Helios 44-2 58mm f/2
The Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 is a 58mm f/2 manual-focus lens for the M42 mount, made by Helios from 1958-1992. It uses 6 elements / 4 groups, Double Gauss (Zeiss Biotar copy). Typical used value is $25 to $130, with most examples near $55, and it adapts to Sony E, Fuji X, MFT, Canon RF, Nikon Z, and L-mount with a plain mechanical adapter.
Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 specifications
Why collectors want it
The most famous swirly-bokeh lens, a Soviet copy of the Zeiss Biotar 58mm f/2. Off-center highlights smear into a rotational swirl when the background is busy and the lens is wide open. It is soft and low contrast at f/2 and sharpens up by f/4, which is exactly why cinematographers and portrait shooters buy it.
Mount and adapters for the 44-2 58mm f/2
The Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 has a native M42 mount. M42 is a 42mm x 1mm screw thread with a 45.46mm register, introduced in 1949 on the Contax S and later adopted by Praktica, Asahi Pentax, Fujica, Zenit, Yashica, and Chinon. Every mirrorless mount has a shorter register than 45.46mm, so a plain mechanical adapter puts the lens at its design distance and infinity focus is preserved. Plain threaded adapter, no optics. Lenses with an auto-diaphragm pin need either an Auto/Manual switch on the lens or an adapter with an inner flange that holds the pin in. Preset lenses such as the Helios 44-2 have no pin and work on any adapter.
| Camera system | Adapter | Infinity focus | Frames like | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony E | Plain mechanical, 27.46mm | Yes | 58mm on full frame; 87mm on APS-C (1.5x) | M42 to Sony E |
| Fuji X | Plain mechanical, 27.76mm | Yes | 87mm on APS-C (1.5x) | M42 to Fuji X |
| MFT | Plain mechanical, 26.21mm | Yes | 116mm on Four Thirds (2x) | M42 to MFT |
| Canon RF | Plain mechanical, 25.46mm | Yes | 58mm on full frame; 93mm on APS-C (1.6x) | M42 to Canon RF |
| Nikon Z | Plain mechanical, 29.46mm | Yes | 58mm on full frame; 87mm on APS-C (1.5x) | M42 to Nikon Z |
| L-mount | Plain mechanical, 25.46mm | Yes | 58mm on full frame; 87mm on APS-C (1.5x) | M42 to L-mount |
Frequently asked
What mount is the Helios 44-2 58mm f/2?
The Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 has a native M42 mount. M42 is a 42mm x 1mm screw thread with a 45.46mm register, introduced in 1949 on the Contax S and later adopted by Praktica, Asahi Pentax, Fujica, Zenit, Yashica, and Chinon. With a plain mechanical adapter it fits Sony E, Fuji X, MFT, Canon RF, Nikon Z, and L-mount bodies and keeps infinity focus.
How much is the Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 worth in 2026?
A used Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 typically sells for $25 to $130, with most clean working examples near $55. Basis: eBay sold listings and serviced-seller pricing, 2024-2025; higher end reflects CLA'd or early KMZ examples. This is an estimate, not an appraisal; condition, variant, and service history move the number.
Does the Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 work on Sony E, Fuji X, and MFT?
Yes. M42 has a 45.46mm register and every mirrorless mount is shorter (16mm to 20mm), so a simple M42 adapter reaches infinity with no optics. On a full-frame body the Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 frames as a 58mm lens; on APS-C (1.5x) it frames like a 87mm, on Canon APS-C (1.6x) like a 93mm, and on Micro Four Thirds (2x) like a 116mm. Plain threaded adapter, no optics. Lenses with an auto-diaphragm pin need either an Auto/Manual switch on the lens or an adapter with an inner flange that holds the pin in. Preset lenses such as the Helios 44-2 have no pin and work on any adapter.
When was the Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 made?
Helios made the 44-2 58mm f/2 from 1958-1992. That puts the Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 9 years into the life of the M42 mount, which appeared in 1949 on the Zeiss Ikon Contax S (Dresden).
What is the optical design of the Helios 44-2 58mm f/2?
The Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 uses 6 elements / 4 groups, Double Gauss (Zeiss Biotar copy). Double Gauss designs are near-symmetrical six- or seven-element formulas that support fast apertures with good correction; fast versions show glow from spherical aberration and swirl from mechanical vignetting wide open.
Which lenses are similar to the Helios 44-2 58mm f/2?
Close alternatives in the same focal class are the Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 58mm f/2 (58mm f/2, $120 to $550), the Minolta MC Rokkor-PF 58mm f/1.4 (58mm f/1.4, $70 to $260), and the Minolta MC Rokkor-PG 58mm f/1.2 (58mm f/1.2, $300 to $850). The Minolta MC Rokkor-PF 58mm f/1.4 and The Minolta MC Rokkor-PG 58mm f/1.2 are faster.
Alternatives to the 44-2 58mm f/2
Lenses within 15mm of 58mm from other makers, ranked by how close they sit in focal length, aperture, and price.
Side-by-side comparisons
- Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 vs Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8
- Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 vs Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 58mm f/2
- Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 vs Fujinon 55mm f/1.8 EBC
- Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 vs Konica Hexanon AR 57mm f/1.2
- Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 vs Minolta MC Rokkor-PF 55mm f/1.7
- Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 vs Minolta MC Rokkor-PF 58mm f/1.4
- Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 vs Minolta MC Rokkor-PG 58mm f/1.2
Where this lens fits
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Terms this lens demonstrates
Related guides
- Swirly bokehWhat causes swirly bokeh, why Biotar-type lenses like the Helios 44-2 produce it, how sensor size and aperture change it, and which vintage lenses swirl the most.
- M42 to Sony EHow M42 screw-mount lenses work on Sony E cameras: the 27.46mm adapter, flanged versus flangeless rings, auto-aperture pins, camera settings, and the APS-C crop.
- Buying checklistA step-by-step checklist for buying used manual lenses: the flashlight test for fungus, haze, and separation, mechanical checks, seller language, grades, and mount traps.