(©Jason Halayko)
One amazing aspect of photography that many people overlook is the unique qualities vintage lenses can bring to photos taken on modern cameras. I myself shoot professionally with my Nikon Z9, with a cornucopia of modern lenses that render flawlessly beautiful images. But some days "flawlessly beautiful" can also seem boring and lacking a certain character. The imperfection of vintage lenses, their unique character, their rough edges, can help bring a new look missing from modern photography.
One such lens that I have recently acquired is the Russian-made Helios 44-2 58mm F/2. A small manual focus prime lens developed in the 1960s, it provides "swirly bokeh" that is unlike any modern lens available. And although quite a popular lens, it is easily available online for a very fair price.
Testing the Helios 44-2
I wanted this lens, mainly as a portrait lens. So, to give it a good test, I met up with my friend B-Girl MYW and headed to a park in Yokohama.
Our first location was a super cool spiral staircase with blue walls that was lots of fun to shoot in. It had great natural light, but as it was quite narrow inside and not the best spot to observe the Helio's famous swirly bokeh. Still a super fun place to shoot though.
For our second spot, we headed up and into the back of the park and found a cool space, much more open with great backlight. Here we were able to get lots of different shots that showcased the unique look of the lens.
Not only did the lens make B-Girl MYW look amazing, but I also love the look of the background in the images where there is backlight coming through the leaves.
It is, honestly, just one small aspect of the images, and probably something most people would need to be told about to notice. However, as someone who has shot for 30 plus years, I just love the look this lens provides and can't wait to get out and shoot with it again soon.
Between Vintage and Modern
As I write this, I feel like the difference between vintage and modern lenses can be likened to the difference between vinyl records and CDs. Both are great if you just want to listen to music. But there is just something about vinyl records and vintage lenses that gets into the hearts of some people, like myself.
Just one thing I should note about using vintage lenses on modern cameras. The basic design of lenses has not really changed over the decades. However, the lens mounts on modern cameras are not the same as those on cameras from the 1960s, for example. Because of this, if you wish to use vintage lenses on your modern mirrorless or DSLR camera, you will need to pick up an adaptor. These will vary from maker to maker.
It's best to thoroughly check that the combination you want to use is possible before purchasing any lenses you may be considering.
RELATED:
- A Photographer's Notes | The Nikon Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.2 S – The Ultimate Portrait Lens?
- Keeping Classic Cars Alive: A Young Mechanic's Dream in Yokohama
- [A Photographer's Notes] The Nikon Z f: A Retro-Style Powerhouse
Author: Jason Halayko
Jason Halayko is a professional photographer specializing in portraits, action sports and portrait photography. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.
