Jupiter-9 1: 2 F = 8,5cm P (KMZ, 1959) in a frame for Zenit cameras. Review from Rodion Eshmakov

Review of the lens Jupiter-9 1: 2 F = 8,5cm P (KMZ, 1959) specially for Radozhiva prepared Rodion Eshmakov (instagram).

The view of the large convex front lens of the Jupiter-9 objective is quite aesthetic.

The view of the large convex front lens of the Jupiter-9 objective is quite aesthetic. increase.

The short fast telephoto lens Jupiter-9 is one of the most famous Soviet portrait lenses. The lens was developed on the basis of the seven-element Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 85/2 and has been produced since 1951 in frames for rangefinder cameras of the Contax RF (Kiev) and M39 LTM (Zorkiy, FED) systems. The prototype of Jupiter-9, Zonnar-Krasnogorskiy ZK-85, is believed to have been produced from German lens units between 1948 and 1951.

Not all lenses were produced at KMZ: some were produced by the Kiev plant "Arsenal", some - by LZOS. The low culture of production in Lytkarino and the associated almost 100% optical defect caused unflattering reviews about this lens among amateur photographers (deep life, evtifeev). However, low-quality lenses produced by LZOS are, one might say, generally different Jupiter-9, which manifest themselves during operation differently from Krasnogorsk or Arsenal lenses. Despite this fact, only the Lytkarin version of Jupiter-9 survived 2 redesigns and received multilayer optical coating in the 1980s, while KMZ and Arsenal curtailed production of Jupiter-9 back in the 1960s.

This article presents Jupiter-9 from 1959 manufactured by the KMZ plant in a frame for Zenith SLR cameras - this is perhaps one of the most appreciated versions of Jupiter-9, since it has a high-quality optical part and, moreover, is initially compatible with modern SLR cameras, i.e. e. does not require adaptation.

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

Technical specifications [source]:

Optical design - "Zonnar", 7 lenses in 3 groups (sketch from Yakovlev's reference book, v.1);

Optical design - "Zonnar", 7 lenses in 3 groups (sketch from Yakovlev's reference book, v.1);

Focal length - 84,46 mm;
Aperture ratio - 1: 2;
Angle of the field of view (on the format 36 * 24 mm) - 28 °;
Aperture limits - 1: 2-1: 16;
Diaphragm design - 15 blades, with presetting mechanism;
The minimum focusing distance is 0.8 m;
Filter thread diameter - 49 mm;
Mount to the camera - M39 * 45,2 mm (there are adapted for M42 * 45,5 mm);
Mass - 400

Design features

The Jupiter-9 version for SLR cameras has a very short length due to a larger flange distance, but larger in diameter due to a more complex helicoid and the presence of a diaphragm presetting mechanism.

Jupiter 9: small, pot-bellied.

Jupiter 9: small, pot-bellied.

The body of this modification, Jupiter-9, is made of unpainted duralumin, since the late 60s the lenses produced by LZOS changed their color to black due to the appearance of cameras with selenium exposure meters. The lens has a set of scales and controls, traditional for old optics.

Sketch of Jupiter-9 case for SLR cameras. Source: Yakovlev's Handbook, vol. 1.

Sketch of Jupiter-9 case for SLR cameras. Source: Yakovlev's Handbook, vol. 1.

The focusing ring has a characteristic nut-like appearance and makes almost 3/4 of a full turn. In this case, the lens unit of the lens moves progressively without rotating. The travel of the helicoid is 12 mm, the minimum focusing distance is 0.8 m. According to this indicator, the version for SLR cameras is much better than the version for rangefinders, in which the MDF is 1.15 m.

Two Jupiter-9 1959: for Zenit cameras (left) and for Kiev cameras, adapted for DSLRs (right). Setting the helicoid "to infinity".

Two Jupiter-9 1959: for Zenit cameras (left) and for Kiev cameras, adapted for DSLRs (right). Setting the helicoid "to infinity".

In addition, in the Kiev version of the lens, focusing occurs with the rotation of the lens unit, which makes the use of polarizing filters inconvenient.

Two Jupiter-9 1959: for Zenit cameras (left) and for Kiev cameras, adapted for DSLRs (right). Installation of helicoid on MDF.

Two Jupiter-9 1959: for Zenit cameras (left) and for Kiev cameras, adapted for DSLRs (right). Installation of helicoid on MDF.

Krasnogorsk Jupiter-9 is the owner of a luxurious fifteen-blade black diaphragm, which makes its pupil round at any aperture. Late Lytkar lenses have shiny petals, which negatively affects the image contrast.

Jupiter 9's aperture has 15 blades.

