andreas.pichler
Established
Thanks to electronic market places, its quite easy today to collect some interesting photo gear at reasonable prices - and make comparisons.
Here we go: Jupiter 3 from 1958 vs. current Voigtlander 1.5/50 Nokton
Outer appearence: You can put the Jupiter in your pocket, the Nokton goes more the DSLR route - a bit bulky.
Price: If you are lucky, you will get a Jupiter 3 LTM at eBay between 60 and 80 EUR, the Nokton are more or less in the 250 - 300 EUR range.
Maintenance: Jupiter 3 are old, used, with some previous owners - be careful if they are like new, this very often means never used - because not working. Noktons are mostly first or second hand.
This means that you at least have to do a CLA for the Jupiter lens, which will last 1-2 hours, but will be very worthwhile. check out Brian Sweeneys manual at http://www.pentax-manuals.com/repairs/j3service.pdf
Hands on: Once CLA'ed, the Jupiters aperture and focus ring runs very, very smooth and exact. Nokton is bit stiffer, more like Leica lenses. Both have a "worthy" finish, no rattling, everything feels fine.
Pictures: The bookeh is totally different, look at the examples. The Nokton is way sharper with nice bookeh at fully open aperture. From aperture 4.0 on both are sharp and stunning, no test pic of Nokton at hand (delivery was today), but one with the Jupiter is added (the swan).
Conclusion: If you really want to do serious shots at low light, take the Nokton. The Jupiter 3 is...mmhh, interesting at fully open aperture. If you are looking for the occasional photography at low lights, the Jupiter 3 maybe sufficient, from aperture 4 outdoor its really fine cocerning sharpness (the swan). But make some training for focussing at fully open! The Jupiter 3 is a historic lens, coating is totally different from what today is used, so photos have a different atmosphere.
The Nokton is the more modern lens, but with its own feeling. More bulky! I hope, next week I can make a comparison between the 250 EUR Nokton and the Jupiter 2/50 for 25 EUR - is one stop more open worth ten times the price?
Cheers, Andreas
Jupiter 3, fully open, low lights
Nokton, fully open, low lights
Jupiter 3, aperture 8, daylight
Here we go: Jupiter 3 from 1958 vs. current Voigtlander 1.5/50 Nokton
Outer appearence: You can put the Jupiter in your pocket, the Nokton goes more the DSLR route - a bit bulky.
Price: If you are lucky, you will get a Jupiter 3 LTM at eBay between 60 and 80 EUR, the Nokton are more or less in the 250 - 300 EUR range.
Maintenance: Jupiter 3 are old, used, with some previous owners - be careful if they are like new, this very often means never used - because not working. Noktons are mostly first or second hand.
This means that you at least have to do a CLA for the Jupiter lens, which will last 1-2 hours, but will be very worthwhile. check out Brian Sweeneys manual at http://www.pentax-manuals.com/repairs/j3service.pdf
Hands on: Once CLA'ed, the Jupiters aperture and focus ring runs very, very smooth and exact. Nokton is bit stiffer, more like Leica lenses. Both have a "worthy" finish, no rattling, everything feels fine.
Pictures: The bookeh is totally different, look at the examples. The Nokton is way sharper with nice bookeh at fully open aperture. From aperture 4.0 on both are sharp and stunning, no test pic of Nokton at hand (delivery was today), but one with the Jupiter is added (the swan).
Conclusion: If you really want to do serious shots at low light, take the Nokton. The Jupiter 3 is...mmhh, interesting at fully open aperture. If you are looking for the occasional photography at low lights, the Jupiter 3 maybe sufficient, from aperture 4 outdoor its really fine cocerning sharpness (the swan). But make some training for focussing at fully open! The Jupiter 3 is a historic lens, coating is totally different from what today is used, so photos have a different atmosphere.
The Nokton is the more modern lens, but with its own feeling. More bulky! I hope, next week I can make a comparison between the 250 EUR Nokton and the Jupiter 2/50 for 25 EUR - is one stop more open worth ten times the price?
Cheers, Andreas
Jupiter 3, fully open, low lights
Nokton, fully open, low lights
Jupiter 3, aperture 8, daylight