For anyone wondering about the music: Lost and Found by Young Collective

I have one of these collecting dust, after seeing this I’m gonna pick it up again. Thank you

The model 😍 would make any lens look good 👍

Such a mesmerizing model and the video was pure bliss to look at, beautifully shot and graded. Felt like a warm blanket for my mind.

I love these little simple videos! This inspires me to make something similar. Long form content is cool. But to make it is a labor of love. These videos seem so much more effective at getting a message out while still making great, consumable content.

The lens produces stunning images, but big props to the model too. Very expressive and somewhat mysterious. Must have been a joy to work with! Keep 'm coming.

I don't know anything about the lens but dude, that was impressive in many ways. The use of slow mo, the shot choice and editing, leading the eye to the next shot smoothly, and the color pallet is all breathtaking. Well done.

Skillful shots, coloring, editing, dreamy sound track - well done. As for the girl and her graceful pose - she's like the memory of the one that got away - never changing - often remembered with mixed emotion and that damnable nagging question "what if" ... this really pulls at the heart-strings, Micah.

Ive had this lens sitting on my shelf for the past 2 years and man you've just sparked my interest in using it again. Thanks!

Love the super unique grading! Looks great!

Most enjoyable 2 minutes of KZfaq content in a long time. This video is stunning. Your colouring is perfect. Her energy is palpable, beguiling. I’m buying this damn lens and I’m subscribing to your damn channel.

With a model like that even a plastic disposable film camera would produce stunning images :)

Ive had mine for a year now and I love it. Its a beautiful image and super fun to work with.

That first frame really seals the deal. You can go so far as to say that it’s the perfect vintage lens!

I was trying to think of how to describe what I just saw but I am left speechless.. If beauty was to be captured in one video, this would be it. The lens is just as unique and beautiful as the model!! Please do more of these together?!

This is the most beautifully-shot review I've ever seen in my life. Holy heck.

Beautiful work 👏 I got this lens from my dad, it's been in my collection for years now and i still love to use it!😍 I also got some Meyer Optik Görlitz lenses from my grandfather, the bokeh they have is insane!

Always inspired by your work. Very well written too! I love the line “Creative utility”

Beautiful combination of ambient music, well-done narration, and photography. Thanks for making this, and putting the Helios 44-2 on my radar, Micah.

The model's eyes are gorgeous, stunningly beautiful images.

This video completely convinced me to buy it, almost 4 months with and i have no regrets, it’s a gorgeous lens.

WOW this is overwhelming.. 25k views... thank you all :) (Edit) 65k I don’t deserve this (Edit edit) 330,000k bro….. (Edit edit edit) 400k….. you all are legends

Great video. That's lovely. Especially that last shot going into focus leaving that last look of hope and comfort there at the end.

Wow, this is insane! Great music choice too! Beautiful scenery and the models choice of attire accentuates the aesthetics! Totally going to get me one now!!

I feel the same about my Minolta f/4 70-210mm “beercan” lens. I got it in Japan for about ¥12,500(about $120 US). It has a beautiful bokeh and a particular quality to the image. Slow to focus, and heavier than comparable modern lenses, I still love using it.

The model, the atmoshphere and the slomo gives the pure beauty, the lens has like 20% credit

I just bought this lens and i watched a lot of videos about it.... but dude, for real, this is a masterpiece. So beautiful and immersive video. Thank you for that

Just amazing footage! Couldn't be fimed better! So much character and style! And colors are awesome!

Totally agree, bought one 4 years ago and still use it with such joy. The outcomes are always so juicy, everytime I look at my past works I'm still amazed by its full vintage look. Buy one now, it's also very affordable 👌

The model is beautiful. Really nice shots.

Watched your video 6 months ago, found one on eBay for $45 and immediately impulse bought it. Greatest lens I've ever owned for video, so much character. Thanks Micah!

Well I guess I have to get into photography now. The color, the atmosphere, styling, and sound. It feels good. Thanks for this haiku

My anamorphic mod Helios 44-2 is out for delivery right now and I keep looking outside to see if it's here lol. Amazing video. Amazing narration. Inspirational. All around exceptional vibes.

