Modern lenses are closer to perfection than ever, offering incredibly sharpness and lacking in aberrations — but are they missing character as a result? By contrast, this vintage lens is something of a classic and there’s a good reason to add it to your arsenal.
For filmmaker Mark Bone, the Helios 44-2 58mm should be in every filmmaker’s bag as it not only will it teach you how to focus manually, but it will also give a distinctive feel to your footage that is pretty much impossible to replicate in the edit.
Vintage lenses bring a unique look and feel to your footage and the Helios 44-2 58mm is one of the more popular options which is fortunate as this old Russian lens is also easy to track down in second-hand camera stores, not to mention Amazon and eBay. For less than $100, you’re buying something which brings with it a provenance that will flavor everything you shoot, getting you away from the digital perfection that risks making everything too crisp and void of character.
If you’re interested in a few other vintage options, be sure to check out this article from Fstoppers’ Robert Baggs which contains a list of his favorite old-school glass. I’m yet to own one but I’d suggest adding the Takumar 35mm f/2 to that selection and it’s a lens that I’m hoping to pick up in the near future.
Do you use vintage glass for your filmmaking? Are you about to make a purchase? Tell us your experience in the comments below.