Helios-40 85mm f/1.5 Early Silver (1958, Red P)

Helios-40 85mm f/1.5 - Early Silver, Red P, #006185

The Helios-40 is the Soviet answer to the Carl Zeiss Biotar 75/1.5 - an 85mm f/1.5 portrait lens famous for its wild swirly bokeh and glowing wide-open rendering. This is an early first-batch example from 1958-59: silver chrome body, the rare "F=8,5cm" marking used only on the first production runs, the red "P" coating mark and serial number 006185. The lens has been serviced - focus and aperture rings move smoothly, the 10-blade diaphragm is dry. Original M39 Zenit SLR thread, untouched. See the sample images taken with this very lens (last three photos).

Technical Details

• Lens: Helios-40 85mm f/1.5, Soviet copy of the Carl Zeiss Biotar 75/1.5 (6 elements in 4 groups)
• Manufacturer: KMZ (Krasnogorsk Mechanical Works), USSR
• Early first-batch version, 1958-59: silver chrome body, "F=8,5cm" marking, red "P" (Cyrillic П) coating mark
• Serial no. 006185 (one of the lowest numbers seen)
• Mount: original M39x1 thread for Zenit SLR cameras (45.2 mm flange - NOT Leica M39 rangefinder)
• Aperture: f/1.5 - f/22, 10 blades, preset ring (click-less aperture - great for video)
• Focus: manual, 0.8 m to infinity, distance scale in meters, depth-of-field scale
• Filter thread: 66x0.75 mm
• Weight: approx. 850 g (bare lens)

What's Included

• Helios-40 85mm f/1.5 lens, serial no. 006185
• Rear cap
• No front cap, no filter, no case (a cracked filter is mounted only as a transit protector - discard it)

Condition

Used, user grade. Serviced: focus and aperture rings move smoothly, the 10-blade diaphragm is dry and snappy. Glass: noticeable cleaning marks and fine scratches on the front element, lighter cleaning marks on the rear element, one tiny pinhole in the front coating near the edge, and minor marks at the extreme edge of an inner element outside the image path. No fungus, haze or separation. The rear flange face has been lightly machined for flush seating on modern adapters - the M39 thread is original and untouched, infinity focus confirmed via adapter. Cosmetics: a straightened dent on the front filter ring (66mm filters screw on, but need some effort) and a few small dings on the chrome. Rear cap included; no front cap, no filter, no case. None of this shows in the images - see the sample shots taken with this very lens (last three photos).

Mount Note

M39 Zenit SLR thread (45.2 mm flange), not for Leica rangefinders. On mirrorless cameras use an M39-Zenit adapter or an M39-to-M42 step ring with any M42 adapter.