Helios 44-2 vs 44-4, what's the difference?

[silvertonesx24]

Between

 

44m-4

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KMZ-HELIOS-44m-4-2-58-Russian-Lens-SLR-M42-Pentax-Nikon-Canon-EOS-Sony-NEX-44-2-/251213581132?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item3a7d7f0b4c

 

and

 

44m-2

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KMZ-HELIOS-44m-2-58-Russian-Lens-Canon-EOS-EF-5D-50D-60D-300D-500D-Mark-II-44-2-/181063474197?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item2a28395c15

 

Is the 44m-4 better because I can get the anamorphic closer to the taking lenses?

[Sebastien Farges]

Yes, the closest to the lens the anamorphic is, the best you will have

[Sean Cunningham]

I was curious about this myself.  Turns out there are multiple manufacturers of the Helios 44, each with their own slight differences.  If I remember correct, some have six blades while others have eight, or more.  There are also some (newer) with more modern, mulit-coatings.  Based on this I determined that if/when I purchased one it would be one of the first gen or a 44-2 and I wasn't really interested in any of the higher revisions besides maybe the 44-3.

[andy lee]

I have lots of helios 44's and I prefer the early ones as they flare better with my anamorphic lens

my best one is a 1970's model

Im not really a fan of the newer ones at all

[jeffpb7]

Just don't get the Helios 103 53mm 1.8, like I did... it doesn't have a focus ring, and I have no idea what to mount it with if it did. Pretty weird, but at least it was only a $25 lesson.