I have tested the 2/85mm Sonnar typs with my KIEV and Contax IIa cameras. The 2/85mm typs are a Zeiss 2/85mm West-Germany, Carl Zeiss Jena 2/8,5cm East-Germany, and a Russian Jupiter 9. All 2/85 Sonnar types are great performer lenses, but with a littel difference.
For lens resolution and contrasty the Carl Zeiss Jena lens is the winner. The second is the Jupiter 9. The third ist the Zeiss from West-Germany.
The difference is very small, but this tested lenses have more differences and the are don't small.
Is not a question the West-Germany lens is an absolute winner in mechanical quality, and included 2 layer of apperture blades only of this 2/85 lenses. The high class mechanical condition contribute don't a smooth distance operation like the Sonnar from East-Germany, but the West-Germany lens come in heavy brass and the East Germany lens in light metal lens body.Is an difference too for chromed the brass body for the West-Germany lens can chromed in high class and looked very well. The Jupiter 9 lens have a aluminium body, and first J-9 lens body is protected with a layer of shellacs that in running times received a yellowish shinning. The Jupiter 9 lenses and body are identical with the pre-war Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar lens body. The J-9 in lens operation and handling my absolut favorit. Please note Jupiter 9 lenses are don't Sonnar copys. The are produced in first time with genuine Zeiss machines that taked in the USSR for WW II reparation cost of Germany.
A testing with a Nikon 2/85 lens are don't fair.The Nikon range finder lens included a different bajonett like the Contax or KIEV range finder.
For a KIEV camera a Jupiter-9 can included different qualitys. Please look on the lens mark of sign logo= Krasnokorsk, Lythkarinov, KMZ. A J-9 before 1960 is a safeway for received a good lens, but later time Lythkarinov J-9 great performer in quality too. Oooh ! Not by the way the J-9 is with open 2,0 apperture very sharp. Good luck
(by Peter)
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