Helios & Industar · Nikon F (AI / AI-S)
The MC Helios-81N is a Soviet 50mm f/2 for the Nikon F bayonet, made by the Arsenal factory in Kiev. KMZ, the Helios-44's maker, built only a trial batch of the Helios-81, an M42 lens designed at GOI, the State Optical Institute, and credited to D. S. Volosov. Arsenal put the design into series production in several versions, and the 81N was the standard lens on the Kiev-19, an SLR Arsenal introduced in 1985. Arsenal's Nikon-mount range also included the Mir-24N 35mm f/2 and the Kaleinar-5N 100mm f/2.8, all with the Arsenal logo. The MC prefix means multicoating, and it takes 52mm filters. Because it's a Nikon F lens with its own aperture ring, any Nikon F to mirrorless adapter will drive it.
On a mirrorless camera
It’s a Nikon F (AI / AI-S) lens, and its mount sits 46.5 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
KMZ made only a trial batch of the Helios-81, an M42 lens. Arsenal in Kiev built it in series in several versions, among them the Helios-81 Automat, the 81M and the Nikon-mount 81N. The original Kiev-19 metered with the lens stopped down, and the Kiev-19M of 1991 added Nikon AI open-aperture metering. Our sources don't say which 81N copies carry AI coupling.
Like any 1980s Soviet lens, expect copies with oily aperture blades, haze or stiff focusing. Check the bayonet too, since a worn or bent mount won't sit snugly on an adapter.
New to old glass? How to check a used vintage lens covers haze, fungus and the rest in detail.
Buying guide
We'd buy an 81N titled serviced, like the copies at $120 delivered from a 99.9% seller in Ukraine, right at the middle of the $100–130 band. There are at least 17 for sale, nearly all from Ukraine with $17–28 shipping, while three Japan listings titled 53mm ask about $228–233 delivered. It's a Nikon F lens with its own aperture ring, so any Nikon F adapter drives it, and the model page lists the adapters by camera. Ask for a photo of the blades at f/8 and one of the glass with a light behind it, and look at the bayonet in the photos, since a worn mount won't sit snugly on an adapter. Skip the $233 Japan copy, about twice the median for the same lens.
$82.00est. delivered
The lowest delivered 81N here at $82, titled both Arsat H and MC Helios-81N, with a rear cap in the photo. MINT is the seller's own grade, so ask for a backlit photo of the glass and one of the blades at f/8.
Arsat H (MC Helios-81H 81N ) 2/50 50mm f2 lens, Nikon, Kiev. MINT
$119.97est. delivered
Titled serviced and near EXC, at $120 delivered from a 99.9% seller, with a front cap in the photo. The same seller lists other serviced copies at that price, so ask what the service covered and for photos of this exact lens.
SERVICED! NEAR EXC! USSR MC HELIOS-81N (HELIOS-81H) LENS f2/50, NIKON MOUNT (32)
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$82.00est. delivered
$56.00 + $26.00 shipping
Buy It Now$56.00
Good buy
Titled Arsat H, MINT by the seller's grade. Rear cap in the photo.
Seller: vintageandphoto
100% positive
Serviced$119.97est. delivered
$99.99 + $19.98 shipping
Buy It Now$99.99
Good buy
Titled serviced and near EXC. Front cap in the photo.
Seller: salefromdollar
99.9% positive
Used$94.99est. delivered
$69.99 + $25.00 shipping
Buy It Now$69.99
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
MC copy, titled for Kiev and Nikon F. No condition claim.
Seller: artado
100% positive
Used$110.00est. delivered
$90.00 + $20.00 shipping
Buy It Now$90.00
Our take
MC copy, no condition claim. The seller calls it a Planar copy.
Seller: vintagephotostore_ua
99.5% positive
Used$118.00est. delivered
$99.00 + $19.00 shipping
Buy It Now$99.00
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 with a front cap. No condition claim.
Seller: powerlens
100% positive
Used$119.97est. delivered
$99.99 + $19.98 shipping
Buy It Now$99.99
Our take
Titled EXC, the seller's grade.
Seller: ussr_photoworld
100% positive
Serviced$119.97est. delivered
$99.99 + $19.98 shipping
Buy It Now$99.99
Our take
Same seller, titled serviced. The name ring reads MC Helios-81, so ask for a photo of the bayonet.
Seller: salefromdollar
99.9% positive
Used$232.61est. delivered
$192.62 + $39.99 shipping
Buy It Now$192.62
Priced high
About twice the median, $40 of it shipping from Japan. Titled 53mm and tested.
Seller: roots-0111
100% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 12, 2026.
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