Legend of the last century, the national lens - Jupiter 37A 3,5 / 135. He is called a small telephoto or a large portraiture, which is true. Jupiter 37-A takes first place in my vote on the best Soviet portrait lens in the range of 85-135mm.
Jupiter 37A Lens Overview
Jupiter-37A has interchangeable shank, which is marked on the lens with the letter "A". Replaceable shank allows you to change the "rear" part of the lens, which attaches it to the camera mount. Regarding the replaceable shank, it is necessary to erect a monument to domestic manufacturers for this ingenious move. With the help of an interchangeable shank, this lens can also be attached to cameras under the M42 thread or "H" mount.
Changing the size of the lens Jupiter-37A 3.5 135 when focusing from infinity to MDF
How to use with modern cameras?
'A' lenses with an interchangeable shank, such as the one in this review, are very easy to use on almost any modern digital camera (both DSLR and mirrorless), just select correct adapter. The replacement 'A' shank usually has an external M42 thread and an 'H' mount (similar to Nikon F). For use on modern cameras, the easiest way is to add the required adapter from M42 to the desired system or from Nikon F to the desired system to this shank.
Jupiter-37A on the ZK
In times of mass use, version with MS was twice as expensive as usual, which actually affects the quality of work. Nevertheless, a lens without an MC feels great with the hood installed. The lens hood can be worn backwards, the hood has special grooves that allow it to be screwed in the opposite state into the thread for the light filter. I know of only one Soviet lens that allows you to put on the hood backwards - and that is Jupiter-37A.
Enlightenment of the lens Jupiter-37A 3.5 135
Most likely, Jupiter 37A became a copy Carl Zeiss Jena DDR MC Sonnar 3,5 / 135 (Sonnara / Zonnara). Both lenses are pretty good, but narrowly focused experts say that the Sonnars are nevertheless better assembled and give a slightly sharper image.
Enlightenment of the rear lens of the Jupiter-37A 3.5 135 lens and the view of the aperture blades
Positive aspects and their brief description:
1. Cheap. Of course, in our time it can be obtained at a fairly low price. This is due to its mass production. This allows novice photographer to get a great picture for low cost.
Interchangeable shank and lens Jupiter-37A
2. Normal enlightenment. But even such enlightenment avoids unnecessary glare, Zaitsev. Removes fear of back and side light. But nevertheless, Jupiter-37A is a little afraid of flare and gives a light veil in the generated image.
Hood on Jupiter-37A dressed back to front and in normal position
3. The lens came with a wonderful case with the emblem of the 80s Olympiad. The lens hood and lens hood are conveniently placed in the case. You can see how the lens cases look here и here.
Difference in enlightenment MS and not the MC version of the lens Jupiter-37A 3.5 135
4. Lens hood in delivery. The metal hood is quite long. It sits very well on the lens. But here is one minus of the lens hood that it is metal, it adds extra weight and when screwing the metal into the metal, the lens hood wedges and then it takes a lot of effort to unscrew it back. So I do not advise tightening it up much.
5. With interchangeable shank. I wrote about this at the beginning of the article. Allows you to use photo systems with different working lengths.
6. As many as 12 aperture blades. Therefore, it can act as an excellent portrait lens with smooth circles to blur the background (it has good bokeh).
7. Non-fixed stroke of the iris ring. Let me explain - the ring does not have fixed aperture values of type 4.5, 5.6, 8, but has a continuous stroke ring. This is very useful when shooting video, when you can smoothly close and open the aperture (and not jerkily at fixed values)
8. The large stroke of the diaphragm F3.5-F22. Pretty maneuverable lens. Jupiter-37A has a function of preset diaphragm... To use this function, you need to strangle the aperture ring towards the camera and release it at the desired aperture value. After that, the diaphragm will close only to the specified value. This is quite convenient when working with manual optics - to focus on a fully open aperture, quickly close to the desired value and shoot.
9. Metal case... As they say - give the people bread and circuses, and here - give glass and metal.
10. It works in minus 15 to plus 45 ° C, it is nice to read about it in the instructions before going on a winter photo walk.
Features and their brief descriptions:
- The weight. Over 400 grams, makes you feel all the "power" of the telephoto. But still heavy.
