Overview of JUPITER-9 2/85 (LZOS)

This review presents a JUPITER-9 2/85 lens manufactured by LZOS (Lytkarinsky Optical Glass Plant, Lytkarino) with M42 mounting thread and serial number 8510041, most likely manufactured in 1985.

Below shown list of major versions of JUPITER / JUPITER-9:

1. JUPITER-9 2/85 AUTOMATIC. In the case for the Kiev-10/15 cameras, the Arsenal plant (Kiev), the Kiev-Avtomat mount
2. JUPITER-9 1: 2 F = 8.5cm. In a white case, Krasnogorsk, mount Contact-Kiev
3. JUPITER-9 1: 2 F = 8.5cm P. In the white building, Arsenal building (Kiev), Contact-Kiev bayonet mount
4. Jupiter-9 1: 2 F = 8,5cm P... In a white case, KMZ, M39 for Zenit cameras
5. JUPITER-9 2/85. In a white case, Lytkarinsky, M39 for Zenit cameras
6. In the black case of the old type, Lytkarinsky, M42 (no review yet)
7. JUPITER-9 2 / 85. In a black case of a new type, Lytkarinsky, M42
8. MC JUPITER-9 2/85. In a black case of a new type, Lytkarinsky, with 'MS', M42

JUPITER-9 2/85 (LZOS)

Before the release of 'black' lenses, such as the one shown in this review, Lytkarino released white model Jupiter-9 2/85.

JUPITER-9 2/85 (LZOS)

The optical layout of the JUPITER-9 2/85 was copied from Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 2/85. Of course, Zonnar himself has much better optical performance than his twin brother.

JUPITER-9 2/85 (LZOS)

JUPITER-9 2/85 is soundly assembled - all made of metal and glass. The focus ring rotates smoothly. During focusing, the front lens does not rotate, and the frame of the body moves forward. The focus ring rotates 270 degrees (!). During focusing, the entire lens unit moves. The minimum focusing distance is 80 cm. The maximum ratio for macro photography is 1: 7.3. The lens can use standard 49mm filters.

The lens has an installation ring and aperture preset ring. The setting ring can take one of the following fixed values: F / 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16. The preset ring rotates smoothly and with this you can set any value of the number F. There is also a DOF scale for the same values ​​of the number F as on the aperture setting ring. It is very nice that the diaphragm consists of as many as 15 petals. And it is a pity that the petals are metallic, reflecting light.

The native cover simply fits snugly to the frame of the case and can easily be lost.

JUPITER-9 2/85 (LZOS)

On the open aperture, the lens does not have any sharpness and contrast, which can be skillfully used to create portraits. But still, for ordinary purposes, the sharpness of the lens is clearly not enough. Even closing the aperture to F 2.8, the expected sharpness does not come. In fact, loss of contrast and strong software between the f / 2.0-2.8 apertures, mostly black Lytkarin lenses, such as in this review, suffer. White brothers from the Krasnogorsk plant can be used with the F / 2.0 aperture.

It is quite difficult to focus on the JUPITER-9 2/85 on a fully open aperture, and at first the soft effect was taken by me for misses when focusing.

At f / 5.6, the JUPITER-9 2/85 delivers normal sharpness. The lens 'greens' the picture a little.

JUPITER-9 2/85 (LZOS)

How to use with modern cameras?

Lenses with mounting thread M42 (M42 X 1 / 45.5), such as the lens from this review, are very easy to use on almost any modern digital camera (both SLR and mirrorless), for this it is enough to choose the right adapter (adapter). You do not need to carry out any additional steps to modify the lens.

The cheapest adapters can be found at Aliexpress.com... There are adapters (adapters) with a chip that provide more convenience during shooting, usually chips are used to confirm focus and / or metering exposure, and form the correct EXIF. The chip does not affect the image quality in any way.

For some SLR cameras (for example, with the Nikon F-mount), you need to use adapters with a corrective lens, which allows you to focus correctly at all focusing distances. For any mirrorless cameras, such a lens is not needed, and the adapter is a simple decorated hollow metal tube with an appropriate mount.

