Biotars and Biotar Clones! Zeiss Biotar, 13 Blade Helios 44 and Helios 44-2 Tested and Reviewed!
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 22 июл 2024
- A test, discussion and review of the Zeiss Jena Biotar 58mm, the 13 blade Helios 44, and the Helios 44-2, with loads of sample images.
You can support this channel at Patreon.com/Zenography
"It wouldn't be easy to tell them apart in a blind test" you got that right my friend! 🤔
Thanks for your great comparision! And Happy Hollydays!
Such a great artist. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experiences!
Thanks!
I really really like the rendering of your silver Helios, the warm tones it produces and its swirls are fantastic!
Personally my favorite Helios is the very early Start bayonet mount version!
Your voice sounds great too, and no hot air, all spot on.... Thanks!
If you decide to pick one up, look for the Red "T" on the front, right next to the "Biotar 2/58", it means it has a Zeiss Coating that prevents it from losing that much contrast while shooting against a light source.
Wonderful video as always! Partly inspired by your videos, I now am a huge Biotar/Helios-44 fan. In the last 6 months I have picked up a Helios-44M, M42 Preset Biotar, and recently a Helios-44-2 (but it looks different to yours). My Biotar was fairly cheap, being included with a Edixa Reflex body for AUD $180. The focusing ring is a tad stiff for my taste but usable. I love using it, but the images seem to struggle with bright light. The Helios-44M is really good, but heavier, and I find the aperture ring feels very cheaply made, but image quality is wonderful. I’ve only had the Helios-44-2 a few weeks and love it, image quality seems wonderful. My only gripe is that unlike the preset Biotar, they have the numbers on the aperture ring backwards. So when using the click less ring it is wide open when on the stop you’ve preselected and stopped down when at f2. The Biotar works logically and is much easier to know what you are on. I saw a pristine preset 12 blade (or 13 blade unsure) Biotar with the red T in a shop recently, they were asking AUD $500 for it. If I had the money I would have bought it haha anyway, my long term goal is collect as many of the Biotar and Helios-44 models as I can, partly to see how they compare, and partly just for the fun of the chase.
Glad you're enjoying those biotars and clones! I find the Helios to be pretty good in any of its many versions, although I favour the 44 and 44-2 as I prefer the way they look. Good luck with the collection!
How not to like this video... many thanks and happy Cristmas!!
Have yourself a *Swirly Little Christmas.* :-)
What a wonderful, balanced review of these lenses. I have an early Helios that I've been very happy with, I will have to inspect it and see how many blades the aperture has. I also have two of the same exact Biotars that I got in lots, but unfortunately have never used them. They are both in terrible shape, focus ring frozen, haze, scratches, you name it. I tried to have them cleaned but no one around here will touch them with a barge pole.
The Biotar is a little more difficult to service than the Helios, but it's not too difficult. Where are you based?
Zenography Hi, I’m in the USA, on the east coast.
Your passion for photography is deliciously infectious. Thank you for the work you do!
Thanks!
I love this video, I’ve been thinking of adding the Zeiss Biotar to my kit after recently using the Helios 44-2 on a project
I found that the early Helios 44 (13 blade version) is quite a bit nicer than the Biotar - if I were you I'd get one of those!
@@zenography7923 thank you for the recommendation! I def love learning about vintage glass on your channel. Especially Zeiss lenses since it’s what I mostly use. Would love to see a master video with all your Zeiss lenses
New video, a boxing day treat :-)
Wow what a great video! I hear the later Helios 44M-6 and M7's are sharper but not built as well. However, I was thinking of buying a Biotar, and after seeing this I think I will stick to my helios 44's & and 44M's (I have 12 of them....) they are such good lenses!
Love your videos
Thank you!
LOVE the videos !!! ... I used to have several Russian cameras but sold them off but one ... my Kiev 4AM ... I have the Jupiter 12 and 8 but since I have seen this video I'm getting Helios 44-2 !!! .. I do a LOT of flower pics in the Summer here and it would be a good fit on my Olympus OM-D M5 ... THANKS !!!!!!
