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The Carl Ziess 44-2 58mm f2 lens

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Submitted by Chris-Hodgson on Fri, 30/12/2011 - 09:17

This is a lens I'd read about, and had been hunting for, for a while. It is a common lens, as it was supplied as a kit lens with the Zenit E range, in the early 70's (before they changed it, and made it a lower quality lens)
Focal Length: 58 mm (58,60 mm)
Relative aperture: 1:2
Angle of view: 40 ° 28 '
Number of lenses / groups: 6 / 4
Number of blades: 8
Focal distance: 0.5m to infinity

This lens is not to be confused with later models, which although claimed to be better quality/improved at the time, they were not. This is due to the 6 blade aperture (8 in 44-2), and slightly different optical formula used. The 44-2 is the only one to use the Carl Zeiss Biotar 58mm -f2 optics (hence it's name Russian Biotar), which is the only one claimed to be better in optical quality.
This lens is fully manual for both focus and aperture (via ring). With the use of a standard or chipped adaptor, it can be converted from M42 fit, to fit any DSLR on the market. It is the ONLY lens that I have ever found to be pin sharp from f2 to f16, without any sweet spot. I paid the grand total of £10 for this lens, along with it's original Zenit 35mm body, and a Dufay 35mm f3.5.

For those of you with DSLR bodies, don't turn your nose up at these older M42 fit lenses. In some cases they are far superior to the modern alternatives, and well worth their money. By using a £4 adaptor, you can make then fit any DSLR body, with ease, so not expensive either Wink.

Click images below to view larger size

These are a few basic test shots ranging from f2 to f16

 

This one is an extreme low light shot at f2, ISO-1600 with no flash etc

2 people like this.

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Submitted by Vivien L
Date Fri, 30/12/2011 - 09:24
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Wow, what a bummer!! I used to have an old Zenith!! In fact it was my first ever SLR camera.

Those examples are brilliant Chris, which camera body did you use?

Thanks for sharing this.

Viv

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Submitted by Watcher8
Date Fri, 30/12/2011 - 09:42
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 I have also used , with adapter, my Pentax Super Takumar m42 lenses on DSLR Nikon /FujiS5Pro.  bodies  50mm...85mm f1.8..100mm f4 macro ...135mm f2.4  super-smooth manual focus. The only lens I cannot use with the optical adapter, to get infinity focus, is the 35mmf2. The lens retracts too far back, and would foul the adapter glass. Cracking sharp results, but you must be able to work methodically in manual adjustments.

Paul.B.

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Submitted by Steve Ransome
Date Fri, 30/12/2011 - 09:44
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Hiyah Chris

Thanks for this,  that adaptor sounds interesting.  I really must look into lenses in a lot more detail.  This is just what I wanted to chat to you about but you changed your phone number!!!  (scared I was going to reveres the charges eh!!!)

Thanks Chris, very informative.

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Steve

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Submitted by Chris-Hodgson
Date Fri, 30/12/2011 - 09:45
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Examples are with a Canon 500D Wink I too started with a Zenit in 1988-89, though it didn't have this lens on it. This lens was very early on in the Zenit E range, and was rather quickly changed to a slightly different lens (though looks the same). Later models were produced up until the early 90's, but they lacked the 8 blade aperture and Zeiss spec glass Wink

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Submitted by Chris-Hodgson
Date Fri, 30/12/2011 - 09:47
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I'll Email ya my new number later Steve. Thought I'd sent everybody it a while back, but you and a few others slipped through the net Wink

 

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Submitted by John Spencer-Porter
Date Fri, 30/12/2011 - 10:41
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Hi there

Wow, incredible clear focus and colour, love to see this in action on birds, spiders etc. thanks for showing this it gives me heart to continue photography but don’t think I could get to your standard for a few years – if then.

John.

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Submitted by wullierodger
Date Fri, 30/12/2011 - 12:22
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i'll need to have a rake around in the loft for my old Zenit!

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Submitted by the one and only DAZ
Date Sun, 01/01/2012 - 02:55
Comment

Hiya Chris, on the subject of old lenses I picked up a minolta 50mm F1.7 for my A500 for next to nothing.  Brillliant lens, but Ive a question for ya... I have a Praktica B200 with three primes 28mm F2.8, a 50mm F1.8 and a 135mm F2.8, now I remember these being pin sharp but I cant for the life of me find a praktica bayonet mount to alpha convertor, any ideas?  I know I can reverse em for macro use so they dont go to waste but Id love to use em on the camera manually but all I can find are the M42 convertors.  

As with Viv, I gave away a Zenit E about 20 yrs ago when the praktica came along.  

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Submitted by TAo2
Date Sat, 14/01/2012 - 18:59
Comment

Hi daz,

Isn't the Praktika bayonet mount the same as the Pentax K? If so, see this....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pentax-PK-K-Lens-Minolta-SONY-Alpha-optical-adapter-focus-INFINITY-A900-A65-/180732968722?pt=UK_Photography_CameraLenses_Lens_caps_hoods_adaptors_ET&hash=item2a14863f12

Cool

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 http://www.myfinepix.ru/gallery/94795

 

http://www.myfinepix.ru/blog/94795

 

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Submitted by the one and only DAZ
Date Tue, 17/01/2012 - 22:51
Comment

Hiya matey, 

Thanks for that, I had heard they were almost identical but depending on the praktica lens, they're either a loose fit or wont turn into position but theres a work around which needs careful use of a file.... which I think I'll pass on given my condition at the moment lol!  Thanks again matey!  

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My views are mine alone and do not represent the views of others, either implied, alive, dead, budding apparitions or know it alls. Anything I state, that doesnt go along with everyone else or THE RULES are stated to give another avenue to explore

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Submitted by TAo2
Date Fri, 09/03/2012 - 07:02
Comment

Hi Chris,

 

 Been meaning tae get back tae this thread for a while. It's nice tae see others here appreciating old lenses, especially Russian ones. Liked yer post but could ah offer a couple of corrections?

  • All the 44 series Helios lenses, from the original 44 tae the 44-7 (which was still produced well into the 90s), have the same Biotar-style optics, (which Zeiss copied/derived, as well, from an English company, who first produced the assymetry) - assymetrical, Double Gauss  6/4 grouping . The 44-2 wasn't unique in that respect.
  • Up 'til the 44-4, they all had 8 bladed shutters. 
  •  The 44-3 was the first with coatings on the lens, subsequent ones in the series had multi-coating.

    Since they were made at different factories over the years, they all have different characteristics. The 44-2 was made at 2/3 different factories as were the others. Factories can be identified by their logos on the lens and sometimes by their serial nos. Ah would'nt say any one was "better" than another, just different.  Ah have 4 Helios lenses, a 44, 2 x 44-2 and a 44M, a rare, multi-coated version which came with my Zenit EM back in 1976 This lay in a drawer for years while ah indulged in Minolta mult-zooms 'till the digital age and £700 for a half-decent lens! The 44M is more saturated that the 44-2 but still more pastel than Kodachrome, ah like them all for different purposes.

Ah may get rid of my long zoom as ah'm waiting on a pentacon 2.8/135 at the moment which'll give me 200mm at the long end with the crop factor.

 

Cool

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 http://www.myfinepix.ru/gallery/94795

 

http://www.myfinepix.ru/blog/94795

 

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