- The location of the diaphragm ring itself is rather inconvenient.
- Close focusing from 1.2 meters, you can forget about macro. The focus ring rotates 270 degrees.
- The thread of the filter is 52 mm, which is a fairly popular diameter.
- The lens has 4 lenses in 3 groups
On the fully open F3.5 aperture, you get slightly soft excellent portraits, but if you close it, then the sharpness is enough with the head for almost all tasks. What does my copy without MS, 1980.
From personal experience using:
I shoot on Jupiter-37A, even when there is very little time to set the sharpness. The picture is excellent. I really like its contrast, although sometimes it seems dull, in the editor it can be made simply incredible. At aperture of 3.5, you can shoot portraits without fear for the soapiness of the glass. Impressions are pretty positive. Here's another interesting comparison of Jupiter-37A and Kaleinar-5N. Jupiter was slightly better.
But if you need to shoot at least slightly moving scenes, then I would prefer any autofocus telephoto, even if it is a zoom and even if it is very dark (does not have enough aperture) and even if from the manufacturer’s know-how, for example, similar to very cheap Quantaray 70-300mm 1: 4-5.6 D LDO MACRO.
Sample photos on crop (APS-C, Nikon DX)
All photos in the gallery below were shot on the APS-C Nikon DX, crop 1.5x. No processing. Reduced size to 2MP, imprinted data from EXIF.
Sample photos on crop (Canon APS-C)
All photos in the gallery below are shot on APS-C Canon 350D, crop 1.6x. No processing. Reduced size to 2MP, imprinted data from EXIF.
Full-frame sample photos (FF, Nikon FX)
All photos in the gallery below are shot on APS Nikon D700 FX Without processing, in JPEG L, VI mode, the size is reduced to 3MP, data from EXIF.
All photos in the gallery below, too, were shot on APS Nikon D700 FX Without processing, in JPEG L, VI mode, the size is reduced to 3 MP, data from EXIF.
UPDATED
Photographer shared examples of photos on Jupiter 37A 3,5 / 135 with readers of Radozhiva Lilia Nemykina:
UPDATE 2
Examples of photos on Jupiter 37A 3,5 / 135 (This one) and the camera Pentax K10D a photographer shared with readers of Radozhiva Yuri Leo.
UPDATE 3
More sample photos on Canon 600D and Jupiter 37A 3,5 / 135 for Radozhiva kindly provided Alexander Frolov.
There are several modifications of JUPITER-37, produced at different times:
- MS Jupiter-37AM 3,5 / 135, 1990-2002 (prefix 'MC' is placed before the lens name)
- Jupiter-37A 3,5 / 135 МС, 1983-1986 (the prefix 'MC' is placed after the lens name)
- MC Jupiter-37A 3,5 / 135, 1986-1989 (prefix 'MC' is placed before the lens name)
- Jupiter-37A MS-N-30 3.5 / 135, 1983-1984, very rare
- Jupiter-37A 3,5 / 135since 1978
- Юпитер-37AМ 3,5/135, 1990-2002
- MC Yu-37A 3,5 / 135, from about 1978
- U-37AM 3,5 / 135 MS
Catalog modern brand lenses 'Zenitar' и 'Helios' can look at this link.
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Hack and predictor Aviator
Jupiter 37A 3,5 / 135 - good lens. The lens has a pleasant background blur and excellent sharpness starting at its widest aperture. Jupiter-37A is one of the best Soviet portrait lensesIt is easy to install on modern DSLR cameras with an interchangeable shank system.
Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram
that I also looked at him ... but the comments about the quality are embarrassing ... tell me .. at your discretion as the build quality, pictures and which one is better Tamron 17-50 WITH STABLE OR WITHOUT ... or still 28-75 ...
thank you very much for your advice….
in the review everything is written about quality, picture, etc. Only you decide. I had 35-70, and so, 35mm well, in general, the crop is not a wide angle, 28mm is also not very. I had to sell 35-70 and take 17-50, I would not repeat my mistake. In any case, you have to look at the quality of the instance when buying.
good ... but about the stabilizer ... is it worth overpaying for it ???
almost 1000 UAH ..