Jupiter 9's aperture has 15 blades.

For ease of sighting when used with an SLR camera, the lens is equipped with a preset aperture mechanism. The ring closest to the nose sets the value, and the next one closes the aperture to the selected value. This option was quite relevant in the XNUMXth century, but today it should be used with caution: shifting the focus point with aperture can make presetting aperture meaningless (especially for Lytkar lenses with pronounced aberrations).

Optics Jupiter-9 has a single-layer coating of pink-blue shades. Of course, it could not but affect the transmission spectrum - the lens noticeably turns yellow in transmission.

Type of antireflection of the rear lens Jupiter-9.

Type of antireflection of the rear lens Jupiter-9.

Meanwhile, even within 1959, the enlightenment of the lenses was different. So, in my earlier Jupiter-9, which was originally intended for Kiev rangefinder cameras, the front lens enlightenment is violet, not blue, and the inner surfaces are pink-yellow.

Even lenses of the same year of release differ in shades of coating.

Even lenses of the same year of release differ in shades of coating.

The degree of color distortion is similar for both lenses, although it seemed to me that the later "SLR" lens is still more "green".

The difference in the light transmission spectrum of the lenses is small, but there is.

The difference in the light transmission spectrum of the lenses is small, but there is.

When using old Jupiter-9 for early Zenith cameras with M39 mounting thread, it is worth remembering that the flange distance of this system is 0,3 mm less than the usual M42 thread. I had to remove one thin alignment ring to achieve infinity focusing when using the lens on a Sony A7s through the M39 / M42 + M42 / EOS + EF / NEX adapters. To carry out this procedure, it is necessary to unscrew the lens unit with the diaphragm entirely from the helicoid along the left thread.

The Jupiter-9 version for SLR cameras turned out to be quite pleasant to work with: the lens is very small in size and very easy to use. The design allows for easy maintenance of the helicoid and a quick alteration to M42 * 45,5 if necessary.

Optical properties

This modification of Jupiter-9 has really good sharpness from an open aperture, although to be sure, you can cover the aperture by 1 / 3-2 / 3 stop (I did not have such a desire when using this). To the edges of the frame, resolution drops due to coma and chromatism, which can be largely corrected by aperture by 2-4 stops.

The optical design with only 3 groups of lenses provides good image contrast and quite confident behavior in the backlight for an old single-coated lens: only slight veiling and rare but large flares can be observed from artifacts. Unlike its planar counterparts, Jupiter-9 does not suffer from noticeable vignetting in the full frame. The lens appears to be great for use with medium format mirrorless cameras.

Although the lens has distorted light transmission, the camera copes well with installation white balance... Some "warming" of the picture does not become a problem. Enlightenment does not give extraneous reflections that introduce color distortions.

From the point of view of artistic photography, Jupiter-9 is very attractive: when shooting a portrait, it provides good reproduction of facial details (apparently, due to the "successful" frequency-contrast profile) and a pleasant unobtrusive background blur characteristic of the Zonnars.

In general, the lens was expectedly pleased with its optical quality.

Below are sample photos taken with Sony A7s (full frame and APS-C, RAW, Imaging Edge).

Conclusions

The old "Zonnar" does not spoil the photographs - the Krasnogorsk Jupiter-9, which has not experienced the negligence of the LZOS engineers, has not only good optical performance, but is also a convenient and compact manual portrait. Among other interesting old "Zonnars" of the same class, one can recall Nikkor-P 105 / 2.5 Pre-AI.

You will find more reviews from readers of Radozhiva here.

Add a comment: Sergei

 

 

Comments: 9, on the topic: Jupiter-9 1: 2 F = 8,5cm P (KMZ, 1959) in a frame for Zenit cameras. Review from Rodion Eshmakov

  • notapic

    If not today, then tomorrow, and Rodion will already overtake Arkady in the number of reviews written for Radozhiva.

    • Neo

      Will not overtake

  • Sergei

    Jupiter-9 is a rare beast for the mirror Zenith produced by KMZ.
    It is mainly collectible, therefore expensive.

  • Igor

    Thanks for your review. The best option is Jupiter 9.

  • Sergei

    Good evening! Can you tell me if you can find out the year of manufacture and the manufacturer of the Jupiter-9 lens by the factory lens number

  • Sergei

    It seems that I have found something, on the lens there is a Dove Prism with a beam path through it.
    The mark was registered in 1946 3)), but it has been used since 1949. This is the logo of the Krasnogorsk plant, only the year of production of the lens with the number 5803464 was not found

  • Dmitriy

    Maybe someone knows, the rear lens from which lens could fit?

    • Rodion

      From any other Jupiter-9.

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