The Hidden Gem of Soviet Lenses: KMZ Jupiter 9 Review 85mm f/2 Review and Samples

[@austinberner31]

Nice!! This channel feeds my recent Soviet camera addiction haha

[@ClickClickComrade]

Thank you for watching the video! I've produced several more video reviews of other lenses, and have a new one coming soon!

[@jpcalamaro961]

Nicely done. Nice to see a video that focuses both on the advantages and drawbacks of a lens.

[@ClickClickComrade]

Thanks for watching and being my very first commenter!

[@zoltankaparthy9095]

I got a 9 a few years back, an '88 Lytkarino. Nice color and definition and coated. I paid around US$100. A good buy. I have found old FSU lenses to be excellent if you shop carefully and pay a fair price.

[@ClickClickComrade]

It's an interesting age considering I can buy a Soviet lens from a web browser from anywhere in the world, much less in the U.S. Getting a good price requires a bit of study indeed. Thanks so much for commenting. I've since made review of the Mir 1, and most recently the Tair 11 if you like this video. Cheers!

[@jakhilp5579]

fum to wach it. informative too. great stile.thank you!

[@ClickClickComrade]

Thanks for the comment. I'm still trying to find my style, so I'm glad you liked it. Cheers!

[@jameswburke]

I recently got a Jupiter 37A, 135mm / f3.5 lens, which has 12 aperture blades. Very sharp too and lovely background blur from all those blades. M42 screw fit so I use an M42 / Sony E adapter for my A7iii. I had to buy a hood as it didn't come with one, but it's a fabulous lens and highly recommended.

[@ClickClickComrade]

That's a fine lens! Post a link when you've got some photos.

[@VintageLensCorner]

Fascinating! Imo some of the finest Soviet glass is the KMZ and LOMO Cine lenses

[@ClickClickComrade]

I primarily collect KMZ glass. I'd love to know more about LOMO glass, the factory's history, and why you like it so much. Very cool...thanks for watching!

[@aperture147]

It's really tricky to find a decent Jupiter 9 nowadays, since people are hunting for it like crazy and the price is skyrocket high too (about 200USD for a well-preserved lens). A friend of mine who studies in Russia said that any Jupiter lens listed on the online market will immediately out of stock after 1hr. IMO, I personally love the Helios 44-3 the most in my Soviet Lens collection, but the Jupiter 9 give me more than the price it takes. In comparison, a Sony 85FE18 has better color rendering, but the bokeh will not be as good as the Jupiter.

[@ClickClickComrade]

You're not kidding...these lenses in particular have gone up substantially. Some really nice Jupiter 9's get into the 5-6 hundred range. My CONTAX mount is a pain but I can't afford a superior m39 KMZ at the moment. There are a few shops outside of ebay that I've used in the past, but have ZERO affiliation with...Uralseller dot com and sovietcamerastore dot com. Thanks for watching! I've also got a video review of the Mir 1 and the Tair 11 if you're interested. Cheers!

[@aperture147]

@@ClickClickComrade It took my comrade 2 months hunting for a decent lens in Moskva because a lot of old lenses are not in original condition anymore since people behind the "Iron Curtain" love fixing stuff themselves (even now), so it's kinda risky to buy lens online from an unknown guy from Russia. Btw I watched your Mir 1 and Tair 11 video and I really love it!

[@ice9phil]

I took one with me to Venice Carnival this year. I get some real good response due to great colors and great background separation, much better than my modern digital counterparts. I also got some strange looks with my 67 silver Jupiter locked onto the front of my Sony a7 . Its a great lens and so is it's little brother, Jupiter 8

[@vilson.farias]

I loved your video. Funny and goes straight to the point.

[@ClickClickComrade]

Thank you sir! You comments inspire me to keep at it.

[@LeedsRider]

Hi Comrade, I have a 1962 KMZ Jupiter 9 (SLR version) and it has quickly become my absolute favourite. It holds up so well to colour grading, once you get used to it, and is plenty sharp. Very very pleased with mine. It does need a service though, the focus ring is rather stiff. Aside from that, perfect condition. I doubt my XF lenses will hold up so well in 60 years time!

[@ClickClickComrade]

Thanks for watching the video and telling me about your Jupiter 9. What a nice piece of kit eh?

[@Itchybiscuit]

Thanks for the informative video. I own the glossy black M42 version of the Jupiter 9. I began my photography journey in 1981 with a Fed 3 and Jupiter 8. I don't know how that combination came together as I bought it from a pawn shop for a couple of £'s. I'm looking forward to watching more of your videos and hope your subscriber count grows with each new release.