These are already different optical schemes, and a lens with a stub according to the photozone.de tests is worse than a lens without a stub. Therefore, I confidently took 17-50 without a stub.
Yeah ... and I would save 1000 UAH for a flash ...))) Well, I'm thinking aloud ... and thank you very much for your work .. !!!!
You can’t save on a flash; in any case, a stub will not be able to stretch a picture at low ISOs even in a normal room in the evening in a regular room.
understandable ... then we will not overpay for it ....
what can you say about the Nikon Speedlight SB-600, sorry to be off topic ... but since we started talking about the flash ....
Similar questions were asked at least in an article about the SB-900. SB-600 is a good flash, I recommend.
well, excuse me ... I just decided on the spot ...
thank you very much for your patience ... =)
And here
Hello, and on this lens Jupiter-37A, when you buy it with it comes a dandelion right away or not?
You need to look at the situation, and indeed, old lenses can only be found in the secondary market.
and if you use Jupiter through an adapter m42 with a lens, or better through KP-A / N ... ?? for nikon d90
And if you use Jupiter through an adapter m42 with a lens that is already there or is it better to buy KP-A / N .. ?? nikon d90 camera
In any case, for Nikon, KP-A / N is better.
Arkady, tell me the advisability of buying Lushkov’s dandelion? I see that the Nikon d90 camera is not even used at 20%. Yuzayu Helios 81N.
Not particularly advisable. I almost always shoot without a dandelion. I would say it's a matter of habit.
Arkady, good afternoon! Could you compare the Pentacon MC 2.8 / 135 Electro (Auto) with the Yu-37A? Thanks!
Yes, I could compare them, but unfortunately, no one has yet provided me with Pentacon 2.8 135 for review.
Thanks for the answer! Hopefully this will happen!
I asked because these Pentacons also have different diaphragm designs. The very first releases were with a 15-blade diaphragm, and the last ones, albeit an MC, with a 6-blade diaphragm and therefore form “nuts” in areas of blur. The U-37 has more petals (I don't remember how many now), and, perhaps, the bokeh would be more pleasant than on the Pentacon (not Pre-set, but Avto or Electric). I heard this from the forums and from Yandex Photo users, so I wanted to know your opinion.
Clearly, in any case, the Pentacon will be 2.8 times lighter than Jupiter, and should openly give even bokeh to it completely openly.
Good afternoon!
I have a Nikon d3100, I want to use Jupiter-37A for it ... what problems can arise?
There should not be any problems with the KP-A / N shank. How to work is written in the article Soviet optics.
thanks! that is, you can safely buy it? and in addition to KP-A / N? Do I understand correctly?
Yes, you got it right. It can be immediately from KP-A / N, but usually comes with KP-A / 42, therefore KP-A / 42 will need to be removed and hooked onto KP-A / N, this is a simple mistake - they unscrewed three screws, and then they were spun back.
OK! Thanks a lot! Useful site! Helpful information! Rapid response!
By the way, cooperation with http://nikonby.ru ?
I would be happy… :-)
Always happy. I wrote to you by e-mail.
Hello! Please tell me, I have a Jupiter 37A lens, it is on Nikon D40. But at least I get into the frame, I need to move 2-3 meters away so that the person's face fits into the frame. And such landscapes, and even sharp ones, even more so do not fit. At the beginning of the article, you wrote that you need to unscrew there “then it is enough to change the installed M42 threaded shank to the KP-A / N adapter ring. This is done by unscrewing three fastening bolts "... I did not unscrew this very shank, I have a KP-42 / n ring screwed onto it (I have it so flat, not like in your photo). And there is also a defect, the diaphragm closes by a maximum of 11, it does not go further! When I bought, I was immediately warned about it. Maybe you know what the problem is ?! I cannot use it as a telephoto lens, it only works as a portrait lens and then, to the other end of the street, you need to run back. And the images are sharp 1 in 7 (approximately). TELL ME IF YOU KNOW WHAT IS THE PROBLEM!) THANKS !!!
