Helios & Industar · M42 screw mount · 1980s–1990s
The Helios-44M-4 is the auto-aperture Helios. KMZ finished the design in 1981, and it was later built at the Jupiter plant in Valdai too. It keeps the Biotar-type 58mm f/2 optics of the 44-2, six elements in four groups, and the same swirly out-of-focus backgrounds. The mechanics are what changed. A pin on the back closes the aperture when the camera presses it, the aperture ring has click stops, and the iris has 6 blades instead of 8, so highlights turn into hexagons once you stop down. Unlike the earlier 44M, it has no switch for stopping down by hand. That matters on mirrorless, because the iris only closes while the pin is held in. Buy an M42 adapter with a flange that presses the pin, or the lens stays wide open. The filter thread grows to 52mm. MC on the name ring means the multicoated version KMZ began making in 1987.
Known forSwirly bokeh
On a mirrorless camera
It’s a M42 screw mount lens, and its mount sits 45.46 mm from the film. Every mirrorless mount below sits closer than that, so a plain adapter ring fills the gap and the lens still focuses to infinity. On a smaller sensor it frames tighter, like a longer lens.
Versions
Helios-44M-4 lenses come single-coated or multicoated. The multicoated ones have MC in front of the name, a change KMZ made in 1987. The Jupiter plant at Valdai later sorted its output by measured resolution and labelled the lenses 44M-5, 44M-6 and 44M-7, with the 7 the sharpest grade. The earlier 44M has 8 blades and a switch to stop down by hand. The 44K-4 is the same lens on the Zenit K bayonet, which fits Pentax K bodies.
Expect the usual age faults, like oily blades, haze and dried focus grease. On an auto-aperture lens, oil on the blades can also make the iris slow to close or reopen.
New to old glass? How to check a used vintage lens covers haze, fungus and the rest in detail.
Buying guide
We'd buy a 44M-4 titled CLA'd or serviced for $94–120 delivered, like the CLA'd copy at $94 from a 99.3% seller, just under the $95–130 band most copies ask. There are at least 29 for sale, mostly from Ukraine with $15–25 shipping, plus a few US sellers asking about $118–131 delivered. The iris only closes while its pin is pressed and there's no manual switch, so buy an M42 adapter that presses the pin or the lens stays wide open. The model page lists the adapters by camera. Oily blades make an auto-aperture iris slow to close, so ask for a photo of the blades at f/8 and a flashlight-through photo of the glass, and read MC on the name ring as the multicoated version made from 1987.
$74.00est. delivered
The lowest delivered 44M-4 here at $74, from a 100% seller in Ukraine. The title makes no condition claim, so ask for a photo of the blades at f/8 and one with a flashlight shining through.
Lens Helios-44M-4 М42 Made in USSR
$93.90est. delivered
Titled CLA'd, a Valdai-made copy, at $94 delivered from a 99.3% seller, just under the band. Ask what the CLA covered and for a photo of the blades stopped down.
VTG Helios 44m-4 58mm f2 Russian portrait Lens DSLR M42 Mount CLA Valdai
$118.15est. delivered
From a US seller with 100% feedback, titled clean glass, with both caps in the photo, at $118 delivered. That's inside the band, and it skips the wait for a parcel from Ukraine.
Helios 44m-4 58mm f2 Soviet portrait Lens DSLR M42 Mount CLEAN GLASS (Z3)
$119.97est. delivered
Titled serviced, a 1990 multicoated MC copy the seller grades EXC, at $120 delivered from a 99.9% seller. Ask what the service covered and for a photo of the blades at f/8.
SERVICED! EXC! 1990 USSR MC HELIOS-44M-4 SLR lens, f2/58, M42 mount (3)
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$74.00est. delivered
$55.00 + $19.00 shipping
Buy It Now$55.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
No condition claim. Ships from Ukraine.
Seller: 874-54
100% positive
Serviced$93.90est. delivered
$79.90 + $14.00 shipping
Buy It Now$79.90
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled CLA'd, a Valdai copy.
Seller: saros_watch
99.3% positive
Used$118.15est. delivered
$99.00 + $19.15 shipping
Buy It Now$99.00
Good buy
US seller. Titled clean glass, caps in the photo.
Seller: oldcamerastore
100% positive
Serviced$119.97est. delivered
$99.99 + $19.98 shipping
Buy It Now$99.99
Good buy
Titled serviced, a 1990 MC copy.
Seller: salefromdollar
99.9% positive
New old stock$76.99est. delivered
$59.99 + $17.00 shipping
Buy It Now$59.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled NOS but read, so check the description for the catch. Case and papers in the photo.
Seller: watches95
100% positive
Used$116.00est. delivered
$96.00 + $20.00 shipping
Buy It Now$96.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Cyrillic name ring, titled A/M. A standard 44M-4 has no manual/auto switch, so ask for a photo.
Seller: valerblk
100% positive
Serviced$119.99delivered
$119.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$119.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
US seller. Titled CLA'd and Valdai Fixed, so ask what fixed means.
Seller: 2015_salyg
99.1% positive
Used$130.84est. delivered
$115.99 + $14.85 shipping
Buy It Now$115.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
US seller, with a case and cap.
Seller: paydirtdept
100% positive
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