The vintage lens known for its “swirly bokeh”

Griffin purchased a 40-year-old lens on eBay, the popular Helios 44-2, known for its “swirly bokeh.” As Nick describes the effect, “Very strange. I almost don’t like it!”

These vintage 58mm f/2 M42-mount lenses sell between $30–90 on eBay.

To mount it to a full-frame Lumix S1 camera, Griffin purchased this Fotasy M42 / L Series adapter.

The original Helios 44 (version 1) was manufactured in the Soviet Union, starting in 1958—as a knock-off of the more expensive Zeiss Biotar 2/58. Based on its serial number, Griffin’s Helios 44-2 lens was manufactured in 1981.

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