Arsat H 1:2 50mm Review

Arsat H 1:2 50mm is a standard lens for the 35mm SLR camera Kiev-19. The early name is MC Helios-81H (Russian name “МС Гелиос 81H”). Made in USSR. Letter ‘H’ means that the lens has a Nikon F mount (Ai compatible). Lens manufactured by an “Arsenal” factory, Kyiv, Ukraine.

The lens belongs to a vast family of ‘Helios’ lenses, the prototype of which is the optical design of Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar (Planar type).

The main advantage of MC Helios 81H is that it is fully compatible with the camera's Nikon Ai F mount. This is the main reason why this model costs more than twice as Helios 44-2.

My copy is released in ’96; this is evidenced by the first two digits of the serial number, which is not located on the ring with the inscription and the barrel near the lens mount.

Arsat H 1:2 50mm Specs:

Focal length: 50 mm
Aperture: f/ 2— f/ 16
Weight (gr/oz): 300 / 10.6
Length (mm/in): 48 / 1.9
Filter Ø (mm.): 52
Aperture blades: 6
Min. Focus distance (m.): 0.5

Aperture blades are blackened

Arsat H 1:2 50mm Handling and Mechanics

The lens has a compact size, like a pancake, but at the same time quite weighty.

Arsat H 1:2 50 mm (MC Helios 81 H 1:2 50mm) on Nikon SLR camera

Overall dimensions of a usual 50mm lens. It the convenient and easy to use.

It is a bit larger and heavier than the Olympus OM Zuiko 50 mm f/ 1.8, which is considered one of the smallest 50mm “Planar” family lenses.

Arsat H 1:2 50mm Field Test and Sample Photos

All samples were taken on Nikon D3100. Raw export, minimal exposure correction.

Arsat H 1:2 50mm FocusingThe lens has a narrow focus ring that rotates 270 degrees.

f/ 4

MFD —0,5 m, usual distance for standard 50mm lenses.

f/ 2

Arsat H 1:2 50mm Sharpness

At aperture f / 2 in close focus, has a little soft, and sometimes you can get smooth character. At aperture, f / 2.8 sharpness is well.

f/ 2

Crop 100% size of the previous photo.

f/ 2

Note:
USSR lenses have a large variation in the quality, so I judge sharpness and all other parameters based on the current copy.

f/ 2.8

Arsat H 1:2 50mm Character and bokeh

Lens gives live pretty photos. As well as all Helios lenses, it had swirly bokeh, but not swirly as Helios 44-2.

f/ 2

f/ 2

f/ 4

Arsat H 1:2 50mm Contrast and Color Rendering.

In most cases, the colors are luscious, pleasant. The lens is multi-coated.

f/ 4

In the backlight, the contrast is not good. And sometimes, when the subject and strong side light can distort color, especially skin tones.

f/ 2

Therefore, as for all old lenses, the hood is recommended.

f/ 2.8

f/ 2

Personal experience
Arsat H 1: 2 to 50 mm this is my first manual focus lens; after daily use, I get rid of kit Nikkor 18-55 mm 1: 3.5-5.6.

f/ 2

Yet because of the low contrast, it can not be the best 50mm lens. But the lens has interesting swirly Helios type bokeh and different from the other lenses.

f/ 4

f/ 4