Manufactured originally in 1978 and continued through to the early 2000s, the popularity and timeless quality of the Jupiter 37A is evident.
The lens features a 12 bladed clickless aperture, and an aperture preset mechanism. My own model, made for the Moscow 1980 Olympics, is not multi-coated but rather single coated, identifiable by the absence of a red “MC” on the lens body. The Jupiter also comes with a 52mm filter thread and a lens hood that screws into its filter thread, making it a portable and practical choice.
The optical scheme for the Jupiter was based off a Carl Zeiss Sonnar design, retaining the same number of elements, 4 elements in 3 groups. Sharpness tests reveal that the Jupiter is quite sharp, right from f3.5 in the centre of the frame, and it progressively sharpens as you step it up to f11. The lens does show some effects of diffraction at f16, but overall it is a very sharp lens. The sweet spot for the Jupiter 37A is between f8 to f11. The Jupiter does not display much axial chromatic aberration, but some fringing is visible, although this can be easily corrected in any image editing program.
Flares can be an issue when using the Jupiter, so it is recommended to avoid strong light sources behind the lens. Despite this, the Jupiter creates impressive flares and sunstars, thanks to its 12-blade aperture. One of its standout features is its bokeh, which is incredibly soft and smooth, rendering beautifully from f3.5 to f22. The Jupiter also excels in colour rendering, offering a pleasing contrast without oversaturation. Its vintage, slightly neutral look makes it a great lens for video, producing super gradeable colours. The Jupiter 37A is not just a lens, but a piece of history that will continue to deliver exceptional results for many years to come, as long as it is well cared for.
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