HU, new(ish) Helios 103

[JonP]

People were asking about new Helios 103's Sergey has two listed, I've bought from him before.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Helios-103-1-8-53-MINT-for-Contax-Kiev_W0QQitemZ170081092808QQihZ007QQcategoryZ30062 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Xmas]

Brian

Did you do anything about the rangefinder differences?

Noel

[xayraa33]

Yes. I set the S3 to "T" mounted on a tripod, taped film to the gate, and used a 15x loupe to adjust the Menopta and Helios to match the Nikon's RF at 7ft or so. That splits the focus error throughout the range. The focus looked good at nearest focus and at 30ft. I get the first roll back this week.

Of the four lenses that I adjusted, ALL of them required a simple 1/2 turn of the optics module in the mount. I tapped the set screw holes out a little more, and put the screws back.

The most difficult part of this turned out to be a slight difference in the construction of the 1984 and 1985 Helios lens mount. The flanges are slightly thicker and had to be filed down.

I'll post results.
Have you ever set up a J-8 to match the Nikon rf camera as you have done with the H-103 Brian?

[back alley]

that's pretty cheap for a good lens eh?

joe

[mjflory]

Thanks for the note... I just headed over to the Bay and bought one! (I'd seen that he'd gotten a lot of them, but I was puzzled by the ad at the bottom of the page offering another of the same lens for 270 pounds, until I noticed that the price was for FIFTY lenses!

-- Michael

[Xmas]

Brian

Thanks for advice, I was surprised by how good mine is.

Noel

[varjag]

that's pretty cheap for a good lens eh?
Right, no reason not to have one.. especially since "new old stock" fits into "not buying used" philosophy :)

[mjflory]

Right, no reason not to have one.. especially since "new old stock" fits into "not buying used" philosophy :)

Oops, I did it again! (Violated my not-buying-new philosophy...)

[kvanderlaag]

I have bought from him. Great seller.

[tedwhite]

I get the impression from this thread that if I buy one of these new Helios 103 lenses that it might not fit onto my Kiev 4AM without a bunch of fiddling?

Would I be better off buying one of the older (and apparently stiffer) lenses?

Ted

[darkkavenger]

I bought my H103 from him as well, nice smooth trade :)

[Xmas]

Ted

The normal lens for an AM was the 103, the problem is supposed to be the 103 on the early Kievs/Contax.

Indeed my 103 needs deliberation to mount on pre 50 bodies, but it will mount, it is merely not a bang it in lens.

It is as good as my best Sonnar, which is a collectors piece so I leave the sonnar on the shelf.

Noel

[tedwhite]

Hi, Noel:

A Kiev 4AM is not a pre-fifties body, right?

[FrankS]

Hi, Noel:

A Kiev 4AM is not a pre-fifties body, right?

The first 2 digits of the serial number on the hotshoe will tell you the year of manufacture, Ted.

[tedwhite]

I guess I'll have to wait until the camera gets here. Photo is too fuzzy. Looks like the first two are either 60 or 80. The number I'm looking at is on the hotshoe.

Thanks for the tip.

Ted

[varjag]

If it's 4AM it can't be from the 60s.