Helios 44m-4 problems

chrisfowler

chrisfowler

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Chris
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Afternoon all,

I ordered a Helios to use on a DSLR a while ago but never really used it. The auto-aperture pin made it a pain to use and I ended up with a real film camera instead. Since then I've left the lens on a shelf and just recently won an auction for a Zenit 11/SLX, which happens to be the body that would have originally shipped with this lens.

I got the lens out to look over and it has two issues - firstly the aperture adjustment seems to be backwards (sort of) in that for f2-11, depressing the pin closes the blades to what looks like f16, but when f16 is selected the pin moves the blades to what I would expect at f2! (I've checked these against another Helios lens)

Secondly the lens won't focus past about 6 feet. I already knew this was an issue but assumed it was to do with my attempted DSLR use.

Are either of these things fixable? The lens itself is in immaculate condition so it would be great to put it back to use on the camera body it was made for. I've got little experience with taking lenses apart but would happily try to fix if it's not too difficult...

Chris
 
I think you are getting confused with how the Helios works, as you set the aperture with the front moveable ring and use the next one as a stop down.

The first ring is half knurled with the aperture numbers, the next one is knurled around its whole diameter - looking at mine.
 
Not on the 44m-4 I've got - it's an automatic one with the aperture set by lens but stopped down by the camera. My 44-2 has the manual stop down on the front as you describe.

44m-4:

20_2_5.jpg


44-2:

034840630_0305518791451513a76ef99a1c4b6d2d27204292d5ed5ff9d.jpg
 
Ah!
I assumed it was similar to the 44-2.

You've got me there...

You could ask at mflenses.com if you don't get any joy here.
 
What happens when you select f2 and depress the pin? Nothing?

It seems from re-reading that it's a stop down type of thing.
 
At f2 the aperture closes down to around f16 when the pin is pushed - I might sign up to mflenses.com and see if they can help.
 
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