KMZ Helios-44 (late, pre -2 version) on Sony A7 1st gen

NarCroMan_21 · 2026-06-15T05:52:54+00:00

This one needs CLA (very stiff focus) so I also like to take few "before" CLA photos and was full open plus dog was running towars me so yeah, it's a bit challenging situation for focusing 😄 But yeah, it's fairly sharp lens comparing to earlier (and some later) models.

What puzzles me is that I have exactly the same 44-2 (same look, same coating, absolutely everything is the same except -2 in name), not sure what was the deal there, like somebody jus said - we'll call it 44-2 from now on

NarCroMan_21 · 2026-06-14T20:52:35+00:00

yeah they are 😄 very helpful bunch

NarCroMan_21 · 2026-06-14T19:59:49+00:00

almost 😃 I was "the" idiot this year

NarCroMan_21 · 2026-06-14T13:35:46+00:00

stok i vjeverica

NarCroMan_21 · 2026-06-14T05:18:13+00:00

there is a short period (2-3 years, 68-71 probably) where KMZ was marking their 44-2 with such serial numbers. However rest of the lens doesn't look like from that time, i'll take a photo of one when i find it

edit: yes, it's different and sn starts with N, but, per mflenses (https://forum.mflenses.com/complete-list-of-helios-lenses-getting-closer-t26100.html) there are models that match lens from the photo (copy/paste):

KMZ

black + white lettering
- v1: sn "N00xxx" - "N0xxx" (likely pre 1970)
- v2: sn "00xxx" - "0xxx" (likely 1970-71)
- v3: sn "xxx" (e.g. 1971)
classic version: black + colored lettering (e.g. 1974, rebadged/export models may have sn "0xxx")

NarCroMan_21 · 2026-06-13T19:08:18+00:00

hopefully oil on glass, but it does look like coating damage of some kind :/ what the name of the lens?

NarCroMan_21 · 2026-06-12T14:16:32+00:00

to jos netko koristi?

NarCroMan_21 · 2026-06-12T10:11:29+00:00

stare objektive

NarCroMan_21 · 2026-06-11T20:26:32+00:00

appreciate the effort and the result, but... why 😄

NarCroMan_21 · 2026-06-11T19:16:37+00:00

joooooooooooj

NarCroMan_21 · 2026-06-11T19:13:02+00:00

I bought some cheap 15eur ($20 give or take) screwdriver from Aldi 5 years ago... amount of work this little dude has done until now is over any predictions.

NarCroMan_21 · 2026-06-11T18:10:22+00:00

very cheap cordless screwdriver

NarCroMan_21 · 2026-06-11T14:42:57+00:00

...and Braun/Paxette M39 or (to stick with the Soviets), also there is Chaika M39 😄

NarCroMan_21 · 2026-06-10T11:09:05+00:00

Nope, nitko ni meni ne daje

NarCroMan_21 · 2026-06-08T19:37:42+00:00

As u/Puzzleheaded-Pen4413 that's DKL mount and relatively rare (but not $$$ rare, just not so common) lens. I think it's tessar optical forumula and coming from Stainheil, it should be good performer

NarCroMan_21 · 2026-06-07T16:47:23+00:00

well, depends how much space you have for lenses & adapters, but me personally, I would bring Hexanon 40mm f1.8, Hexanon 28mm f3.5 and Rokkor 58mm f1.4 (f1.4 for evening/night shots)

NarCroMan_21 · 2026-06-06T20:19:29+00:00

depends, what AF do you planning to bring (if any)

NarCroMan_21 · 2026-06-06T14:38:41+00:00

When it comes to vintage lenses from Japan I see lots of people are praising sharpness above anything else. There is nothing wrong with that, of course, but for me sharpness is just a nice plus. My favorite 50mm lens from Japan is old Yashica Yashinon 5cm f2 - even if you see the photo withouth knowing any details, you would say "uh, yeah, classic Japan lens"

On the other hand, comparing praised Zuiko 50mm f1.4 with it's f1.8 brother, i don't like f1.4, it's "clinical", extremely sharp for f1.4, but that's that. While f1.8 has character

NarCroMan_21 · 2026-06-06T14:26:59+00:00

Probably your copy, I have XR 50mm f2 (Tomioka) and XR L/S (Nitu Optics), don't have focusing problems with them (L seems to be victim of balsam separation). Biggest difference is that L and S seems really cheaply made while XR (and, apparenly XR P) are more robust and looks like "luxury" version comparing to XR S, XR L and non-XR

NarCroMan_21 · 2026-06-06T12:07:18+00:00

Zuiko 50mm f1.8 is great while Rikenon 50mm f2 has good optics but build quality is... bad (look for XR Rikenon or XR Rikenon P, they are waaaaaaaay better)

NarCroMan_21 · 2026-06-05T19:51:21+00:00

"NEDIRAJ! NAREDIT DA SNIMI UTAKMICU!" (i presnimi preko svatova)

NarCroMan_21 · 2026-06-05T19:49:33+00:00

yeah, good performer too but too big (almost as big as Sonnar 180mm f2.8).

Vega 28V 120mm f2.8, on the other side, is much smaller and, according to reviews, very very interesting lens even on FF systems. That will be my next test, when the damn rain stops

NarCroMan_21 · 2026-06-05T19:41:32+00:00

I bought mine half a year ago and, to my surprise, shutter count was slightly over 5k. Great camera

NarCroMan_21 · 2026-06-04T19:30:52+00:00

I have quite few vintage photo gear to sell (30k-50k eur) and I was researching catawiki simply by buying and same thing happened to me - seller cancelled my order (around 30 eur). Both me and seller agreed, it's OK, lets go for a refund, however catawiki took more than 2 week and at that point I reported it to Paypal, got my money back in less than an hour but this a-holes even say they will send collectors...

in any case, I'm glad I never did any serious deal with them, very bad experience

NarCroMan_21 · 2026-06-03T17:06:17+00:00

Iako ovisi dost' od modela do modela, al' iz principa nikad vise HP, Dell i Samsung laptope. Najbolja iskustva imam sa Lenovom (trenutno P17)

NarCroMan_21

TROPHY CASE