Reversing the Front Lens Element of a Vintage Lens

Sunday 8 December 2024, 16:08 by Nando Harmsen | 2,521 views | 5 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

It has not gone unnoticed: I have been taking photographs with vintage lenses. Not just any old lens, but lenses that give a special effect. You can take this a step further. You can reverse a front lens element.

Certain vintage lenses produce unique bokeh. The Meyer-Optik Görlitz Trioplan is well known, which I wrote about before. It has soap bubble bokeh. Another well-known lens is the Helios 44, with its swirl bokeh.

The typical bokeh of the Helios 44 lenses. The swirl bokeh is not at its strongest here.
There are several versions of the Helios 44, which may well be the most popular vintage lens. You can pick one up for a few tens of euros. And this makes it perfect for experimenting with.

There is a Helios 44, a 44-2, 44-3, 44-4, 44-5 and a Helios 44M. They all have a 58mm focal length and f/2 as their widest aperture. I bought a Helios 44-2, which is one of the better versions, as far as I have been able to determine.

The Helios 44-2 on the Canon EOS R5. I use a URTH M42-RF adapter to use the old Helios.
I had to repair this lens because there was a loose screw inside and focusing was stiff. That is the risk when you buy a 60-year-old lens. But I discovered that with this version, it is possible to reverse the front lens.

So that is what I did, and it proved to be very easy. It is also easy to return it to its original state. It only takes about ten minutes. And the result? It is remarkable, to say the least.

A few blackberry leaves in the sunlight, with faded heather behind them. The effect is from the Helios 44-2 with its front lens reversed.
Normal photos with the Helios 44 produce beautiful swirl bokeh in the right conditions. It gives a unique look. With the front lens element reversed, the effect is completely different. Special in its own way. But do not expect perfect image quality.

Holly backlit, photographed with the Helios 44-2 and reversed front lens. The colours come from the holly (green) and autumn leaves (reddish brown).
I find the effect with the reversed front lens very appealing. Not every photo works, but it encourages creativity. I think it is a wonderful way to create a special series of photos.

Perhaps buying an extra Helios 44 lens would be worthwhile in the long run. Then I would have one with, and one without a reversed front lens.

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About the author

Nando Harmsen has been photographing for more than 40 years. He specialises in wedding photography and landscape photography. Nando also gives talks, workshops, masterclasses and photo trips, and regularly reviews new and interesting equipment.

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5 comments

Donald Willemsen wrote on Sunday 8 December 2024 at 17:47 | reply
I think it would be fun to use such photos taken with a reversed front lens as a background for portrait and model photography.
You can then place such a photo as a background layer behind a model/portrait.
Translated from Dutch.

guest wrote on Tuesday 10 December 2024 at 11:00 | reply
I did this myself with one of my Helios 44-2 lenses too. Very easy to do. I now have 2, one with and one without.
Translated from Dutch.

Nando wrote on Tuesday 10 December 2024 at 14:28 | reply
Exactly my thought.
Although I was recently told that the 44-4 is the version with the best swirl bokeh. So I'm considering looking for a 44-4 in addition to the 44-2.
Translated from Dutch.

Rob wrote on Thursday 17 April 2025 at 11:16 | reply
Hello Nando, I got your info through Mario Bentvelsen, I am looking for information on how I can remove the front lens of the Helios, I have a Helios 44-2 from the MMZ factory, can you give me some tips on that?
Translated from Dutch.

Nando wrote on Friday 18 April 2025 at 14:02 | reply
I sent you an email.
Translated from Dutch.

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