This article contains affiliate links, for more information see the disclosure here. Using these links won't cost you a thing, may save you money, and it helps us to keep putting out great material for you to read while remaining ad free. Thanks for your support!
About
Lens model: Jupiter-8 50mm f/2
At a glance: Well recognized for its remarkably compact size and excellent sharpness, this lens delivers beautifully unique images with a quality well suited for portraiture and street photography.
Our score: 4/5
Where to buy
Note: We purchased the Jupiter-8 50mm f/2 used in this review with our own money. This review is independent and is not sponsored by the lens manufacturer or endorsed by them in any way.
Want to say thanks for an ad-free, subscription free experience and top-notch content?
Buy me a coffee
The backstory
Well recognized for its remarkably compact size and excellent sharpness, this lens delivers beautifully unique images with a quality well suited for portraiture and street photography.
While this lens is often referred to as a “copy” or “clone” of the Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f/2, if you read through the history books, you’ll find that it isn’t really a “copy” or “clone” so much as it is essentially a renegade Sonnar produced by Russian appropriated German factory equipment and technology that was moved back to the Russian homeland, then re-keyed and re-died to produce the Jupiter brand. When the Soviets took East Germany at the end of World War II, they captured much of the tech that they came across in their zone, including the machinery and blueprints used to make some of the best German lenses.
Jupiter-8 f2 50mm Prime Lens Features
- Extremely compact
- Incredibly light weight
- An unprecedented value
- Excellent sharpness, colors and contrast
- Low barrel distortion
- Low lateral chromatic aberration
- Reasonably fast and bright f/2 maximum aperture allows for shallow depth of field and for good results in low-light photography
- Quite sharp at center wide open at f/2 and sharpest across the frame by f/5.6
- Good image compression for a pleasing bokeh effect
- Ideal for portraits, street photography, and close ups
Jupiter-8 f2 50mm Prime Lens Sample Images
Technical Specifications
| Focal Length (35mm format): | 50mm |
| Maximum Aperture: | f/2 |
| Minimum Aperture: | f/22 |
| Mount format: | Leica M-39 Screw Mount |
| Format: | 35mm Film |
| Angle of View (35mm format): | 45° |
| Focusing Distance: | 1m to Inifinity |
| Elements/Groups: | 6 elements in 3 groups |
| Number of Blades: | 9 (rounded) |
| Focus type: | Manual Focus (MF) |
| Filter size: | 40.5mm |
| Manufacturer: | Jupiter |
| Country of Manufacture: | USSR (Russia) |
| Weight: | 130g |
Equipment
The sample images in this post were captured using a Sony A7r, Mark III
The product images were captured using a Samsung Galaxy Note 9
Image quality: Excellent
Bokeh: Excellent
Build quality: Superb
Micro contrast: Excellent
Ergonomics: Flawless
Center sharpness (wide open): Excellent
Edge sharpness (wide open): Very good
| Pros | Cons |
| Light and easy to carry | Manual focus may present a challenge to first time users |
| Premium build quality | |
| Excellent optical quality overall | |
| Sharp at center wide open | |
| Renders beautiful classic colors |
