Production
1958 – 1992
Country
USSR
Optical
7 elements in 3 groups
Updated
Feb 15, 2026
Jupiter 9 85mm f/2
M39 (aka LTM or Zorki)
Overview
The Jupiter 9 85mm f/2 is the Soviet portrait lens that delivers Zeiss Sonnar quality at Eastern Bloc prices. Directly copied from the pre-war Carl Zeiss Sonnar design, the Jupiter 9 maintains that legendary rendering while being produced in quantities that kept prices low. It's the affordable path to classic portrait rendering, and many photographers prefer it to more expensive alternatives.
Verdict: The Sonnar for everyone. If you want classic Zeiss portrait rendering without Zeiss prices, the Jupiter 9 delivers. Quality varies, so buy smart, but a good copy rivals lenses costing 10x more.
Optical Character
Bokeh
Certainly one of the strong points of the lens.
Sharpness wide open
Wide open the lens is somewhat soft and not really contrasty in general, but sharpness improves when stopped down.
Flare resistance
The flare resistance is certainly nothing to write home about and the lens certainly shows its age here.
Contrast
Moderate, not very high in general.
Vignetting
Surprisingly low at only 1.6 EV wide open and rarely noticeable further stopped down.
Community Insights
What people love
- Real Zeiss Sonnar rendering
- 15 aperture blades — smooth bokeh
- Affordable portrait lens
- Classic 85mm focal length
- Solid build quality
- The value proposition
What people dislike
- Soviet quality control varies
- Some copies soft or de-centered
- Heavy for f/2
- Preset aperture on some versions
- Not the fastest 85mm
Pro Tips
- Buy from sellers with return policy — QC varies
- The 15 blades make this special for bokeh
- Great value portrait lens
- Test at f/2 to verify sharpness
Sample Photos
Sources (3)
phillip_reeve-
https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-jupiter-9-85mm-2-0/
unknown-
https://www.mflenses.com/jupiter-9-85mm-f2-m42-lens-review.html
Lens Heritage 2nd JSONsecondary
The Jupiter 9 85mm f/2 is the Soviet portrait lens that delivers Zeiss Sonnar quality at Eastern Bloc prices. Directly copied from the pre-war Carl Zeiss Sonnar design, the Jupiter 9 maintains that legendary rendering while being produced in quantities that kept prices low. It's the affordable path to classic portrait rendering, and many photographers prefer it to more expensive alternatives.