The Lens details of a series of images taken by Steve Cushing on mirrorless camera.
Fitting is a duel bayonet Rangefinder (RF) mount with a 34.85mm
Flange Distance - this lens will fit and achieve focus to infinity mirrorless cameras but not DSLRs.
Lens HistoryThe Jupiter-9 85mm F/2 is based on the design of the Carl Zeiss Sonnar lens and is comprised of seven glass elements in three groups. Production on the Jupiter-9 85mm F/2 began in 1948 but was ended in the 1990s.
Sonnars render images differently due to their asymmetric design.
I have two versions of this lens but the one tested is the aluminium early version.
Lens In Use
- When used wide-open, field-curvature and spherical aberration spreads the depth-of-field across the frame, giving a “3-D” look.
- Open up to F4 and the image is sharp across the field.
- Used wide-open, uncoated Sonnars have less contrast and muted colours compared to modern designs.
- Point of focus and limited depth of field gives rise to a unique Bokeh, full of comets and spheres.
- It has an iris consisting of a circular 15-blade aperture.
- Very bad handling of back light (side light is handled well with a hood), it does create some chromatic aberrations.
Contax Rangefinder lenses use a double bayonet fitting. Converters for digital cameras can be very expensive. A cheaper solution is to make your own. Front sections of the Russian made Kiev Rangefinder can be purchased and after cutting of the excess brass can be fixed inside a cheap M39 adapter.