Curious....

[vintageslrs]

While going through the bottom of one of my camera display cabinets I came across
a Helios M42 35mm f2.8 lens. Perfect condition glass and operation. But the interesting thing to me (at least)
as that it says made in Japan.
I tried to do a little research online about Japanese made Helios lenses and very little comes up. All I
can determine is that they were most likely made by Chinon.
Someone here must have more info. I am curious on the history of these lenses. When were they licensed to use the Helios name? What years were they produced? And can anyone confirm that they were indeed made by Chinon?

Any info. would be appreciated.
Thanks

[Stephen]

After the Russian collapse the "Helios" lens brand from Zenit was used on other equipment, notably telescopes and binoculars in the UK, imported for a while by the TOE(ltd) company, which was previously "run" by the Russian Embassy.

The Russians themselves appear to have ordered the Japanese made Helios lenses, after production difficulties in Russia. They did come from Japan and also China. The most likely maker in Japan was indeed Chinon, who had make identical roof prism binoculars to the Helios branded items.

The Russians seemed to sort out the production and ownership problems in the 1990's, and Helios as a brand has disappeared for lenses, although still used on Binoculars, telescopes and microscopes.

Russian made lenses have gone back to older brands, or use new brand names these days. I suspect the actual "Helios" brand was probably the property of a Russian shadow Company, to trade in the West, and on the USSR collapse, became the only valuable asset, and was in effect used to salvage the businesses.

Stephen

[Stephen]

It appears that the Helios brand is UK owned, the Helios Company was using Russian made imports from about 1960, and appears to be the inheritor of the TOE(Ltd) assets and trademarks. So, independent these days, and once in murky Russian ownership! In theory the Helios Brand was not used in the States, or at least as far as Telescopes and Binoculars, but lenses appear to have been done in the States, and these came from Chinon.

Current Helios Binoculars etc., come from China and Japan now.
Stephen.

[vintageslrs]

Very interesting...thank you Stephen.

[lloydy]

the reputation of the Japanese Helios isn't that good, certainly compared to the legendary FSU lenses. And I think Stephen is correct that they are Chinon, not a bad lens as such - but not as good as the originals.

[vintageslrs]

lloydy--yes, kinda what I thought.