The Micro Four-Thirds format can provide incredibly shallow depth of field with the right optical configuration.

Here I was using my Helios 44-3m lens, which is a full-frame lens, mounted via a focal reducer adapter. A focal reducer works a bit like a mild magnifying glass, reducing the image circle that the lens casts. In doing so, it also preserves many of the full-frame attributes of the lens, such as bokeh and shallow depth of field, while actually reducing (because it is shrinking) any optical imperfections that the lens might otherwise be prone to.

Finally, because a focal reducer is concentrating the image circle on a smaller area, this sort of adapter will also result in a practical increase in the intensity of light cast. So, in essence, an f/2 lens might actually transmit light more like an f/1.8 lens, thus gaining you a valuable stop of exposure in a low light situation.

This photo, while taken in daylight conditions demonstrates the shallow depth of field possible. The mirrorless format of Micro Four-Thirds and its short flange back distance makes it possible, with adapters, to mount almost any lens made in the last eighty years using an appropriate adapter.

Image taken on a trail near Whitehorse. It features a highbush cranberry.

Tags:   Bokeh Zhongyi Lens Turbo II Manual Focus Adapted Lens Genre Nature North of 60 Summer Manual Lens Outside Olympus OM-D E-M1 North Helios 44-3M MC 58 mm f/2 M42 MMZ Northern Yukon Canada Soviet Lens Vintage Lens Southern Yukon Afternoon Sun Whitehorse Yukon Territory CA Portrait Orientation

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A cold view at minus twenty-nine degrees on Christmas Eve, 2017.

Shot using the Olympus OM-D E-M1 and Helios 44-3M attached with the Zhongyi Turbo II focal reducer/adapter.

Tags:   Zhongyi Lens Turbo II Olympus OM-D E-M1 Winter Helios 44-3M MC 58 mm f/2 M42 MMZ Nature Miles Canyon Road Cold North of 60 Schwatka Lake Genre Soviet Lens -29C Snow Wind Blown Daytime Manual Focus dock Road Outside Vintage Lens North Deep Cold Northern Yukon Canada B&W Windswept Southern Yukon Frozen Lake Whitehorse Yukon Territory CA

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I just received a copy of the Zhongyi Lens Turbo II focal reducer and M42 - M43 adapter. The light was pretty horrible and it was raining, but I felt obliged to try it out anyway. I mounted it to the OM-D E-M1 with my old Helios 44-3m lens on front. This is one of the very first images taken and the hallmark swirly bokeh of the old Soviet lens is clearly visible in the background. Shooting into the light under ideal conditions should only make this better.

Tags:   M42-M43 Adapter Zhongyi Lens Turbo II Soviet Lens Flowers Genre Nature North of 60 Garden Whitehorse Summer Experimental Outside Helios 44-3M MC 58 mm f/2 M42 MMZ North 58mm f/2.0 Northern Yukon Canada Olympus OM-D E-M1 Manual Focus Southern Yukon Vintage Lens

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Another fall shot with the Helios and Zhongyi adapter.

On this day, instead of carrying the big bag with a selection of lenses, I took only the OM-D E-M1 with the Helios and Zhongyi adapter. This forced me to find compositions with a single focal length - a creative exercise that worked out well, I think.

For this image the Helios was focused on one of the rosehips in the foreground and opened fully to pry out some character in the background bokeh.

Tags:   Bokeh Helios 44-3M MC 58 mm f/2 M42 MMZ Cloudy Swirly Bokeh North of 60 Yukon River Valley Boreal Forest Leaves F2.0 Boreal Forest Northern Shallow DOF Southern Yukon Wooden Pallet Autumn Zhongyi Lens Turbo II Olympus OM-D E-M1 Genre Nature Beauty Fall Whitehorse Vintage Lens Outside Soviet Lens North Trees Manual Focus Yukon Canada Cloudy Day Weathered Wood Afternoon Cloud Yukon Territory CA

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Looking past the clay cliffs at the south end of Schwatka Lake. Photo taken with the OM-D E-M1 and Helios 44-3M attached with the Zhongyi Turbo II focal reducer/adapter.

Tags:   Zhongyi Lens Turbo II Vintage Lens Winter Helios 44-3M MC 58 mm f/2 M42 MMZ Nature North of 60 Snow Daytime Cold Genre Outside -29C North Deep Cold Northern Yukon Canada Manual Focus Soviet Lens Southern Yukon Olympus OM-D E-M1 Whitehorse Yukon Territory CA Portrait Orientation

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