Many thanks, glad you enjoyed the video! And I hope you're enjoying the Helios...
A wee bit of technical info I thought I should share. I recently bought a 13 blade Helios 44 and after a week of rain, today was the day. I went down to my local churchyard to capture the last of the cherry blossom. I had adapted the lens on my A7ii with a L39-NEX adapter but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t achieve focus at any distance. Back home I dug out a M39-M42 step up ring and screwed it onto the lens mount. Using a M42-NEX adapter, it then focused properly at all distances. Friday looks good weather-wise - fingers crossed!
Thanks as ever for showcasing 3 lenses I now own. Your video made me even keener to start testing the Helios 44.
I don't suppose you're the first to make the L39/M39 mistake, easily done! The H44 is a nice little lens, and even nicer in 13 blade form. Enjoy!
@@zenography7923 Aye, more fool me. I thought I was on a winner because my Jupiter 8 worked perfectly well using the L39-NEX adapter. Rangefinder lens versus SLR lens I suppose. Friday was a bust. Today is nice but I received my 2nd Covid jag on Saturday so I'm feeling a wee bit puggled today. :o)
thanks for your video, especially for the part about color rendition.
is there any more recent version of the CZJ Biotar having lens multicoating?
was this lens ever recalculated again (and produced again) in the later years?
Production of the originals stopped in, I think, the late 60s. I know there was a new 75mm Biotar planned (using the original design) as recently as 2017 - a Kickstarter campaign raised money for the project, but I remember reading somewhere that the central figure in the project was tragically killed in a road accident, and the project, as far as I'm aware, came to an end. A sad story indeed.
You have to try out Biotar 58/2 with 17 blades, I've heard from the people that have tried a lot of different versions of biotars, that 17 blades is the best ones.
I just ordered it, in black body, and I'm very excited to see how it performs.
Hi, it is a great video.
I have a question, do you think we can change the optic of helios 44 with the optic of biotar?
Wow. Good review. I'm actually debating getting a m42 Biotar vs. my current Helios-44 13 blade. I'm primarily interested in more sharpness wide open and more contrast. But maybe your review will keep me from dropping more coin for a Biotar after all.
The 13 blade Helios is a very nice lens indeed - I don't think you'll be disappointed with one!
Beautiful video, thank you. Any tips regarding which adaptor is needed for a Canon 80D? In advance, thank you. 👍🏻
It depends on the lens you're trying to mount. An m42 lens (like the Helios 44) would need an m42 to es adaptor. I'm pretty sure that most, or many, lenses from film SLRs will mount, but you won't be able to use rangefinder lenses on your 80d. Hope that helps!
Nice lens. :)
Not sure if you have one but I'd love to see a video one lenses similar to the Canon 50mm dream lens. Haven't found a video like that yet
Awesome rev. I got me mint first version 12 blades. Hope to find good EXAKTA to Leica M adapter somewhere?
Sounds like a nice lens - a quick google of 'exacta to leica m' should find your adaptor for you!
Im waiting for my helios 13 blades, hope it will works on my xt20
Would you kindly research and do a short/long video about the 16blades helios 44-2 zebra lens!!!
Thank you for the video. I use Helios-44M-4 with my Praltica PL Nova I and I like it, but recently I bought Exakta Varex VX (1954???) with original Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 2/58 and I'm just waiting for delivery, but I will gladly describe the impressions after testing with film.
I'd be interested to hear how you get on!
