Cooke is famous for having initiated
a "triplet" of lenses.
Here's MY triplet of
Helios 44 lenses!
When Stalin demanded reparation for the damages of war from Nazi Germany, one of the domains that stood prominent on his list was the Saxon knowledge and experience in optical glass, their building of lenses and other equipment, as well as the glass itself which was still there after heavy bombing ... and the personnel (engineers, technicians, workers) who had managed to survive.
Some of the Carl Zeiss Jena - it was the main source - gear was just "re-branded" and sold as if Soviet made. But very soon supply went short and "Russian" glass was melt, with slightly different physical properties, and the formulas were recalculated. The famed Biotar became "Helios", because of its high luminescence.
These days, the Helios family (there are a good many of them) has reached cult status. I'm one of the adorers!
Around 1958, if I'm not mistaken, the factory of Krasnogorsk, in the western suburbs of Moscow, started building large series of this lens, with code 44. One of the first cameras to be equipped with an Helios was the "Start". This body used a peculiar bayonet mount, similar to the Pentacon 6 or Kiev in its design, with a ring rotating around the lens' flange to secure the bound.
Well, a Ukrainian company, and more in particular one of its managers, Mr. Bibik, builds an adapter allowing to install those "Start" Helios contraptions on modern DSLRs. I bought such a custom-made item from him and thereafter, elsewhere because he had none on offer at that time, the Helios 44 "Start" that goes with it. It was shipped to me, I took roughly 40 pictures with it and ... the focus-ring completely blocked, in the same way as a two-stroke engine suddenly seizes! I've had that experience as well in my youth.
I was vexed, sad and miserable!
I won't go into details, but the very same Mr. Kobik accepted to repair my lens, and here it is again. Those among you who follow me on despised Face Book (more negative aspects than anything else, but it is convenient) regularly see pictures taken with it ... and with many other lenses as well. I'm an addict.
A second type of Helios 44 was used by Fed and Zorki and some other cameras as well. It came with a 39mm mount, like the Leicas of old, but they are not automatically compatible. And later still, I think a 42 mm mount was used for this type as well.
The second H44 in my picture is one of those very early objectives, probably 1958-9, and possesses a diaphragm with 13 blades as well. I will give you more details in future blog-publications. The location of the diaphragm commanding system is totally different, and its automatism as well. It is easier to manipulate.
Finally, the third one on my picture, manufactured in 1961 apparently, was part of my birthday present to Christine. I have had it for long weeks and had difficulties keeping it secret till the date. But I managed, at long last. The diaphragm control is again different (easier) and there are only 8 blades.
The optical schema is the same, though, and its focal length is 58 mm, with a maximal aperture of f/2.
They are magical and we love using hem,
the three of them.
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