Insanely gorgeous shots dude. A few notes: - You have gotten an incredibly good one. They aren't all this sharp. Poor quality control + time means it can be really hit or miss. If you find a version of this lens that is super sharp, it is a diamond in the rough, cherish that thing! Many also suffer from internal fungus and/or dust as well as color cast caused by degradation of the lens coating - The Helios 81N is less common but can often be had for quite cheap on ebay as well. It is the exact same lens formula but on a Nikon F mount which is much easier to adapt to modern cameras. The Helios 44 was designed for the M42 screw mount which can be a problem for some mounts as you cannot adapt it and retain infinity focus without introducing a corrective glass element which can harm image quality - Zenit has started remaking old Helios Lenses on more modern mounts. The 85mm 40-2 is one such lens which has the same bokeh style as the 58mm 44 but in an 85mm focal length. The Zenitar 50mm f1.2 is also quite similar. The Selena 58mm f/1.9 actually takes the swirly bokeh even farther.

In my opinion this is, by far, your best video to date. Magestic!

I took your google files and got to mess with it first hand in Premiere and I'm sold. Got 2 of them! Thanks for this insight! This was the convincing I needed.

These images are stunning!

It's pretty insane how good these lenses are. We are quite fortunate that they were mass produced. They perform like much more expensive lenses. I love mine!

I got this lens after watching your videos and I LOVE IT! Your behind the scenes material is also amazing!

I've just shot almost an entire doc with this. Did not disappoint. Nice work!

If you love soft images, it's a good lens. Funny how we always wanted really sharp lenses, we got them from the manufacturers, and now we love the soft vintage look.

I've got 5 of them, all from the different factories and from different time periods, all have their own unique character. Some are nicer than others but when you find the "one" that suits your style it is incredible. Add in a Mir-1 35mm F2.8 and a Jupiter 85mm you can build a set which will cover 90% of shoots.

Happy to see gear reviewers are still keeping this lens alive. I never get tired of seeing that sweet, sweet bokeh.

Great photography and music, and everything you said about the mod- I mean lens, was spot-on too.

Have bought and sold this lens a couple times. It is a great lens and you have splendidly showcased that in your video.

Beautiful shots man!

I got mine a month ago and I agree 100% with your assessment. Love my Helios!! Thank you for sharing, Micah!

This inspired me to go and try to use the Helios 44-2. Just bought one. Can't wait to start using it. Thank you for the creative inspiration. Also saw your colour grading video about this video it was very useful and practical. Great work.

These lenses flatter more mature subjects despite their sharpness. These were a match made in heaven with the old Sony F3 and FS100.

Never heard of it but it's very nice. Has a soft character and great bokeh. It certainly helps that you're a talented videographer but you're right, the character of the lens is compelling. Will look into it, thanks!

wow I desperately want a movie with your shots, this music, and the model. Great work.

Excellent vid! Subject, composition, lense bokeh, colouration (the leaves match your subject's eyes! 🤯), cinematography. Stunning!

If you feel like doing it, I would love to see a video breaking down how you made this shoot. Where you found the model, how you chose the lighting, the composition, the directions, especially the coloring, all of it. It's just so emotionally striking that I'm dying to know. No pressure. Only if you want to.

The model is SO PRETTY

meant to buy one years ago and never got round to it. Just purchased one as a result of this vid. Thank you!

I love that you only took as long as you needed to say what you wanted to say. Loved the video, loved your work with this lens.

I have one of these lenses. It is so imperfect that all photos I take with it are just incredible. They are like poems!

I feel very lucky to own one, very surprising in its capabilities, sharp for an old lens. Very demanding in terms of framing and creative planning but sooo rewarding (it could be because I am a MFT user, so x2 crop). However, definitely worth the time to adjust in-camera settings to make it shine!

Was looking for information about the lens, found masterpiece. It's amazing, incredibly beautiful.

This is how I dream to make videos😍 Bravo!!! Everything in this video is perfect. I also dream of a tutorial from you about how to use this lens, how to focus properly🙈 you're extremely talented❤

I'm a big Minolta on mirrorless guy. I've had my eye on the Helios 44-2 for a while, but it's not a lens I need. Then I saw it being used in a Netflix documentary (on tacos). That swirly bokeh and open look is so unique, you can tell easily. It was SO DISTRACTING. It felt like they were using the 44-2 for swirly bokeh's sake. I know you can get amazing shots with this lens, but it's hard to mix in with shots from other lenses in rapid succession. I mean, totally doable...but there are so many other options out there for amazingly unique creamy vintage bokeh that give you *that look*. Also, not every Helios 44-2 is made equal. Every single one is unique. There's definitely a sweet spot. (also I'm pretty sure the years and manufacturers of the Helios 44-2 is important. Something about how if it was made in a soviet country it's better, I think. Maybe the opposite.) If you don't own a unique VINTAGE 50mm 1.4 that you're happy with, for sure. Get the Helios 44-2.

what an incredible video, i'm glad this didn't turn into a talking head sort of thing, letting the video speak for itself was the right move

Saw this when it had like a bit over 10k views, congrats man! I'll be following your creator journey here

The videography is beautiful. Lighting, composition...and detail...warm and crisp. Very nice.

loving mine since I got it. and I bought a lensbaby last month too and thats a lot of fun. not the velvet but the one where the lens shifts around. took a while to get used to it but it rocks. I would be satisfied with just the helios. such a beautiful image.

Amazing! Already listed it on the wishlist! If I may ask, which camera have you used it on? Regards!

Love the video!!!! Keep up the great work!!!

I use fujian vintage lens and love the filmic texture and colours it gives. It's rather has sharpness mostly in the middle but love it. Helios was on my list and now am going to get one after seeing this masterpiece.

for a creator with

Can you make a color grading tutorial? The colors also look amazing man!!

WOW!! If I hadn't already seen several examples before seeing yours, this video would have been all I needed to go purchase this lens for myself. I should be receiving mine today, Cine modded. Plus, Thank you for sharing examples from your video. I downloaded, applied a Grade I was working for another unrelated video and, Magic happened. It looked amazing. If this is what is to be expected out of that lens, then that will be awesome. Looking forward to playing around with it.

One of the best KZfaq thumbnails I’ve ever seen.

Well, I do not care about that lens, however, I must say, ....that girl is just beautiful. Her eyes are sad a bit and very calm. And when she smiles, all sadness is gone. Maybe she will read this message: I wish her all the best in her life.

Helios is a great lens but you're better creator and this is why this output is so good! I don't wanna this lens but your skills, haha :D

Absolutely stunning work. Love it. Bravo.

You are TALENTEDDDD! I am JEALOUS! So amazing. Love it.

Wow I now own this lens! And I got it for less than $100 with the E mount adapter

What camera did you shoot this on? Looks really great!

Wonderfully shot- love these vintage lenses!

Gahhh! Now you got me getting up and digging mine out to play with again. Awesome composition and coloring. ❤

helios 44-2 is the mercedes benz of all lenses. better than 2000 dollars modern lenses. absolutely magical

I endorse this message ;)

i got mine in mint condition a week ago, a KMZ unit that looks out of the box new, very happy so far paired with my A7IV, good video Micah , stunning footage

I love this video so much, i come here every now and then to get inspired

Actually, it is not the lens that made this video great, it is how you compose your shot (+music, narration, lighting, time of day, colour grading, etc) and most important... the model who is in it. Normally, 40mm to 45mm is the focal length (for full frame camera) to use on the cinematic shot in featured films. The reason is, the super35 sensor cinema camera uses a 28mm lens which is then cropped to 1.5x to give you a 42mm focal length. For full-frame cameras, use a 40mm to 45mm focus length. For super35 use 27mm to 30mm.

What’s the music for this video?

Awesome video, love the cinematrography! The Helios 44-2 is definitely one of my favorite lenses

Dude the colors 😍, I'm in love ❤

I have a 44-M. Anyone knows how it stacks up to the 44-2?

I'm convinced. Took 5 Seconds.

For sure one of the coolest and cheapest vintage lenses out there. The flares are super interesting also.

First for sure the lens , sound track used inn video, colour grading of video, duration set for video and information provided and lastly the model eyes 0:24 ♥. Really good work on this Micah.♥

What was it shot on???? ❤

One caveat: These lenses have a very different quality which was typically dictated by alcohol intake in Russian factories 😅I had two and one was great with its crazy swirling bokeh and one was really bad.

I have to say. The model sure make this lens look good. Smooth and buttery!!! Not to diminish your talent!!!

Really like the video and lens! Also love the color grade, really well done!

Sharp Helios? We'll, your is broken:)

Everything about this is so aesthetically and sonically pleasing

Thanks for the great video, happy to be your 1000th subscriber.

Excellent!!! I had this one in my 80s with Zenit-E camera. It was amazing. Rings on boke!!!