@@zenography7923 I used my new (new to myself) Biotar 2/58 from 1954 with my Exa "Zero" and Ilford XP2 super 400 film. The lens is not in excellent condition, but I like it and I like results. You can see my photos with Biotar lens there: www.flickr.com/photos/robhosailor/albums/72157712682050812
Hello! I hope you're doing well during these crazy times. I've been inspired by the French impressionist movement of painters, including Monet, Renoir, etc. I'm looking for lenses that might be able to recreate the impressionist style in photography. In your experience, what might be a good fit? I have a Helios 44M-7 and have been looking into Petzval lenses, as well as the daguerreotype from lomography. Thanks
The best I know of for an impressionistic style is the Helios 40 85mm f1.5. It's an incredible lens (there's a video on this channel that tests and reviews it). It turns reality into magical realism, it is a thoroughly magical lens. Might be just what you're looking for!
@@zenography7923 Thanks! I actually have two versions of that lens in my ebay watchlist right now. Do you know if there's a difference between the new rerelease version of the lens (canon/nikon mount) and the older m42 mount version?
Once again mate, you've Delivered the *Swirly Stuff.* :-)
:)
I have the Helios 44-13 blades ...best vintage lens ever!
That 13 blade Helios is one of my favourite lenses, just lovely!
I have a 44M-4. What are the differences between this version and 13 blades or 44-2 versions? Thanks for your videos!!!
As I understand it, each later Helios version, while having essentially the same optics, was able to resolve that bit more clearly, so should in theory be slightly sharper - that said, I've never noticed an obvious difference in images.
I've certainly noticed a difference between the 13 blade and 8 blade lenses though - the 13 blade is much nicer; better colours, slightly sharper and clearer, better contrast - just a better lens overall!
I’ve got a Helios 44 2/58 (the silver one, on a Zenit 3M). I’m about tho get adapters for it and a couple of 80s Nikon lenses to my M4/3 G9. So the Helios should be around 116mm FF equivalent. Really looking forward to it, more so after watching this! Cheers 🙂
I hope you're enjoying those lenses!
@@zenography7923 Thanks, I certainly am! And added a CZJ Flektogon 35 2.4 to the bunch too! :)
Good morning from Brazil.
Good morning!
How would you compare the Helios 44 with 13 blades to the pancolar 50mm 1.8, you have mentioned?
It's nice, but it's not as sharp and the colours aren't quite as nice. The pancolar is much the better lens - it was developed from the biotar, of which the Helios is an exact copy.
Got the Biotar 17 blades
Have you tried the Helios 44-3? It is multicoated & in B&W it has excellent 3D pop. It is a close second to my 50mm f/1.8 Canon Serenar which is the yardstick by which I rate the micro-contrast of my other lenses.
I have a Pancolor but it is seriously in need of a clean. However, it has an Exakta mount with a strange stop-down mechanism jutting out of the side... Scary Zeiss engineering! I also have a 13 blade Helios 44. Its serial-# starts with a zero. I love its colour rendition & bokeh but I feel a little precious about it. I use the 44-3 on a macro focussing adapter & it pretty well lives on my Sony a6000. Since I got it my Helios 44-2 really has its nose out of joint!
The silver Helios 44 is used so much for portrait & other close up work that I did not notice that it cannot achieve an infinity focus on a standard M42 adapter. That bubble was burst recently when I tried to shoot a couple of brightly painted vintage cars in Fremantle. I simply could not get far enough back to include both vehicles in the frame & still pull a focus. Amazing the difference a mere 0.3mm can make!
I strongly believe in modifying the adapter, NOT the lens!!! I found a temporary solution using a 17-31mm M42-NEX focussing adapter, a short M39 macro tube (with M39-M42 ring attached) & a bit of nail varnish to mark the infinity setting. All this falderal only to find that those cunning Russians had already thought of a solution:
The second largest ring on an M39 set of four macro tubes is the correct length to use these early Zenit lenses on FED or Zorki rangefinder cameras. So, attaching this 16.Xmm tube to an LTM adapter gives the correct flange distance, no M39-M42 ring needed. It works with all of my M39 Zenit lenses; the Mir-1, the Jupiters & the Helios. With the added bonus that rangefinder lenses can be used for macro work, or, the tube can be removed to use these LTM lenses normally. A very versatile contrivance!
