Jupiter-12 Specs 

 ·  Produced by: LZOS (Lutkarino Optical Glass Plant) Russia
 ·  Focal Length: 35mm
 ·  Style:  Copy of Zeiss Biogon 3.5cm f/2.8
 ·  Angle of View: 63°
 ·  Distance Scale: 1 meter to infinity
 ·  Diaphragm: Manual, f2.8 - f22
 ·  Filter Size: 40.5mm
 ·  Mount: Leica Thread Mount (LTM) 39mm 

As my Russian camera stable grew, all with normal lenses, I began looking around for some lenses to add extra capability. I jumped. An eBay seller in Russia had these two lenses paired up and waiting for me. The Jupiter-12 35mm lense is highly-lauded as a sharp performer. I was careful to buy one with a rear lense protector. The rear element glass is 'out there'...a beautiful optical mushroom that could be easily damaged. Adjusting the aperture is unusually difficult, reaching in from the front of the lense. Other than that, the lense is a beauty and makes fine images.

The Jupiter-9 85mm lense also is considered a sharp performer. Both these lenses are copies of Zeiss engineering. The J9 is a nice chunk of glass, and fast at f2.0. Like many J9s mine came from Russia with a slow-turning focusing ring, from thickened grease inside on the helicoids. It also has a reputation of being a difficult lense to reassemble after a relube, so I won't go there. The focus isn't so difficult as to be distracting...maybe it will loosen up with time?