No photo available for this lens
Production
1950 – 1992
Country
Soviet Union
Optical
Double Gauss, similar to the Carl Zeiss Biotar 75mm f/1.5 from 1938
Updated
Feb 15, 2026
Helios 40-2 85mm f/1.5
M42
Overview
The Helios 40-2 85mm f/1.5 is the legendary Soviet portrait lens that serious photographers hunt obsessively. While the Helios 44 is common, the 40-2 is its much faster, rarer, more magnificent sibling. Derived from the Carl Zeiss Biotar design but with its own flavor, this monster fast 85mm creates swirly bokeh at portrait focal length. When photographers speak of 'the Helios rendering,' they're often thinking of this lens.
Verdict: The ultimate character portrait lens. Nothing else combines 85mm, f/1.5, and swirly Helios bokeh. Heavy, impractical, soft wide open — and absolutely magical when you nail the shot. For portrait photographers who want something truly different, this is the grail.
Optical Character
Bokeh
The lens is known for its distinctive 'swirly' bokeh effect, with a characteristic circular and sometimes 'dreamy' quality to the out-of-focus areas.
Color
The lens has a neutral color rendering without strong color casts, producing accurate and natural-looking colors.
Sharpness wide open
The Helios-40 is not considered a very sharp lens, especially when used wide open. It shows an unusual dip in sharpness in the mid-frame region.
Flare resistance
The lens handles most flare situations well thanks to its multi-layer coating, though some veiling flare can occur in extreme backlight.
Contrast
The lens produces medium-high contrast, with good punch without crushing shadows or blowing highlights. It handles high-dynamic scenes well.
Vignetting
The lens shows moderate vignetting wide open, which is mostly controlled by f/2.8.
Community Insights
What people love
- f/1.5 speed — rare for 85mm
- Legendary swirly bokeh at portrait length
- Beautiful portraits
- Tank-like build quality
- Unique rendering nothing else matches
- The hunt and the rarity
- Reasonable price for what it delivers
What people dislike
- HEAVY — this is a beast
- Swirl not for everyone
- Soft at f/1.5 (intentionally)
- Russian quality control varies
- Focus throw is long
- Hard to find good copies
Pro Tips
- Use at f/2 for sharp but still swirly
- Shoot against busy backgrounds for maximum effect
- The weight makes it stable handheld
- NEED good focus technique at f/1.5
- Russian eBay sellers often have best prices
Sources (5)
phillip_reeve-
https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-kmz-helios-40-85mm-f-1-5-can-the-legend-live-up-to-its-reputation/
unknown-
https://www.mflenses.com/helios-40-2-85mm-f15-m42-mc-lens-review.html
unknown-
https://bobatkins.com/photography/reviews/helios-40-2_85mm_f1-5_review.html
unknown-
https://www.thephoblographer.com/2014/06/07/review-helios-40-2-85mm-f1-5-nikon-f-mount/
Lens Heritage 2nd JSONsecondary
The Helios 40-2 85mm f/1.5 is the legendary Soviet portrait lens that serious photographers hunt obsessively. While the Helios 44 is common, the 40-2 is its much faster, rarer, more magnificent sibling. Derived from the Carl Zeiss Biotar design but with its own flavor, this monster fast 85mm creates swirly bokeh at portrait focal length. When photographers speak of 'the Helios rendering,' they're often thinking of this lens.