Helios 44-2, that old stiff aperture ring problem!

Sewin · Jun 29, 2017

I've had a few of these preset lenses, have a couple now.

I like using them, but the aperture click stop rings are so stiff.

OK, perhaps they were designed to be used by muscular Soviet's, just wish there was a solution to slightly reduce the force needed to change between the clicks though.

I know it's a common problem, but I've never found a simple solution.

shutterfinger · Jun 29, 2017

I have never used/worked on a Russian camera. Being they reverse engineered or copied from conquered teritory companies the click stop likely works the same as other cameras.
The aperture ring has indentations at each aperture stop be it whole stops or half stops with a steel ball on a spring that fits into the indentations by 40% of the ball diameter or there is a piece of the barrel that is free of the rest of the barrel except for the rear edge with the front edge rounded up to fit into the indentations by 30% to 40% and it will press down enough for the aperture ring to turn.
The stiffness is caused by dried out grease or a high tension spring. I would start by flooding the aperture ring along the scale with 90% Isopropyl Alcohol and operate the ring from extreme to extreme while wet. Hold the lens with the scale down to prevent the alcohol from running inside the lens. Once the alcohol has dried apply a drop or two of clock oil along the ring edge of the scale area.
Stronger solvents may damage the paint on the aperture ring of lens barrel.

E. von Hoegh · Jun 29, 2017

I have a couple of these lenses, they have very positive detents. But, it's better to have them on the stiff side, this way you don't change the aperture setting when you close down the diaphragm. Servicing one of mine made no difference, and I've left it as-is. If yours have stiff dried out grease, servicing will make them better. Mine had the typical separated grease, all over the diaphragm & etc.

Eric Rose · Jun 29, 2017

I have the same lens. The clicks are definitely of the positive nature. It's not that the ring is stiff, just that that it takes a bit to move it out of the detent. Love the lens.

E. von Hoegh · Jun 29, 2017

Eric Rose said:
I have the same lens. The clicks are definitely of the positive nature. It's not that the ring is stiff, just that that it takes a bit to move it out of the detent. Love the lens.

Me too, at present mine lives on a Practika.

AgX · Jun 29, 2017

Substituting the spring that loads that ball by a softer sample would solve the issue.

Eric Rose · Jun 29, 2017

E. von Hoegh said:
Me too, at present mine lives on a Practika.

Mine is used in video productions using my Panasonic Lumix G85. Do some portraits with it as well, same camera.

Sewin · Jun 30, 2017

Thank's all.

I expected it to be a spring / ball bearing combination.
I'll try the Isopropyl alcohol + 100 turns to see if that helps as I don't fancy disassembling the lens.

Sewin · Jun 30, 2017

Tried the alcohol + 100 turns. Still the same,will leave as is.

Use my lens on a Zenit B.

jim10219 · Jun 30, 2017

You could try filling in the detents with a tiny dap of filler. Something like JB Weld. Make sure it dries fully before reassembling. That would keep the ball bearing from making as strong a contact and reduce drag.

But that's a lot of work, and you have to be careful not to screw up the lens. Plus, it would increase the odds of moving the aperture when trying to stop down the lens for taking.

E. von Hoegh · Jun 30, 2017

jim10219 said:
You could try filling in the detents with a tiny dap of filler. Something like JB Weld. Make sure it dries fully before reassembling. That would keep the ball bearing from making as strong a contact and reduce drag.

But that's a lot of work, and you have to be careful not to screw up the lens. Plus, it would increase the odds of moving the aperture when trying to stop down the lens for taking.

Especially if you have it set between full stops, why I left mine as-is.

loman · Jun 30, 2017

There is no spring loaded ballbearing in the aperture mechanism on a helios 44-2. It's all done by detents and a little spring tap on the aperture ring itself.
It's meant to be quite stiff to turn as to not accidentally moving the aperture when you stop down the lens.
You can make it smoother by disassembly and re-lubing. But it will always have a very positive feel to it. (I've disassembled around 15 of these lenses).
You can see the mechanism in this video:

Best Regards
Mads

Sewin · Jun 30, 2017

Thanks All,

After watching the video I think I'll leave it as is , I'm too clumsy with big hands and and wouldn't fancy stripping one lens down, never mind 15!!!

Helios 44-2, that old stiff aperture ring problem!

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