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The Helios 44-2 is probably the most popular vintage soviet lens. My copy is from 1989 it was made on the Valdai plant which is not the most recommended plant in Russia, most websites said the the best Soviet plant for quality control in the Soviet years was the KMZ plant. Saying that I’m happy with my copy I haven’t try a Helios 44-2 from the KMZ plant then I can’t say which one is better.

The lens is small made of metal and glass only, it actually feels very well made. This lens is very famous for the swirly bokeh that produces when is shoot at right distant from the subject and the background. Is also a copy of the Carl Zeiss Biotar 58mm f2.

Here are test images from the lens