NikonGear'23

Gear Talk => What the Nerds Do => Topic started by: richardHaw on June 23, 2017, 17:44:27

Title: Autofocus Helios-44
Post by: richardHaw on June 23, 2017, 17:44:27
https://richardhaw.com/2017/06/23/mod-autofocus-helios-44-for-nikon/

Here it is. Thomas' advise to use the Helios saved me some money for the prototype :o :o :o
Title: Re: Autofocus Helios-44
Post by: Nasos Kosmas on June 23, 2017, 19:14:17
Very very nice Richard ;D
Title: Re: Autofocus Helios-44
Post by: FredCrowBear on June 24, 2017, 04:42:48
Fun, fun, fun!!!   Fantastic!!!

Title: Re: Autofocus Helios-44
Post by: Akira on June 24, 2017, 07:05:49
Very promising and intriguing, Rick!  Nice job!
Title: Re: Autofocus Helios-44
Post by: Bern on June 24, 2017, 07:47:19
Very ingenius Richard. The markII is something to look forward to. Maybe you can share the design plans 😳👀🙄
Helios are becoming easily accesible here in the Philippines 🤓😀

Bern
Title: Re: Autofocus Helios-44
Post by: Thomas Stellwag on June 24, 2017, 10:31:28
one more like this and they´ll ask you to become Milestone Director at LOMO   :D
Title: Re: Autofocus Helios-44
Post by: richardHaw on June 24, 2017, 12:44:39
some tests this afternoon :o :o :o
nothing much to expect sine this is the Helios 44. interestingly, I just found out that somebody has been making these and selling them on ebay ::) you can check those out, they are very well-made
Title: Re: Autofocus Helios-44
Post by: Macro_Cosmos on July 03, 2017, 08:54:55
This is awesome Richard!
I know the Chinese term is 植鏡, not sure if there's an English term for the specific method :P

It's also possible to plant the Voigtlander 50mms into a 50mm/1.8 AFD screwdrive type lens. I guess we can call it "glass planting"?  ;D
Title: Re: Autofocus Helios-44
Post by: richardHaw on July 03, 2017, 09:24:00
This is awesome Richard!
I know the Chinese term is 植鏡, not sure if there's an English term for the specific method :P

It's also possible to plant the Voigtlander 50mms into a 50mm/1.8 AFD screwdrive type lens. I guess we can call it "glass planting"?  ;D

it is called optical transplant  :o :o :o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yzl59a2kzY0

somebody has been doing a better job than me now. check what he has been doing

here is my 3D printed barrel. I am going to make a better one that will allow me to open and stop down the iris.

my decision to use a cheap zoom was a mistake as the front rotates and so the whole thing inside rotates as well. this make coupling the iris to the aperture ring tricky so the best option for this is to use a small prime with a front barrel that doesnt rotate.
Title: Re: Autofocus Helios-44
Post by: richardHaw on July 03, 2017, 09:24:42
it is the poor man's 58/1.4G  :o :o :o
Title: Re: Autofocus Helios-44
Post by: Erik Lund on July 03, 2017, 12:26:48
What a strange marriage :o :o :o  I can see how the rotating lens could cause some issues with the aperture stop down lever  ;D  Good fun
Title: Re: Autofocus Helios-44
Post by: richardHaw on July 03, 2017, 14:24:27
What a strange marriage :o :o :o  I can see how the rotating lens could cause some issues with the aperture stop down lever  ;D  Good fun

yes. I originally intended to have a macro feature for this with the zoom cam but the cam had to go because it was too small. the bigger problem is focus offsets were programmed in the chip  :o :o :o for example, I would get perfect focusing performance on 35mm on subjects less than 3m but for infinity, I need to zoom to 70mm or Nikon will apply a focus shift.

The stop-down mechanism is easy to implement on the next printout.

check what the russian guy did, he made a better product with a prime because its much simpler.
Title: Re: Autofocus Helios-44
Post by: Erik Lund on July 04, 2017, 08:05:41
I would think it was not possible to use an AF CPU designed for another AF lens, not for achieving focus that is,,,They are calibrated for the actual lens they sit in,,,I have never tried it though,,,.........
Turned out that was the case then  :o :o :o  Points for trying  8)
Title: Re: Autofocus Helios-44
Post by: Bern on July 04, 2017, 15:35:54
A sample of the AF Helios 44 has come up for sale here in the Philippines. Looks like a 50mm 1.8 AFD was used as the shell.

Bern

This is awesome Richard!
I know the Chinese term is 植鏡, not sure if there's an English term for the specific method :P

It's also possible to plant the Voigtlander 50mms into a 50mm/1.8 AFD screwdrive type lens. I guess we can call it "glass planting"?  ;D
Title: Re: Autofocus Helios-44
Post by: richardHaw on August 07, 2017, 05:51:32
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28x49hQr5W0&t=15s

here is what's going on now... :o :o :o
Title: Re: Autofocus Helios-44
Post by: Akira on August 07, 2017, 13:31:10
Wow, this is fantastically nerdy!!!   :D
Title: Re: Autofocus Helios-44
Post by: richardHaw on August 26, 2017, 16:34:50
http://richardhaw.com/2017/08/26/autofocus-helios-44-for-nikon-pt2/

Here is an update. looking a lot better now and looking more and more close to the Russian ones on ebay  :o :o :o
Title: Re: Autofocus Helios-44
Post by: Jakov Minić on August 26, 2017, 17:09:20
Richard, that is really neat  8)
I haven't used my Zenit 85mm f/1.5 in a while but should do so.
Thanks
Title: Re: Autofocus Helios-44
Post by: Frank Fremerey on August 26, 2017, 17:24:12
I see that the Russian Engineers sell the AF Helios 44-3 for just over 200€. Quite cheaply, but I have enough lenses for now.

I adore your skill and patience. I feel my life is so full that I sure do not need another time consuming hobby. Wonderful research and development