RE: MONOMAD - October 23rd, 2025 - Please Read The Contest Rules Before Submitting Your Publications.
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I had the pleasure to shoot with a Carl Zeiss Biotar, owned by my brother in law, and it smokes both the Helios I have.
The Helios are amazing, but the Biotar is in a completely different level.
I use a simple metal adaptor with no glass element. M42 mount in one side connected to the lens, and in the other side of the adapter the Sony E mount, which is the body I'm currently using.
I'd say that's the best option, if you can get one there.
EDIT:
Something like this.
Assuming those lenses have M42 mount, of course.
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On Nikon DSLRs the focal distance is longer. You lose infinity focus — in fact, you only get focus up to about one or two meters. The Helios would have to go inside the camera body, but it hits the mirror. So with most lenses it’s necessary to use adapters with glass, which basically adds noise between the lens and the sensor. I modify the Helios myself. I place a small wire spacer in the thread of the last element and go through a process of trial and error. I’ve managed to get infinity focus, although in theory it should lose a bit of sharpness. But it works fine for me that way.
With Nikon Z cameras that problem disappears, but I don’t have one yet.
You're absolutely right.
I missed that small HUGE detail that you're using a DSLR.
Since I only use mirrorless bodies I don't even think about DSLR's anymore. My bad.
Being able to modify the lens by yourself is quite a skill though!
I don’t have any other options hahaha I just have to do it. But they’ve worked well for me.
What matters is that it works.
I wish I had your skills.
I have an old Carl Zeiss Flektogon 35mm where the aperture blades stopped working.
Thankfully they stayed wide open, which is how I tend to use vintage glass anyway.
Would love to get it repaired though, but around here I would probably have to sell a kidney to pay for it, lol.
Exactly. But those lenses are mechanically very simple. It’s probably just dirt on the blades. Fortunately, you can still use it that way.
And that's what I'll do. Use it the way it is.
I am afraid to open it and end up with a few spare parts after assembling it back..
Good luck. 💪📷