This odd looking lens is a Russian copy of a mid 1930s, Zeiss Biogon 3.5cm f/2.8
Made first by KMZ (roughly between 1950s-60s ) but production was later shifted to KMZ's sister factory LZOS in Lytkarino.
The older versions of this lens are in chrome but was later replaced by the classic black enamel version.
Production of this lasted to around 1980s.


Specs:

Focal length: 35mm	Weight: 130g
Optical design: 6 elements in 4 groups	Mount: M39 Leica thread mount (L39) Can also have a Kiev-Contax mountKiev-Contax mount
Aperture: f/2.8 to f/22 5 bladed aperure	Covers: Standard 35mm film size (24×36 mm negative)
Closest Focus: 1m (3.3ft)	Filter Size: 40.5mm (non-rotating)

Image quality


Build quality

It's all metal and are very solid and well built.
The feel of this is also mostly very good.


Conclusion

I really like the image feel this lens gives.
It's often a nice vintage looking, maybe not too surprising because its a copy of a old mid 30s lens from Zeiss.
Wide open has a good center sharpness but also quite the curved focal plane, so a very noticeable corner softness at infinity.
Contrast and bokeh is very nice and it usually handles backlight quite well.
Direct flares are not always that great unless you're looking for much of that.
But my copy of the lens do have a little oil on the aperture blades and you can see some of that reflecting in a few of the flare sample pictures.

It is also a bit odd looking and most of the lens build goes inside the camera.
The rear lens element goes very close to the shutter and this can unfortunately be a problem for some cameras.
For example the more modern Voigtländer Bessa cameras that has a M39 or M mount cannot use this.
This is because it has a dual curtain shutter system for its light meter and  this is in the way if you try to mount this lens.

I have had a lot of fun with this lens and those that are into older lenses will probably like this very much.


Thumbs up:
Image feel
Center shatpness
Build quality
Bokeh and contrast
Small and lightweight

Thumbs down:
Curved focal plane (this adds to its vintage looking images but might not always be seen as a great thing)
Don't work with all M39 rangefinder cameras

Share on Facebook

Technical Info

Analogue
Camera: Zorki 6
Scanner: Plustek OpticFilm 7600i
Film: AGFA CINEREX (X-ray film) and a few pictures are taken with Efke 25.
Developer: Kodak Xtol and the Efke film are developed in D76.