Vintage Lens for 35mm SLR - Helios 58mm f/2

[Neil Grant]

...with a 16 percent longer focal length than the more common '50s', and a min focus distance just below half a metre, the lens has appreciable close-up abilities: photo taken at f/2.8? on one of the those strange modern cameras (while the film is awaiting development)

 

[Martin Rickards]

That was the standard lens for the Zenith, I seem to remember.

 

[pdeeh]

A good example is extremely sharp and contrasty, if those things matter to one.
The Battleship Potemkin build and handling perhaps less appealing.
I got mine for nothing and eventually sold it for £40 on ebay

 

[Neil Grant]

..it is the Zenith lens, made '91 - I'm told in the Minsk factory - so it looks a bit different to the usual ones. It's preset with 8 diaphragm blades for 'rounder openings'. Feels a bit tougher than some East German lenses I have. I bought it for the interesting swirly bokeh it can produce.

 

[Dali]

A very capable lens, the soviet version of the Zeiss Biotar 2/58mm.

 

[onre]

It is one of my favourites.