Best wishes for lots of happy lensing in 2020 & greetings from Down-Under, fm. ;-)
I just tested that Canon lens yesterday and was shocked. I never expected that sort of performance at such a low price. My copy is pretty beat up too.
Много букв.♡
Early exakta models had a front mounted shutter release and diaphragms were actuated by the first pressure on that button as the lenses weren't technically automatic. That's why your pancolar has that 'weird' tab on the side
The front and rear elements of the Pancolar are very easy to clean - each is held in by a ring that unscrews with a lens spanner. Mine had fungus on both these elements and I was able to clean it in half an hour or so - result!
I've been lucky with my M42 adaptor - it focuses beyond infinity for M42 lenses, so it reaches infinity with M39 ones too. However, your extension tube solution is a good one too! All the best, and thanks for watching.
That solves a mystery, thanks!
Bought this lens recently as well
I’ve also noticed that the biotar loses contrast when a light source is near the frame
Enjoy!
Zenography Thanks! It definitely is a fun lens to use 😄
I don't know if you've read it online, but there's substantial differences between the versions of the biotar with the manual version with the 17 blades (not the preset) having the reputation of being the best. I bought this version and I'm excited to use it.
I've heard that the 17 blade version is the nicest - they can be a bit expensive though!
@@zenography7923 around 450$
Hey Zen, does Helios (silver, 13 blades) have radioactive thorium in its elements?
No, no thorium in the Helios as far as I'm aware. You may want to check it out for yourself on google, eg camerapedia.fandom.com/wiki/Radioactive_lenses
@@zenography7923thanks my dear Zen🙏
Helios 44-2 colors are a bit more muted and the coating indeed is different. However, for people shots the skin tones the Helios 44-2 can produce are spot on. No weird color issues with skin and post processing hell. It's a huge asset if you shoot people.
Absolutely, thanks for the tip!
it is possible for you to point me to the 13 version on ebay to be able to buy it. I would not be wrong. is there an adapter for Fuji from m39? thanks and I hope you can help me. your video is perfect. but since I'm Italian I'm afraid of making the wrong model. I like the 44 13 blades because it seems to me the most contrasted. thanks if you want to help me
The 13 blade version has nicer coatings and does seem to make nicer images. A search on ebay for 'Helios 44 13 blade' will bring up some useful results for you!
@@zenography7923 ty 👍👍👍
I had the carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 58/2 17 blades with M40 mount. It only had a nice bokeh.
The Optics were not good so I sold it on eBay.
I got the Biotar 75 F1.5 and this thing is in every aspect a good vintage lens.
Thanks for the review! Please keep up the good work!
Many thanks, glad you enjoyed the video!
The prices are now at least 5x now.
excelent review ,,,, the problem with a Russian lens is to find a good copy .,,,one of my favorit russian lens is the Industar 50mm f/3,5 silver made in 1966 ,, some Helios 44-2 are not made in the same factory , KMZ , valdai, Lomo .etc
I've heard about variation in Russian/Ukranian lens quality control, but rarely encountered it! And I do love that Industar 50 - a bit slow, but a lovely lens!
I got myself the black zebra, it's easy to find, and black color doesn't look very exotic as silver one and matching my black camera body
☕️👍
:)
When reviewing lens you should I end with WHAT MOUNT IS THE LENS!!! You can not assume p we only know what mount the lens is for This is essential information which you almost always OMIT
Please learn how to pronounce Jena, yen-na, not gen-na.
I guess the anglicized version's ok for an English language channel?
Is this ASMR?
Your voice is so relaxing
Well, some certainly seem to think it's asmr! Glad you enjoyed it.
Zenography listening to someone walking about an lens (Carl Zeiss Biotar) which you're fond of in an calming voice is real calming to me... Maybe try whispering slowly about an lens like that would bring you great views... me including :p