[@ClickClickComrade]

Thanks! That's very nice of you to say. You mentioned the Jupiter 8...another great lens. I'm finishing up a video on the Tair 11 at the moment. Is there any lens or topic you'd like to see covered?

[@Itchybiscuit]

@@ClickClickComradeI don't have anything in mind at the moment. Are you going to be solely concentrating on Russian glass? I'm thinking you may have to expand your repertoire for the sake of channel longevity and if so, reviews of Meyer-Optik Gorlitz lenses would interest me very much. In the meantime, more Russians! 😊

[@EmpireMP]

Thankyou for doing this. More reviews please!!!!

[@FrankyFeedler]

Yes more! Loving the format. Subscribed. Which I rarely do 😊

[@ClickClickComrade]

Thank you the kind words! I've produced several more video reviews of other lenses, and have a new one coming soon!

[@ClickClickComrade]

@@FrankyFeedler thanks for the comment about the format. I'm still working to find my creative voice and appreciate comments that help me improve. Cheers!

[@LULULIGHTNINGARTIST]

You are funny 😁😉 Thank you for this review 😊

[@ClickClickComrade]

That's a spectacular compliment, thank you! You're the only person that's said that to me. Cheers!

[@volkmarweber1791]

The KMZ first version (purple coating, cyrillic name and a small red sign on the front) are made out of the same sonnar zeiss optical glass, the Russians took from Zeiss after end of world war 2. all serial numbers below 60xxxxx contain the original Zeiss glass. A seller from Moldova/Transnistria told me this when i bought my version. I keep the black export version too, but the first edition is so much better. Avoid the ones from the Lzos production. The quality differs a lot, the manufacturing was not very precise at all. Millions were made for USSR market. A standard lens that costed just around 15 Euro back in the days.

[@steveshadowphoto9346]

Am just finding your channel comrade ClickClick. I am having two lenses made in Union of Soviet Socialist Republic; the Helios 44-M and a 44-2, forged from the brave canons that fought at Stalingrad. Ok, that last bit is a stretch, but... 🙂

[@ClickClickComrade]

I’ll eventually be covering those lenses! They’re great fun to shoot with! My new review will be of the original Tair 11 133mm. Thank you for watching!

[@FrankyFeedler]

@@ClickClickComradePatiently waiting for that one! I just got my Tair 11 133mm. Near mint, never seen a CLA and it’s a challenge to get it as buttery smooth as the helios/mir 1 etc due to the optical block’s heft bearing down on the helicoids. Getting there though! Trying different greases, helicoid polish, etc. But meanwhile: what a great rendering. How’s the smoothness on your tair 11?

[@ClickClickComrade]

@@FrankyFeedler What?!? and spoil anything from the video? C'mon! (now the pressure is ON, HA!)

[@FrankyFeedler]

@@ClickClickComrade Hehe expectations are high now 😅

[@SeattleShelby]

Both the Sonnar and Jupiter were based on the work of Ludwig Jakob Bertele. The Jupiter wasn’t based on the Sonnar.

[@ohjajohh]

Great video, and I agree, clowns are weird :)

[@ClickClickComrade]

Otherwise the place was charming. Thanks for watching!

[@NickDelDuca]

These lenses are much sharper on a Leica M or SL body.

[@ClickClickComrade]

If you really want sharp perhaps a Soviet lens isn't your first choice. I've heard that most vintage lenses look better on film, but I believe that notion to be subjective. As long as you enjoy using the lens you'll take good photos.

[@NickDelDuca]

@@ClickClickComrade Idk it's not really about overall sharpness it's more about usability at wider aperatures. The sensor stack thickness on the Leica bodies is more optimized for vintage lenses so it gives better performance at wide aperatures. I have a couple vintage lenses that I can never get away with shooting wide open on my Sony but they look great wide open on my SL. I've got one lens that wide open on my Sony it looks like there is vasalene over the lens but on the Leica it's just sharp enough and looks super dreamy.

[@onlinetraderucom]

You have the wrong version of jupiter 9 because they are all different in quality. The only true and real version of Jupiter 9 is AVTOMAT. They are all equally sharp as a razor. They are all flawless.

[@ClickClickComrade]

I'm not sure if I understand your point Comrade. Why do you feel the automat is the only "true" version? Thanks for watching the video.

[@onlinetraderucom]

@@ClickClickComrade Because every version of Avtomat that I had showed consistently the same result, the same sharpness. But ordinary lenses were soapy, and only one out of 20 showed good sharpness. Moreover, this did not depend on his condition. A horribly scratched Jupiter could be razor sharp, but the new one out of the box was soapy

[@simonc4764]

It does'nt say Kyiv, it says Kiev