For SLR cameras

1. Canon: For cameras Canon EOS with bayonet mount EF / EF-S need an M42-Canon EOS adapter, such an adapter with a chip can be found herewithout chip here.
2. NIKON: For cameras Nikon DX / FXas well as for cameras Fujifilm и Kodak with a Nikon F mount, you need an M42-Nikon F adapter, you can buy such an adapter without a lens and a chip here, with a lens without a chip herewith chip without lens here, with lens and chip here. Why a lens? Why chip?
3. PENTAX: For Pentax cameras with K mount, you need an M42-Pentax K adapter, you can buy such an adapter here.
4. SONY/MINOLTA: For cameras with a Sony / Minolta A mount, you need the M42-Sony A adapter, you can find such an adapter without a chip at this linkwith a chip at this link.
5. OLYMPUS/PANASONIC/LEICA: For cameras with a 4/3 bayonet mount (not to be confused with Micro 4/3!) You need an M42-4 / 3 adapter, you can buy such an adapter here.

For mirrorless cameras

1. SONY: For cameras with 'E'/'FE' mount series SonyNEX и Sony Alpha you need an adapter M42-Sony E (aka M42-Sony Nex), you can find it at this link. An autofocus adapter is also available for these cameras. Techart PRO Leica M - Sony E Autofocus Adapterwhich can be found at this link.
2. OLYMPUS / PANASONIC / KODAK / XIAOMI: For cameras with a bayonet mount Micro 4/3 (Micro 4:3) you need an adapter M42-Micro 4/3, you can find it at this link.
3. CANON M: For cameras with Canon EF-M mount need adapter M42-Canon M, it can be found at this link.
4. CANON R and RF-S: For cameras with Canon RF mount need adapter M42-Canon R, it can be found at this link.
5. Nikon 1: For cameras Nikon 1 Series need adapter M42-Nikon 1, you can find it at this link.
6. Nikon Z: For cameras Nikon Z series (FX/DX) need an adapter M42-Nikon Z, it can be found at this link.
7. FUJIFILM X: For cameras with mount X need an M42-Fuji X adapter, you can find it at this link.
8. FUJIFILM GFX: For medium format cameras G-mount need M42-Fuji GFX adapter, you can find it at this link.
9. SAMSUNG: For cameras with NX mount, you need an M42-Samsung NX adapter, you can find it at this link. There are no adapters for the NX mini camera yet.
10. PENTAX: For Q-mount cameras, you need an M42-Pentax Q adapter, you can find it at this link.
11. SIGMA / PANASONIC / LEICA: For cameras with L mount you need an M42-Leica L adapter, you can find it at this link.
12. LEICA: For cameras with a bayonet mount Leica M need adapter M42-L / M, you can find it at this link.

If you have any questions on compatibility and adapters - ask in the comments (comments do not require any registration at all).

JUPITER-9 2/85 (LZOS)

Important lens parameters for Jupiter 9

1. Large maximum aperture F / 2.0 and a focal length of 85 mm make it easy to control the depth of the sharply imaged space.
2. The lens is quite heavy.
3. The diaphragm consists of 15 petals and ideal for portraits, gives smooth bokeh. Also, an excellent zonnar scheme for 7 elements in 3 groups helps to create excellent bokeh.
4. The lens suffers strong spherical aberration on the open aperture.
5. Compactness - the lens is small, several times smaller than a modern similar autofocus lens Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8G IF SWM.
6. The lens uses a simple single-layer enlightenment and is very afraid of flare (it feels like there is no enlightenment at all).

JUPITER-9 2/85 (LZOS)

JUPITER-9 2/85 (LZOS)

Below are photos taken on Nikon D90. In different galleries, photographs are taken with different aperture values. No processing (except resize). To remember the aperture value, you have to do tricks. At 2.0 shoot in RAW, at 2.8 shoot at JPEG L size, at 5.6 JPEG M size.

Aperture Examples 2.0

Aperture Examples 2.8

Aperture Examples 5.6

Full frame examples:

Source files can download from this link (55 photos in the '.ARW' format, 1.280 Mb). The gallery shows 'camera JPEG'. On camera Sony a7 I used the lens with the M42-NEX adapter without any problems.

JUPITER-9 2/85 (LZOS) and Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8G IF SWM

JUPITER-9 2/85 (LZOS) and Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8G IF SWM

JUPITER-9 2/85 (LZOS) and HELIOS-44-2 2/58 (MMZ)

Catalog modern brand lenses 'Zenitar' и 'Helios' can look at this link.

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Hack and predictor Aviator:

The JUPITER-9 2/85 is a fun lens with strong soft effect at full aperture. From an aperture of f / 2.8, the lens noticeably increases its sharpness. Can serve as an interesting creative lens, in particular for portraits :).

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram