NikonGear'23

Gear Talk => Lens Talk => Topic started by: Jakov Minić on April 08, 2016, 15:27:23

Title: Zenit 85mm f/1.5 (Helios 40-2)
Post by: Jakov Minić on April 08, 2016, 15:27:23
The lens is heavy, rugged and the craftsmanship is not of the best quality. It is outdated and doesn’t have sophisticated nano coatings, ED lens elements, and it doesn't auto-focus. Focusing is not smooth and the aperture ring is placed unusually at the front of the barrel. It has no metering capabilities because it is not fitted with a CPU so it doesn’t communicate with your camera body. It easily flares and ghosts. Chromatic aberrations and purple fringing are also main characteristics of this lens. The list of imperfections goes on and on. It’s not about what a lens cannot do, but what a lens can do! It’s about knowing the flaws but using the good parts. In this case, the extraordinary parts it possesses - the out of focus areas of an image.
Oh, how I enjoy using it  8)
Title: Re: Zenit 85mm f/1.5 (Helios 40-2)
Post by: tommiejeep on April 08, 2016, 15:36:54
Jakov, that second image is crazy wild... I like it  :)
Tom
Title: Re: Zenit 85mm f/1.5 (Helios 40-2)
Post by: chris dees on April 08, 2016, 15:52:15
The lens is heavy, rugged and the craftsmanship is not of the best quality. It is outdated and doesn’t have sophisticated nano coatings, ED lens elements, and it doesn't auto-focus. Focusing is not smooth and the aperture ring is placed unusually at the front of the barrel. It has no metering capabilities because it is not fitted with a CPU so it doesn’t communicate with your camera body. It easily flares and ghosts. Chromatic aberrations and purple fringing are also main characteristics of this lens. The list of imperfections goes on and on. It’s not about what a lens cannot do, but what a lens can do! It’s about knowing the flaws but using the good parts. In this case, the extraordinary parts it possesses - the out of focus areas of an image.
Oh, how I enjoy using it  8)

So it's lens specially design and build for you.  ;D
I agree, that second one is stunning. What a colors!
Title: Re: Zenit 85mm f/1.5 (Helios 40-2)
Post by: Jakov Minić on April 08, 2016, 16:00:23
Yes, this lens seems to be designed for me  ;D
Thank you Chris and Tommie!
Here are another two.
I forgot to mentioned that I used the outdated and not sophisticated D300 on this occasion.
Title: Re: Zenit 85mm f/1.5 (Helios 40-2)
Post by: Olivier on April 08, 2016, 17:12:10
Jakov, the first two are magnificent! Did you work much on the colors?
Title: Re: Zenit 85mm f/1.5 (Helios 40-2)
Post by: Hugh_3170 on April 08, 2016, 17:29:50
Jakov, as others have commented, these are indeed magnificent.  With this lens, you are clearly a glass is half filled photographer!

I am sure that some form of CPU chip could be grafted onto the lens - even if it is a G-type chip and the lens is without any aperture linkage support.
Title: Re: Zenit 85mm f/1.5 (Helios 40-2)
Post by: wesstl on April 08, 2016, 19:02:38
I have one of these and it's everything Jakov says it is. The best part: Thanks to the weight, the aperture system, the less than stellar optics, and the shallow DOF at 1.5, all areas are out of focus in my images.  ;)
If only I had added the lens info to the images in my image database so they are easier to locate.
Title: Re: Zenit 85mm f/1.5 (Helios 40-2)
Post by: Jakov Minić on April 08, 2016, 21:23:19
Olivier, yes. I forgot to mention that the saturation and contrast of this lens is rather poor.
You need to work on the levels and saturation. I hope I didn't exaggerate?
Thanks!

Hugh, thanks! I am not quite sure what a glass is half filled photographer means?  :) Erik took a look at it and said that it's not that easy to chip this lens. Erik will be chipping quite a few lenses in Scotland, so I don't want to bother him. But I agree, it would be nice if it had a dedicated CPU.

Wes, when you find them, please show them to us!
Title: Re: Zenit 85mm f/1.5 (Helios 40-2)
Post by: Dr Klaus Schmitt on April 08, 2016, 21:44:10
I have one of these and it's everything Jakov says it is. The best part: Thanks to the weight, the aperture system, the less than stellar optics, and the shallow DOF at 1.5, all areas are out of focus in my images.  ;)
If only I had added the lens info to the images in my image database so they are easier to locate.

