This unusual little Industar-22 has certainly become an intriguing purchase. I believe this was actually a prototype for the first Zenit SLRs…primitive ergonomics, narrow focus range, soft edges, relatively slow aperture of ƒ3.5, heavy vignetting and low contrast – all adding up to an abundance of character and charm! Despite the deficiencies, it will often surprise you with a strikingly sharp image. Having spent some time shooting, it remains an intriguing lens and in my final assessment, an excellent find…

Although the Helios-40 is sharper even shot wide open, it’s 3 times the size of the Jupiter-9. When it comes to flare, the Helios-44 has it beat hands down (as in producing a prominent flare) – the Helios-40 is rather tame with flare which is an optical anomaly I like to see. But this lens still compels me despite the burden of its weight…

Ergonomics aside, this is a stunning lens. It feels like it’s built for battle – in outer space. Unsurprisingly, it exhibits the same weaknesses as the Sonnar design it’s copied from – green/magenta chromatic aberration, strong vignetting wide open and a soft glow across the frame. Still, the Sonnar design at this range has a natural propensity for closing in on a subject and making the rest of the world just fade away. It’s such a timeless look…