|
Helios 40-2 85mm f/1.5 (M42 to Pentax) - Review / Test Report - Sample Iamges & Verdict |
|
Lens Reviews -
Pentax
|
|
Page 3 of 3
Sample Images
Here're a couple of quick'n dirty sample images taken with the Helios on the Pentax K10D and
RAW-converted via ACR 3.7.
Click on a thumbnail to view the original file (opens in a separate window). Please note that the originals are FULL SIZE
(=several megabytes) which requires quite some bandwidth for downloading so please don't waste the limited resources here.
| Make |
PENTAX Corporation |
|
| Model |
PENTAX K10D |
| ISO Speed |
200 |
| Focal Length |
|
| Exposure Data: |
f/ @ 1/4000s |
| Size |
2592x3872 |
|
| Make |
PENTAX Corporation |
|
| Model |
PENTAX K10D |
| ISO Speed |
200 |
| Focal Length |
|
| Exposure Data: |
f/ @ 1/2500s |
| Size |
3872x2592 |
|
| Make |
PENTAX Corporation |
|
| Model |
PENTAX K10D |
| ISO Speed |
100 |
| Focal Length |
|
| Exposure Data: |
f/ @ 1/2500s |
| Size |
3872x2592 |
|
| Make |
PENTAX Corporation |
|
| Model |
PENTAX K10D |
| ISO Speed |
200 |
| Focal Length |
|
| Exposure Data: |
f/ @ 1/200s |
| Size |
2592x3872 |
|
| Make |
PENTAX Corporation |
|
| Model |
PENTAX K10D |
| ISO Speed |
100 |
| Focal Length |
|
| Exposure Data: |
f/ @ 1/3200s |
| Size |
2592x3872 |
|
| Make |
PENTAX Corporation |
|
| Model |
PENTAX K10D |
| ISO Speed |
200 |
| Focal Length |
|
| Exposure Data: |
f/ @ 1/320s |
| Size |
2592x3872 |
|
Verdict
The Helios 40-2 85mm f/1.5 was surely one of the more interesting lenses that found its way
to the lab. Technically the lens is no good but naturally there's still a truth beyond hard
facts. One of the obvious applications for an ultra-large aperture lens is portrait photography.
For this purpose you actually don't really require a super sharp lens and the border quality
isn't all that important here. Within this scope the Helios is pretty usable even at f/1.5 ... IF
you place you subject into the very center of the image field. The results are "dreamy"
here which is sometimes quite desirable. The bokeh (the out-of-focus blur) is pretty good
(although not stellar) which also contributes to the effect. At f/2 and f/2.8 the center
quality is very good although the border resolution remains next to non-existent. From f/5.6
the quality is very high and leaves nothing to be desired. Distortions, CAs and vignetting
are very well controlled and nothing to worry about. Being a M42-mount lens it is fairly
obvious that the Helios can't be a mainstream lens - there's no AF and no camera-controlled aperture
here so you need to rely on your photographic craftsmanship here. Now does it make any sense
to purchase such a lens ? Well, usually not but I think the Helios would be a good boot camp for
Rookies on a budget who want to explore the ultra-large aperture world.
| Optical Quality: |  |
| Mechanical Quality: |  |
| Price/Performance: |  |
|
