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Helios 44-3 58mm f2.0 MC vs. Helios 44M-6 58mm f2.0 MC
Recently I found on a flea market a interesting lens: Helios 44-3 58mm f2.0 MC. An interesting fact that the lens was made on the territory of Belarus. Probably it lacks of official and the non-official information. Even such simple thing as weight, not to mention the resolution, remain unclear. In Wikipedia it is put as a direct derivative of Helios 44-2 with the same parameters. In my opinion it's not true. For example, anti reflective coating (44-2 lack of it but 44-3 has). Also their outer appearance is quite different. It this moment I do not have Helios 44-2 but Helios 44M-6 50mm f2.0 MC is available and information about this lensavaialbe as well. So I chose Helios 44M-6 MC as a reference for comparison. Additional note: these lenses are made in about the same period of time (‘90s).
Lenses, which will be discussed:
Helios 44-3 58mm f2.0 MC - MMZ (BelOMO) № 9001822
Helios 44M-6 58mm f2.0 MC - KMZ № 92139526
Group photo:
Parameters for comparison:
Convenience of usage and mechanical quality
Image sharpness in the center of the frame (100% crop) for a short distance (3m) at open and slightly closed apertures.
Image sharpness in the center of the frame (100% crop) for a long distance (150m) with closed aperture.
Vignetting
A pointed source of light in the background (bokeh)
Flare Resistance
Capability of macro shooting
Convenience of usage and mechanical quality
In spite of, so to speak, same DNA addressed lenses are very different.
Helios 44-3 looks a little bulky, although I can't call it as drawback. Both lenses have similar mechanical appearance: pre-set aperture ring and second aperture ring located at the front of the lens. Aperture is set only for integer values with no half-stops. There are eight aperture blades. The focus ring is wide and for my taste is very comfortable. Even its location toward the back of the lens does not cause any problem - a Micro4/3 adapter places it far enough from the camera. Focusing ring has no backlash and rotates very smoothly.
This, however, is a different from my copy of Helios 44M-6 which focusing ring is moving not freely, probably cleaning and lubrication is needed. The lens doesn't have M/A switch; aperture has a set-up ring which allows semi-stops and a pin for aperture opening. This pin does not produce any troubles (despite many complains), because my adapter Micro4/3-M42 has a special fixture, which pushes this pin into the lens body.
Actually optical quality of both lenses is near perfect - no stains, scratches or other defects. Helios 44-3 - front lens coating is blue, the back - purple. Helios 44M-6 - front lens coating is yellowish, the back - also purple.
Image sharpness in the center of the frame (100% crop) for a short distance (3m) for open and slightly closed apertures.
Conditions: indirect sunlight, ISO100, white balance fixed (the sun), Olympus E-PL1, a tripod.
Helios 44-3 f2.0
Helios 44-3 f4.0
Helios 44M-6 f2.0
Helios 44M-6 f4.0
100% crop
In fact, 100% crop leaves no doubt - Helios 44-3 has good sharpness from f2.0 aperture and over score by this parameter Helios 44M-6. Stopping the aperture down definitely increase the sharpness, but not much. That means f2.0 aperture is fully operational.
Image sharpness in the center of the frame (100% crop) for a long distance (150m) with closed aperture f5.6.
Helios 44-3 f5.6
Helios 44M-6 f5.6
100% crop
This test showed no differences between the lenses. Although this is not expected - for sensor with x2 crop factor "edge" of the frame is actually not the "edge" of the lens.
Both lenses show good sharpness and no chromatic aberration at sharp transitions from light to dark areas.
Vignetting
The naked eye detects no vignetting in these lenses (again sensor with x2 crop factor). Therefore, the Photoshop has good option to highlight it - (Posterizing level 4).
It makes vignetting more visual, it appears at f2.0 aperture and stronger for the Helios 44-3. At f4.0 aperture vignetting disappears, and the difference between the lenses gone.
A pointed source of light in the background (bokeh)
Helios 44-3 f2.0
Helios 44M-6 f2.0
This test showed almost identical image for both lenses. These images show a slightly "ghost" circles that degenerate into an oval at the edge of the frame, were familiar for this type of lenses (Planar). Previous images show that both lenses have the same torsion background typical for all Helios models. While closing the apertures Helios 44-3 bokeh still retains rounded (or close to it) due to eight blades of the diaphragm. Helios 44M-6 shows the hexagons in the bokeh.
Flare Resistance
Both lenses shows quite marginal result in term of resistance to flare. The test was conducted without the hood. At open wide aperture the contrast decreases markedly. Following examples are for Helios 44-3.
Helios 44-3 f2.0
Helios 44-3 f4.0
Capability of macro shooting
By themselves they are not macro-lenses - the minimum focal length is only 45cm for both. However, with macro-rings (average macro ring for M42 was used), it is possible to achieve a good result.
Helios 44-3 f11
Helios 44M-6 f11
100% crop
100% crop shows no advantage to any lens. Helios 44-3 gives a more pleasing bokeh because of the eight blades of the diaphragm.
Ratings:
I have tried to rank the lenses by a five-point system for each of the above parameter. Evaluation of course related to the specific lens and does not purport to be absolute. Exhibiting assessment, I also had in mind I used the other 50mm lenses and tried to be objective as possible.
| Parameter | Helios 44-3 | Helios 44M-6 |
| Convenience of usage | 5 | 4 |
| mechanical quality | 4 | 3 |
| Image sharpness in the center of the frame for a short distance (3m) | 5 | 4 |
| Image sharpness in the center of the frame for a long distance (150m) | 4 | 4 |
| Vignetting | 3 | 4 |
| Bokeh | 5 | 4 |
| Resistance to backlight | 3 | 3 |
| Capability of macro shooting | 4 | 4 |
| Overall | 33 | 30 |
Conclusions:
Helios 44-3 58mm f2.0 MC is a typical representative of the Helios 50mm lens family and can be used as a universal lens with an emphasis on portrait for cameras with smaller than FF sensors. It demonstrates good image quality for almost all shooting options. Helios 44-3 58mm f2.0 MC has better image sharpness than Helios 44M-6 58mm f2.0 MC. Also it can be used as a macro lens with macro-rings.
Here you can see art photos taken by these lenses: