Lomography x Zenit Mercury 35mm f/2

Lomography x Zenit Mercury 35mm f/2

The Lomography x Zenit Mercury 35mm f/2 is a moderately wide rangefinder lens produced in the Leica thread mount (LTM, also called M39). It pairs a fast f/2 maximum aperture with a compact body that measures about 35 mm long and 56 mm in diameter and weighs roughly 202 g, making it a small and easily pocketable optic for screw-mount and adapted camera bodies.

Optically the lens uses a seven-element design arranged in four groups. The aperture is formed by nine blades, a count associated with a rounded iris opening across the stop range. The lens is rangefinder coupled, so it can be focused through the coupled rangefinder of a compatible LTM or, with a thread-to-bayonet adapter, an M-mount camera. The minimum focus distance is 0.45 m, and the front accepts 46 mm filters. The lens is not six-bit coded, so it will not transmit lens identification automatically to coded Leica M bodies. The finish is described as nickel.

The Mercury has been in production from 2016 onward, with no confirmed end date recorded. Because it is a recent screw-mount design rather than a vintage classic, documented factory variants and detailed production history are limited, and well-supported reference material on version differences is sparse.

Optical qualities

Rendering Detailed, independently verified information on this lens's rendering character is limited. Based on its specifications, the seven-element, four-group formula with a fast f/2 aperture and a nine-blade iris is consistent with a small wide-normal lens intended for general use on rangefinder and adapted mirrorless cameras. Specific, reliably documented claims about its sharpness, contrast, bokeh, flare behavior, distortion, or vignetting are not established here, so they are not asserted.

Collector Notes

When evaluating a Mercury 35mm f/2, confirm the LTM (M39) thread is clean and that the rangefinder coupling cam moves smoothly, since this determines accurate focus on coupled bodies. Verify the 46 mm filter thread is undamaged, check the nine-blade aperture for oil, and confirm the front and rear elements are free of haze or fungus. For use on Leica M cameras, remember that the lens is not six-bit coded and will require a thread-to-bayonet adapter.