: ebay.com, ebay.de, ebay.co.uk, ebay.fr, ebay.com.au about $360-$750 (Affiliate hyperlinks)

Zeiss Biotar 75mm 1.5
The lens that has been the mannequin for the design of Helios 40. It was produced by Carl  Zeiss Jena in 1936 for a really brief time solely and subsequently in small numbers. This can be a very uncommon lens and has develop into a legend that sells for some huge cash for being such a really outdated classic lens. Observe that this lens is even older than the reviewed lens, at the least 20 years older than the oldest Helios 40.
$ (Affiliate hyperlinks)
Purchase used: ebay.com, ebay.de, ebay.co.uk, ebay.fr, ebay.com.au from $1200-$3500  (Affiliate hyperlinks)

MOG Biotar 75 f1.5 II
A revival of the unique Biotar 75/1.5 by Meyer Optik Görltz in 2023. So, it’s constructed with fashionable expertise and of recent produced supplies. This, in response to the producer, has improved the lens’s sharpness and distinction with the identical authentic imaging traits, being the excessive picture sharpness within the middle, coupled with a robust swirly bokeh.
Purchase used: ebay.com, ebay.de, ebay.co.uk, ebay.fr, ebay.com.au about $ (Affiliate hyperlinks)
Purchase new: Meyer Optik Görlitz €1400 

Jupiter-9 85mm f/2
One other Russian lens, which is a replica of a Carl Zeiss. A duplicate the Zeiss Sonnar 85mm 2.0. That is about 2/3 of a cease slower however is far smaller and lighter than the Helios 40 at solely 320 g. That is additionally a particular goal lens for portrait pictures with comfortable, low distinction rendering but it surely can’t produce any swirly bokeh.
Purchase used: ebay.com, ebay.de, ebay.co.uk, ebay.fr, ebay.com.au about $100-$300 (Affiliate hyperlinks)

Purchase used: ebay.com, ebay.de, ebay.co.uk, ebay.fr, ebay.com.au about $ (Affiliate hyperlinks)

Extra Pattern Pictures

Additional Studying

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Martin M.H. lives exterior Stockholm, Sweden. He’s a M.Sc. in Laptop Expertise however he has been a passionate photographer for over 45 years. He began his photographic adventures when he was 13 with an Agfamatic pocket digital camera, which he quickly changed with a Canon rangefinder digital camera that his mother gave him in his teenages. After that he has been utilizing Canon SLR, Nikon SLR guide focus and Autofocus, Sony mirrorless crop sensor, Nikon DSLR and Nikon Mirrorless. He has photographed any style he might all through the years and you may see all sort of photos in his portfolio. Through the later years although it has been largely panorama, nature, journey and a few road/documentary pictures.