Helios & Industar · M42 screw mount · From 1991
The MC Helios-44M-7 is the top grade of the last Helios-44 generation. In the late 1980s KMZ moved production of the multicoated 44M-4 to its Jupiter plant at Valdai, and Jupiter began sorting finished lenses by measured resolution after inspection. The lower grade was labelled 44M-5, the next 44M-6 and the best 44M-7, which KMZ formally introduced in 1991. On paper the 7 has to resolve at least 50 lines per mm in the center and 30 at the edge, against 41 and 20 for the 44M-5. Optically it's still the Biotar-type 58mm f/2 with six elements in four groups, so the swirl is still there. It shares the 44M-4's 6-blade auto aperture, click stops and 52mm filter thread, and like the 44M-4 it has no manual stop-down switch. On mirrorless you need an M42 adapter whose flange holds the pin in.
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
The 44M-5, 44M-6 and 44M-7 are the same multicoated lens sorted by test results at the Jupiter plant, with the 7 the sharpest grade. Don't confuse it with the Helios-44-7, a 1968–1971 lens made for the Zenit-7 with its own aperture linkage.
The usual age faults apply, like oily blades, haze and dried focus grease. Oil on the blades of an auto-aperture lens can make the iris slow to close.
New to old glass? How to check a used vintage lens covers haze, fungus and the rest in detail.
Buying guide
We'd buy the 1992 MC 44M-7 asking $100 with free shipping, or another copy from the same 100% Ukraine seller at $111, both under the $120–160 band. It's a small page, with at least 10 for sale, nearly all from Ukraine, and one US seller asking $127 delivered. The 7 is the sharpest grade of the same multicoated lens sold as the 44M-5 and 44M-6, so read the name ring in the photos, and don't confuse it with the Helios-44-7, an older Zenit-7 lens. It has an auto-aperture pin and no manual switch, so it needs an M42 adapter that presses the pin, and the model page lists the adapters by camera. Ask for a photo of the blades at f/8, since oil makes an auto-aperture iris slow to close, and skip the seller at 97.8% feedback.
$99.99delivered
The lowest delivered 44M-7 here, a 1992 MC copy at $100 with free shipping from a 100% seller, front cap on in the photo. The title makes no condition claim, so ask for a flashlight-through photo of the glass and one of the blades at f/8.
1992 SOVIET USSR MC HELIOS-44M-7 lens f2/58, M42 mount (6)
$111.11delivered
Another MC copy from the same 100% seller at $111 with free shipping, under the $120–160 band, with its front cap in the photo. Ask for a backlit photo of the glass and one of the blades stopped down.
SOVIET USSR MC HELIOS-44M-7 lens f2/58, M42 mount (1)
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$99.99delivered
$99.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$99.99
Good buy
1992 MC copy, free shipping. No condition claim.
Seller: ussr_photoworld
100% positive
Used$111.11delivered
$111.11 · free shipping
Buy It Now$111.11
Good buy
MC copy, free shipping. Front cap in the photo.
Seller: ussr_photoworld
100% positive
Used$119.97est. delivered
$99.99 + $19.98 shipping
Buy It Now$99.99
Our take
Same seller as the $100 copy, with $20 shipping.
Seller: ussr_photoworld
100% positive
Used$125.00est. delivered
$105.00 + $20.00 shipping
Buy It Now$105.00
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
MC copy, caps in the photo.
Seller: vintagephotostore_ua
99.5% positive
Used$126.65est. delivered
$120.00 + $6.65 shipping
Buy It Now$120.00
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
The only US seller here. MC copy.
Seller: caain111
100% positive
Used$139.00est. delivered
$119.00 + $20.00 shipping
Buy It Now$119.00
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
Lead photo shows the back of the lens. Ask for one of the name ring.
Seller: blackvoevoda
100% positive
Used$164.97est. delivered
$144.99 + $19.98 shipping
Buy It Now$144.99
Our take
Titled near EXC, a 1993 MC copy. Top of the page.
Seller: salefromdollar
99.9% positive
Used$148.36est. delivered
$129.00 + $19.36 shipping
Buy It Now$129.00
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.
Check the seller
Seller feedback is 97.8%. Titled with a Canon EOS adapter, hood in the photo.
Seller: mark_milana_makar
97.8% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 12, 2026.
See every listing on eBay ↗eBay search