The infinity problem is solved by installing a KP-A \ N shank instead of KP-42 \ N. The problem of a wide angle cannot be solved in any way, you need to really go far. The problem of sharpness is solved by aiming at the green point, in the article there is a link on how to use old lenses. The fact that the diaphragm does not close completely is not a big problem, I close it very rarely.
And still there is a defect, the diaphragm closes by a maximum of 11, it does not go any further! When I bought, I was immediately warned about this. Maybe you know what the problem is ?!
This is not a problem, but the ability to pre-set the aperture — pull the aperture ring slightly towards the camera and rotate to 22 and that's it :)
The Yu-37A is good, but still, when shooting with Nikons, it is better to use the later versions of Kaleinar-5N: firstly, after all, focusing from 0.8 m, not 1.2 m, and, secondly, see the test https://picasaweb.google.com/115262918420027354916/TestKALEINAR5NVsJUPITER37A
With regard to the comparison of Pentacon 135 2,8 (six-leafed) and Jupiter 37 a (1990), I will express my subjective opinion. Jupiter is slightly sharper and easier to aim at the target - these are all its advantages. Taking the Pentacon in hand, the desire to shoot on Jupiter 37 no longer arises. Pentacon has a more pleasant and lively picture, good bokeh area, plasticity is much better, color is slightly better.
great lens. I ran after him for a long time, I managed to buy it only in Ukraine, in Kharkov. I use it as a portrait, I like bokeh and sharpness very much. the colors are a little muffled true, but for me it's even a plus. stands on the Nikon D40 through the gearbox A / N, there are no problems.
Arkady, thanks for the interesting article.
I read your article about Soviet lenses on Nikon and a question arose, please clarify
you write:
“… Now there are a lot of Soviet lenses that use Nikon's bayonet mount. There is an H mount which has been copied from the Nikon F mount and is fully compatible with it. ... That is, when using lenses from these cameras, there will be no problems with installing the lens on Nikon ....
Almost always, lenses with the designation “H” are AI-S lenses for Nikon, that is, they are completely identical to the old manual lenses from Nikon itself.
... using lenses marked "H" or "A" can always be used without problems on the Nikon system with infinity, and for "H" with the ability to control the aperture.
and in a review of Helios 81n:
"Attention! Some Helios-81H lenses cannot be installed on the following cameras without additional modification: D90, D80, D70s, D50, D70, D100, or they will jam when they are disconnected ... "
the last phrase about jamming is especially scary.
on the Internet several times I came across reviews that jammed, so the question of the problem can only be when using this Helios or other Soviet lenses? I have a D80, Helios 44-2 / M42 is at home, a friend has a Jupiter 37A - I want to try everything, but I’m scared so that it doesn’t jam. As far as I understood from the reviews of the “victims,” (but I didn’t understand much) it goes crazy because the screwdriver hits “ somewhere wrong "
if possible, explain if this threatens if you use Jupiter 37A with an adapter KP-A / N and whether there are problems when using an adapter from M42 to Nikon (what should I screw the Helios 44-2)
Thank you.
This applies only to some Helios-81H and only with the indicated cameras, otherwise I would write about it. I have two G-81n and both do not want to get on D80. When using adapters, there will be no problems, since the adapter imitates the native bayonet. Anyway, KP-A / N is not an adapter, but a shank; it was immediately designed for the lens. And Kp-42 / N is already an adapter.
Thanks so much for the quick reply,
one more question: I have 50 / 1,8D (I’m renting everything for them and portraits too) is it worth buying 85 / 1.8D for portraits? Will the difference be noticeable?
in a fifty kopeck, everything seems to be fine except that you have to look into the mouth with a lens.
The difference with 85 will be felt. Personally, I, after I switched to 85mm, practically do not shoot at 50 1.8.
Hello! I want to buy a portrait, I am suffering with a choice. I have a canon 550d crop 1,6.
The choice fell on:
1.helios 77k4
2. Jupiter-9
3.Jupiter37a
4.helios ms 44m-6
5.Carl Zeiss Jena MC Pancolar 1.8 / 50 DDR
if it’s possible to get it from you, I’m from Russia, drop the prices to me by e-mail. Thank you
In general, the desire for the premises of Helios 77k4, for the street Jupiter37a. Or is it just one?