Can anyone advise as to the quality of these two lenses please

I've come into the possession of two m42 mount primes lenses. Cant fit them to my camera without an adapter so can't really compare them to my Pentax A 50mm 1.7. so was wondering if anyone out there can give me some info, feedback or other such knowledge on these two lenses. They are:

-Helio-44M 2/58 (f2)

-Auto Rikenon 50mm f2

Your help is greatly appreciated.

---

Pete M
My Flickr

Can only comment on the Helios, which I have in K-mount. I haven't done a direct comparison to my 50mm f1.7, but it is a nice lens with extremely characterful 'swirly' bokeh.

---

[link=https://500px.com/will_brealey/[/link]

Helio
there...I like the first guys comment cheap, sharp, cheap

---

K-1 K-01 Q-7
some len

Close to the Edge
Down by the River

Just had a look on Flickr for Helios pics and I gotta say they give a very unique bokeh.

---

Pete M
My Flickr

The Rikenon is rare in M42. It should be sharp, probably
similar to the Yashicas and could well be made by Tomioka.

Helios lenses do vary, but about 1 in 4 is usually very
good.

---

Half Man... Half Pentax ... Half Cucumber

Pentax K-1 + K-5 and some other stuff

Algi

does 'rare' equate to worth a lot? Please let it be true!!!

---

Pete M
My Flickr

Probably not, unfortunately. It should be a nice lens, though. I've got a Chinon 55/1.4 that is also Tomioka-made and it's pretty good. The bokeh I get with it is different to the Pentax and Helios.

Definitely worth getting an M42 adapter to have a play, anyway.

Is £10 to £30 a lot

The Chinon 55mm f/1.4 is an awesome lens usually
goes for around £65 which is cheap for the super
bokeh that it has. I have the f/1.4 and f/1.2 versions.

---

Half Man... Half Pentax ... Half Cucumber

Pentax K-1 + K-5 and some other stuff

Algi

Algernon

i was sort of hoping that the Rikenon was worth somewhere in the region of £3, million. Y'know, a bit like that photo of the River Rhine that sold recently.

That said, I'm always happy to accept an offer in the millions for this lens. I'm sure its a work of art. I'll even go and get an adapter and lens covers and throw them in for free.

Just order an adapter, so i can have a play and do some comparisons. with my Pentax A and M 50mm f1.7s.

---

Pete M
My Flickr

I paid £33 for the two lenses and a Pentax A 50mm f1.7, so i think i got a bit of a bargain with that little lot.

---

Pete M
My Flickr

The 50mm is worth twice that on it's own so I would say you did ok

---

. My Flickr

Woo-hoo!! Back of the net!!!!!!!!!!

I may even kiss the wife!!

---

Pete M
My Flickr

It's mostly the bokeh that's different, although the Pentax
lenses have good bokeh wide open as well.

I doubt if you will notice much difference in sharpness.
The Pentax lenses should just edge it.

This is a good site for bokeh samples link

---

Half Man... Half Pentax ... Half Cucumber

Pentax K-1 + K-5 and some other stuff

Algi

I have the Helios 44M with M42 mount. It's probably my favourite lens for taking orchid photos.cheers
bb2

---

K5, K20D, Bigma, Sigma EX 105, Sigma EX 10-20, Sigma EX 28-70 F2.8, Sigma Ex 1.4TC,
Pentax 135 F3.5, Pentax 30mm F2.8 , Pentax 50mm F1.7, Pentax 55mm F1.8,
Super Taks: 35mm F3.5, 50mm F1.4, 135mm F3.5, 200mm F4
Vivitar TX 200mm F3.5,Vivitar (Komine)135mm f2.8, Vivitar 2X TC, Vivitar T4 400mm F6.3
Tamron SP 35-80,80-210 F3.8, Helios 44M, Mir 1B 37mm F2.8, Jupiter 9 85mm F2, Chinon 28mm F2.8, 3M-5A 500mm F8 etc etc

I have a Helios 44M (M42 mount) and as has been stated a lovely, different, bokeh .. which is why most people buy it (and it's quite sharp too). A keeper.

---

http://frogfish.smugmug.com/ Pentax. Pentax DA*300/4, Cosina 55/1.2, Lens Baby Composer Pro & Edge 80, AFA x1.7, Metz 50 af1.
Nikon. D800. D600. Sigma 500/4.5, Nikon 300/2.8 VRII, Sigma 120-300/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 21/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 35/2.0, Sigma 50/1.4, Nikkor 85/1.8, Nikon TC20EIII, Nikon TC14EII, Kenko x1.4, Sigma 2.0