KMZ

KMZ (Krasnogorsky Mekhanichesky Zavod, or Krasnogorsk Mechanical Plant) was the primary optical manufacturer of the Soviet Union, best known globally for the Zenit SLR brand. However, for the Leica M-mount community, KMZ is defined by its massive production of LTM (Leica Thread Mount) rangefinder cameras and lenses between 1948 and the late 1970s.

Under the Zorki brand, KMZ manufactured millions of Leica II copies. More importantly, they produced a vast ecosystem of lenses, branded Jupiter, Industar, and Russar, that were often direct clones of pre-war Zeiss designs. Today, these lenses represent the most accessible entry point into vintage rangefinder glass, offering legendary optical formulas (like the Sonnar and Biogon) for a fraction of the price of their German counterparts, albeit with notoriously variable quality control.

History

The history of KMZ is inextricably linked to the aftermath of World War II and the acquisition of German intellectual property.

The Zeiss Transfer (1945 to 1948)

Following the defeat of Germany, the Soviet Union claimed optical machinery, raw glass, and technicians from the Carl Zeiss Jena factories as war reparations. These assets were transported to the KMZ plant near Moscow. Consequently, the earliest Soviet lenses (1947 to 1950) were often assembled from actual Zeiss glass and are highly prized by collectors.

The Zorki Era (1948 to 1956)

KMZ's first major camera, the Zorki 1, was a direct copy of the Leica II (Model D). Unlike the FED commune (another Soviet manufacturer), KMZ was a high-end military plant, and their initial Zorki cameras were built to higher tolerances. To accompany these bodies, KMZ mass produced the Jupiter-8, a copy of the Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f/2. This established the LTM mount (M39) as the standard across the Soviet Bloc, ensuring compatibility with the millions of Leica screw mount cameras worldwide.

Product Lines (LTM Compatible)

KMZ lenses are fully compatible with Leica M cameras via a standard LTM to M adapter. They are generally categorized by their optical design lineage.

The Jupiter Series (Sonnar/Biogon Copies)

• Jupiter-8 (50mm f/2): A clone of the pre-war Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f/2. It is the most common Soviet lens. Known for its compact aluminum barrel and "creamy" bokeh, it lacks the clinical sharpness of a Leica Summicron but offers a classic portrait rendering.
• Jupiter-3 (50mm f/1.5): A copy of the Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f/1.5. This lens is legendary for its speed and "dreamy" character wide open. Good copies are highly sought after as a budget alternative to the Zeiss C Sonnar, though they are prone to flare.
• Jupiter-12 (35mm f/2.8): A copy of the pre-war Zeiss Biogon 35mm f/2.8.
  • Warning: This lens features a massive, protruding rear element that sits deeply inside the camera body. While it fits essentially all Leica M film bodies (M2, M3, M4, M6), it cannot be mounted on the Leica M5, Leica CL, or many digital bodies (like the M9 or M240) without risking damage to the metering arm or sensor shutter internals.

The Industar Series (Tessar Copies)

• Industar-22 / Industar-50 (50mm f/3.5): These are collapsible lenses that mimic the appearance of the Leitz Elmar 50mm f/3.5. They are Tessar type designs known for high contrast and sharpness in the center.
• Industar-61 L/D (53mm f/2.8): A later lens famous for using Lanthanum radioactive glass elements to increase refractive index. It is widely considered the sharpest Soviet LTM lens, often exceeding the Jupiter series in resolving power, earning it the nickname "The Soviet Eagle Eye."

The Russar (Wide Angle)

• Russar MR-2 (20mm f/5.6): Designed by Mikhail Rusinov, this was a groundbreaking ultra wide lens. Its "Rusinov effect" (aberrational vignetting correction) influenced later designs by Zeiss (Biogon) and Schneider (Super Angulon). It remains the most affordable vintage 20mm lens for the LTM system.

Technical Specifications

Feature	Specification Details
Native Mount	Leica Thread Mount (LTM / M39)
Focus Standard	Soviet Standard: Optimized for 52.4mm focal length. Leica Standard: Optimized for 51.6mm focal length.
Compatibility Issue	Due to the standard difference, Soviet lenses may back focus on Leica bodies when shooting close up (1m) at wide apertures (f/1.5). Infinity focus is typically correct.
Build Materials	Aluminum (Silver/Black) or Brass (Early prototypes)
Filter Thread	40.5mm (Jupiter-8, Jupiter-3, Industar-61)
Aperture	Clickless (Jupiter series) or Clicked (Industar-61)

Why Photographers Choose KMZ

• Value Proposition: KMZ lenses are viewed as the ultimate "bang for buck" option, but they come with a caveat known as the "Russian Lens Lottery."
• The "Sonnar Look": Photographers specifically choose the Jupiter-3 and Jupiter-8 to achieve the classic Zeiss Sonnar look, soft, glowing highlights and smooth transitions, for under $150, a fraction of the cost of a modern Zeiss ZM C Sonnar.
• Focus Shift: Experienced M users often send their Jupiter-3 lenses to technicians to be "shimmed" (calibrated) specifically for the Leica standard, effectively eliminating the back focus issue inherent to the Soviet design.

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Sources

• Zenit Camera Archive (KMZ History): http://www.zenitcamera.com/archive/history/princelle-about-kmz-horizons-eng.html
• Leica Copies (History & Standards): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leica_copies
• Dante Stella (Soviet Lens Compatibility): https://themachineplanet.wordpress.com/tag/ltm/
• SovietCams (Industar-61 L/D Details): https://www.sovietcams.com/lenses/4ra02hm6fp178x4pqrm2nhq85g
• Lomography (Russar History): https://microsites.lomography.com/russar-lens/history/