Review of the film projection lens 35KP-1.8 / 120 from the reader Radozhiva

35KP-1.8 / 120

Specifications:

Structure: 6 lenses in 6 groups (Planar)
Vision angle: ~ 18 degrees on APS
Format: APS-C (native), covers APS
Maximum Aperture: F / 1.8
Resolution (center / edge): 75/40 lines / mm (projection), about 33/30 lines / mm (photographic, in comparison with Jupiter-11, it is much less sharp)
Features: no focusing mechanism and no aperture. It has a twin brother, similar in name, but excellent in everything else - KO-120M in a new building with a GOST name. Don't be confused!
The weight: 1100 g (the main difference from the KO-120M with the same name is twice the weight).
Years of production: late 80s - 90s (produced only at MMZ, aka BelOMO).

Appearance and ergonomics

The 35KP-1.8 / 120 itself is just a bare lens unit. The lens is very large and heavy, has a huge front lens. All lenses are enlightened (single-layer enlightenment).

The lens is assembled quite badly - honest slotted nuts sitting on the locking screws. The walls of the lens block are metallic, thick. Constructive "fool-resistant" - for centuries.

For use on a modern camera, it is necessary at least to make a focuser. As a basis, you can take focusers from EVIL such as dead 500/8 lenses, you can also make some kind of temporary focuser yourself, as it was once done for KO-120M.

Weight - over a kilogram - is a serious obstacle. Not every photographer can easily handle an ink like this 35KP. The heavy weight requires the correct selection of the focuser for the lens.

It can be difficult to find a cover for such a carcass. So, it’s incredible, but one of the plastic lids for three-liter cans was perfect for him - a note to the hostess! ;)

The working distance of the lens is very large, because it can be planted on any modern camera.

35KP-1.8 / 120

Image quality

The lens has an eminent design - this huge 120 / 1.8 planar. Actually, all the pros and cons of the lens follow from this.

Pros:

• Absolutely huge for a focal length of 120 mm aperture allows you to achieve miserable depth of field and generously blur the background, which is good for portraits;
• Enlightenment of the lens does not distort color reproduction unlike Triplet 2.8 / 78 и KO-120Mwhose colors are slightly warm.
• The lens has a flat field, unlike aplanat KO-120M - this makes it more versatile.
• The lens just has a great planar drawing!
• Enlightenment provides a good contrast, although it is very difficult for it against backlight (see minuses).
• Vignetting is not noticed.

Cons:

• The sharpness of the lens, especially at close range, is very weak, it feels like this 35KP is adjusted to infinity. KO-120M has generally much better sharpness.
• The lens is very chromate, again more than KO-120M - I will call this the most important drawback;
• The large front lens collects glare and brings down contrast without a hood.

In general, the lens for filming is definitely interesting - it has a beautiful drawing, not the worst sharpness for such aperture at such a focal length. In some ways it loses to the KO-120M, in some ways it is much better. Better to have both of these lenses :)

Download source files in format JPEG can at this link (20 files in the '.JPG' format, 180 MB). All photos were shot on Canon 600D.

UPDATED

Examples for Sony Alpha a7s full-frame camera:

All reviews of film projection and filming lenses:

1. RO3-3M 2/50
2. RO2-2M 75/2
3. LOMO RO501-1 F = 100 1: 2
4. PO 500-1 F9 CM. 1: 2 P
5. LOMO RO500-1 F = 90 1: 2
6. LENKINAP RO500-1 F = 9cm 1: 2 P
7. LOMO RO506-1 F = 80 1: 2
8. ЛЭТИ-60/60М F=92 1:2
9. 2/92
10. F = 92 1: 2
11. 16KP-1,4 / 65
12. 35KP-1,8 / 65
13. 35KP-1,8 / 70
14. 35KP-1,8 / 75
15. 35KP-1,8 / 85
16. 35KP-1.8 / 100
17. 35KP-1.8 / 120
18. 35KP-1,8 / 120 (with aperture)
19. LOMO P-5 F = 90 1: 2
20. LOMO P-5 F = 100 1: 2
21. LOMO P-6M F=12cm 1:1.6
22. LENKINAP OKS1A-75-1 F=75 1:2 P
23. LOMO OKS1-22-1 F = 22 1: 2.8
24. ЛОМО ОКС1-40-1 40/2.5
25. LOMO OKS1-300-1 F = 300 1: 3.5
26. LOMO OKS11-35-1 F = 35 1: 2
27. LOMO W-53 F = 75 1: 2
28. LOMO W-54 F = 85 1: 2
29. LOMO OKP4-80-1 F=80 1:1,8
30. LOMO OKP8-90-1 F=90 1:2
31. ОКП-6-70-1 F=70 1:1,8
32. Tair-41 50/2
33. KO-120 1: 2,1 120mm
34. KO-90 1: 1,9 F = 9cm
35. KO-120M 1: 1.8 F = 120mm
36. KO-120M 120 / 1.8 with a diaphragm and helicoid
37. KO-120 1: 2.1 F = 12cm
38. GOZ “KO-140” 1:2,2 F–14cm
39. Vega-9 2,1 / 50
40. MP RSFSR GLAVOCHTEKHPROM PLANT №6 ★ F=7.7cm ★
41. MSO USSR SSD UPP-1 ★ KHARKIV ★ F-7 CM ★
42. Schneider Super Cinelux 70/2
43. Meopta Meostigmat 90/2
44. Meopta Meostigmat 100/1.7
45. RO2-2M 75/2 VS LOMO Zh-53 75/2 VS LOMO RO506-1 80/2
46. Projection aplanates: "Petzvali" and "Richter"

The names of the lenses correspond to their exact spelling on the body.

Conclusion:

35KP-1.8 / 120 is another lens that requires its owner to tinker with creating a focuser. However, if the owner deigns, he will certainly be rewarded with an excellent fast lens with an excellent picture!

A list of all reviews from readers of Radozhiva will find here.