The Helios 44-2 Red Flare Monster | Fujifilm GFX 100 II Tutorial

Want that dreamy, swirly vintage look without spending a fortune? This relic of a lens might be exactly what you're looking for. Curious about those legendary Helios lenses? In this hands-on tutorial, I tell you what you need to know to start using them in your photography. I show you how to adapt the Helios 44-2 to the Fujifilm GFX 100 II and also to other modern digital mirrorless cameras. Learn how the preset aperture system works, how to get that famous swirly bokeh, and what to look for when buying a used copy. I also do a deep dive showing you my little collection, and my precious... Who am I? I'm Jan Malmgren, a Swedish photographer, ecologist, and writer. This channel is my creative outlet where I share a lifetime of photography experience with like-minded people. For me, photography isn't just about gear or award-winning images - it's about being out in nature, experiencing beauty, and capturing those moments. Topics covered: What Helios lenses are and why they've become legendary among photographers How the unique preset aperture system works on the Helios 44-2 Step-by-step guide to adapting M42 lenses to modern mirrorless cameras Tips for achieving that famous swirly bokeh effect What to look for (and avoid) when buying a used Helios lens Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:36 Welcome 01:10 Helios - What is it? 02:04 What is swirly bokeh? 02:49 Different models 04:40 Adapting them 06:12 How do you use them? 11:33 Camera settings 12:52 How to get the swirl 13:45 Buying guide 16:54 Who are they for? 18:23 My little collection 19:50 The Red Flare Monster 21:34 My Precious 22:35 Hispan’s blog 24:07 Some photo examples 24:55 Outro Gear featured: Fujifilm GFX 100 II (the heart of it all!) K&F Concept M42-GFX Adapter Helios 44-2 (different models) iPhone 17 Pro DJI Mic 3 Affiliate links: I use FLM Canada tripods and heads, check them out at https://shorturl.at/CHoeL Buy me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/janmalmgren Links: Some photos used with permission, from Hispan's Photoblog, web site: https://hispan.hu/photos/ Hispan's Photoblog, fb:   / hispansphotoblog   Let's build a community: Your comments, questions, and feedback mean everything to this channel. I answer every single one, so please share your thoughts below! What you'll experience: Soulful and inspiring Swedish landscape photography Honest conversations about recreational photography Stunning medium format imagery from Swedish nature The art of slow, intentional and mindful photography Personal reflections on creativity and healing Join the movement: If you appreciate this type of content and want to support a small photography community, please: Subscribe and hit the bell icon Give this video a thumbs up Leave a comment Share with fellow photographers Buy me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/janmalmgren Appreciation: A warm THANK YOU to all subscribers, and to all of you who have left comments and questions in my videos. I really appreciate your support! Thank you for being part of this journey. See you in the next one! Post production: Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop Video editing with Premiere Pro Music under license by Artlist Keywords / tags: Helios 44-2, Helios lens, swirly bokeh, vintage lens photography, M42 adapter, Fujifilm GFX 100 II, Soviet lens, adapting vintage lenses, manual focus lens, Helios tutorial, medium format photography, vintage look, Carl Zeiss Biotar, Sweden, Scandinavia, Nature, Landscape, Urbex, Photography