Sounds rather like a pilot problem than a lens problem (got a lemon?), mine works just fine.  ;D
Title: Re: Zenit 85mm f/1.5 (Helios 40-2)
Post by: Akira on April 09, 2016, 00:06:09
The coloration of the fringes of bokeh is gorgeous!  Jakov, this is a nice use of the character.
Title: Re: Zenit 85mm f/1.5 (Helios 40-2)
Post by: Bruno Schroder on April 09, 2016, 00:35:25
Fantastic #2 Jakov
Title: Re: Zenit 85mm f/1.5 (Helios 40-2)
Post by: Mongo on April 09, 2016, 02:31:48
Jakov, there has to be a market for this new found style/theme of yours. It is impossible not to notice or react to in an uplifting way. It can become pleasantly contagious. As with the similar
flags" series , Mongo likes it very much. Very nice stuff.
Title: Re: Zenit 85mm f/1.5 (Helios 40-2)
Post by: Hugh_3170 on April 09, 2016, 02:45:03
In general, an optimist says that a glass is half full, whilst a pessimist says that it is half empty. 

Jakov, in your case, your vision has allowed you to see beyond any defects the lens may have and this has in turn allowed you to exploit its positive features and to turn the lenses negative features into positives - to create these Jakovian visions as it were - and to the delight of us all. 

(On the other hand my ever practical mechanical engineer daughter would see a half empty glass as being twice as big as it needs to be. Aargh!    ;D ;D ;D )


........................................

Hugh, thanks! I am not quite sure what a glass is half filled photographer means? .............................................
.....................................
Title: Re: Zenit 85mm f/1.5 (Helios 40-2)
Post by: Dr Klaus Schmitt on April 09, 2016, 11:22:15
Jakov, there has to be a market for this new found style/theme of yours. It is impossible not to notice or react to in an uplifting way. It can become pleasantly contagious. As with the similar
flags" series , Mongo likes it very much. Very nice stuff.

Not a "new style" at all, the whole of Asia has a craze for that since years,
and I'm "infected" long too ;) ;) ;)
Title: Re: Zenit 85mm f/1.5 (Helios 40-2)
Post by: Jakov Minić on April 09, 2016, 13:54:19
I am overwhelmed by the positive comments that I have received from such great photographers.

Thank you Akira, I will exploit the character further :)

Bruno, thanks I am glad you like it :)

Mongo, yet again you have provided me with a comment that is better than the photo itself. Much appreciated :)

Hugh, thank you for the positive remarks, but again you leave me with a question :) Being a civil engineer myself, I don't understand your daughter's comment at all? I suppose that if the glass was two times smaller it would be full :) Actually, if you are noble and follow bon ton, a glass should always be filled half-way. It would be impolite to fill it all the way up to the top...

Dr Klaus, I wasn't aware of the Asian craze. Show us your infectious grooves :)

Title: Re: Zenit 85mm f/1.5 (Helios 40-2)
Post by: Dr Klaus Schmitt on April 09, 2016, 23:13:23
Such stuff...

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/521/19693677719_a84f414e2d_o.jpg)
Title: Re: Zenit 85mm f/1.5 (Helios 40-2)
Post by: Frank Fremerey on April 09, 2016, 23:21:46
beautiful distortion of everything...
Title: Re: Zenit 85mm f/1.5 (Helios 40-2)
Post by: Jørgen Ramskov on April 11, 2016, 12:36:12
It's wonderful, love the "painterly" renderings and your PP.
Title: Re: Zenit 85mm f/1.5 (Helios 40-2)
Post by: ArendV on April 11, 2016, 17:50:27
I have one of these as well and posted the mushroom picture before under "painting with lenses" with good reason

(https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5726/21543109478_cd8523bb56_b.jpg)

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8589/15988704934_6fd6e5b628_b.jpg)
Title: Re: Zenit 85mm f/1.5 (Helios 40-2)
Post by: Jakov Minić on April 11, 2016, 17:59:05
Thank you Dr Klaus and Arend for you worthy contributions. It's nice to know that I am not the only one who likes this lens for what it can do :)
Title: Re: Zenit 85mm f/1.5 (Helios 40-2)
Post by: Jakov Minić on April 16, 2017, 18:35:14
Zenit rules.
I shot the 180/2.8 ED with and without extension ring, the Heligon with and without extension ring and the Zenit on my small balcony with tulips as the main subject.
Zenit won the battle of titans :)
Title: Re: Zenit 85mm f/1.5 (Helios 40-2)
Post by: brent_e on April 16, 2017, 20:44:51
killer shots, Jakov et al! 
#2 on the first post is incredible.  lovely colours. 
Title: Re: Zenit 85mm f/1.5 (Helios 40-2)
Post by: Jakov Minić on April 16, 2017, 21:28:12
Thanks, Brent  8)