The Most Beautiful Swirly Bokeh Lens I’ve Ever Shot With | Helios 40

Dylan John August 13, 2025
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Dylan John

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🎨 *Get the PRO LOOK you're looking for* → https://geni.us/AmazingFCPColorGrading 📣 *Want my SFX?* → https://geni.us/FilmicCrispSFX The Helios 40 and the Helios 40-2 85mm f/1.5 is the dreamy, swirly bokeh, vintage lens I've been looking for. It’s pure cinematic magic and one of my favorite videography purchases as of late. The swirly bokeh, the dreamy rendering, the way it makes backgrounds melt and look like a painting… I’ve never shot with anything that feels quite like this. In this video, I’m sharing why the Helios 40 has completely won me over, and I’ll let the footage speak for itself. I'll also be sharing some cool history about this lens! This vintage Soviet lens, based on the legendary Carl Zeiss Biotar design, is built like a tank and packed with character. It’s not perfect, but it has charm. If you’re into vintage lenses, cinematic b-roll, or filmmaking gear that stands out from the crowd, the Helios 40-2 is one you need to see in action. 🧰 _*MORE CREATOR TOOLS*_ 🖍️ *LUTs* → https://geni.us/greatvideoLUTs 🔥 *Filmic Burns Pack* → https://www.dylanjohndickerson.com/filmic-burn-pack 📋 *Free FCP Cheat Sheet* → https://www.dylanjohndickerson.com/free-products *Learn, grow, and connect with other creators in my FREE Discord community* 🌱 https://discord.gg/D8wGTR7XrE --------------------------------------------------------- ✏️ *AWESOME FCP PLUGINS* Smooth Zooms with Zero Keyframes | https://geni.us/ProZooms Really Useful Animation Plugin | https://geni.us/ProAnimate Best Picture in Picture Effect | https://geni.us/FCBPictureinPicture Awesome for Content Creators | https://geni.us/ProVertical Professional Color Grading Plugin | https://geni.us/ColorFinale ▪️ 50% OFF if you join my color grading masterclass (https://geni.us/AmazingFCPColorGrading) Remove Video Noise Easily | https://geni.us/neatvideo Best Film Emulation Plugin | https://geni.us/EMUL8 Great Echo/Room Noise Remover | https://geni.us/Deroom One Plugin Tool to Rule Them All | https://mvfx.co/DesignStudio/DylanJohn 📲 *WEBSITES/APPS I LOVE* Best Creative Asset Library | https://geni.us/Artlist2freemonths ▪️ Get 2 months free w/this link! My Go-To Voice Audio Enhancer | https://geni.us/AuphonicAI AI App That Speeds Up Editing | https://geni.us/editquickly Free FCP Plugin Installer | https://geni.us/freeplugininstaller Greatest Way To Organize Ideas | https://geni.us/TryMilanote Free Sound Effects Library App | https://getsoundly.com ▪️ For paid plan, use DYLANJOHN for 3 free months! *MY WEBSITE (Free Products/Courses/Gear List)* 👉 https://www.dylanjohndickerson.com _PS: Some of the links in this description are affiliate links and I get a small kick back for them at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!_ 00:00 - The Bokeh King 00:23 - Helios 40-2 85mm f/1.5 00:36 - Different than the 44-2 01:08 - Really crazy history 02:33 - Stolen glass 03:09 - Need an adapter 03:48 - Example Footage 06:21 - My experience with it so far 07:15 - The Cons 08:21 - What to look for if you want to pick one up 09:04 - What’s your favorite lens you’ve ever used? 🔑 Helios 40-2, Helios 40-2 85mm f/1.5, Helios 40-2 review, vintage lens, swirly bokeh lens, cinematic lens test, Soviet lens, Helios lens test footage, best vintage lens for video, Helios 40-2 sample footage, vintage 85mm lens, vintage lens

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