50/1.5 Jupiter J-3 LTM back in production at Lomo

Jan Pedersen said:
The Nikon 50 1.4 in LTM mount (Nippon Kogaku Tokyo) will focus down to 1.5 feet but you will naturally need preview on your camera to use the close focus range.
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Nikkor 5cm LTM will couple down to .6 meters if you file a little bit out of the mount to make room for the camera's roller/arm. It's thick enough not to be weakened by the process. I've seen some done really ugly :bang: though.
 
Some Corrections

Some Corrections

Bobby Novatron
+1 ROFLMAO

The lens is LTM, so it will fit on any Leica since they standardized the mount (late 1920s?).
The M mount adapter is included.


I've had Don Goldberg mill the mount on Nikkors so that they can rangefinder couple to 0.7 m. Instead of an ugly file job, you get a professional looking milled mount.

I'm on the fence about having the mount on my new Nikkor 5cm 1.5 milled. It's so mint as it is right now.

The Zeiss C-Sonnar's close focusing limit is only 0.9 m, not 0.7m. This is probably to minimize the problems with the focus shift, which would be even more pronounced at 0.7m.
 
Mr Rockwell, chapeau! 😀

bobby_novatron said:
+1, that really made me laugh! Thanks for the Huff-isms, they were spot-on.

You also should add things like "since I got this lens I HAVEN'T TAKEN IT OFF MY CAMERA, IT'S THAT GOOD" and "THIS LENS HAS AMAZING DRAMA AND RENDERING", then add some exciting sample photos of trees and rocks.

Now let me try my hand at a faux KenRockwell review:

[SIZE=+4]KMZ Jupiter-3 50mm F1.5 [/SIZE]
[SIZE=+4] [SIZE=+3]JUPITER-3 "PLUS" (2016-)[/SIZE][/SIZE]
​

jupiter_with_cap.jpg


JUPITER-3 50mm F1.5, silver (40.5mm filters, 16.2 oz./460g; $649). This free website's biggest source of support is when you click on some silly links. They are never in stock; you have to order yours and wait. If you're in a hurry, you can always find questionable old Jupiter-3's from dodgy sellers on eBay). It helps me when you get anything through these links, regardless of the country in which you live. Or just send me piles of money through PayPal. Thanks! Ken.

[SIZE=+3]Introduction[/SIZE]


Intro Specs Performance Compared Recommendations

The KMZ/Lomography Jupiter-3 "plus" is a remarkable lens, being the world's only Russian lens with the ability to instantly hipsterize even the most straight-laced photographer.​

This JUPITER-3 has the best bokeh of any lens, and it is KMZ's best lens ever, however it is still not as sharp as the LEICA SUMMICRON-M 50mm F2. Nothing beats a SUMMICRON. Except maybe another SUMMICRON.​

This KMZ JUPITER-3 comes in solid chromed brass, as shown here. This solid-brass silver version is very dense and heavy; my gas chromatograph machine indicated the aperture ring is made from finely-milled depleted uranium. That's why it's so heavy.​

[SIZE=+2]Compatibility
[/SIZE]
This KMZ JUPITER-3 works perfectly on every Leica camera, from 1954's LEICA M3 to 2016's LEICA SL Typ 601. Changing camera mounts with the JUPITER-3 is simple: the LEICAMAN needs to pay extra money for an adapter. Of course, the LEICAMAN uses $100 bills to light his Cuban cigars, so buying adapters is trivial.

[SIZE=+2][SIZE=+3]Specifications
[/SIZE][/SIZE]
[SIZE=+2]Name[/SIZE]​

Lomo calls this the KMZ JUPITER-3 PLUS 50mm F1.5 ART LENS.​
Lomo is from the original Byelorussian "ломо" meaning "hipster". KMZ is an Anglicized acronym from the original Russian, meaning "Красногорский механический завод", or "Red Hill Mechanical Plant".
​
The plus means it's not an original Jupiter-3, but rather a re-engineered design. The ART LENS means you'll put up with this lens's idiosyncrasies in order to justify paying $649 for a Russian lens.

[SIZE=+3]Performance[/SIZE]

[SIZE=+2]Overall[/SIZE]


The JUPITER-3 is KMZ's best 50mm f/1.5 yet. This lens has the best bokeh of any 50mm lens -- except the JUPITER-8. Now THAT'S an amazing lens!


[SIZE=+2]Bokeh[/SIZE]


Bokeh, the character of out of focus backgrounds, not simply how far out of focus they are, is extraordinary. Out of the dozens and dozens of different lenses I've evaluated, including the ballyhooed LEICA NOCTILUX 50mm f/1.0, this 50mm lens has by far the best bokeh of any rangefinder lens. Since the JUPITER-3 PLUS is made in Russia, I'd equate its bokeh to a creamy, savory borscht.​

Bokeh is much, much better than the LEICA SUMMICRON 50mm f/2.0, and better than the LEICA SUMMILUX 50mm f/1.4.​

I will post crops from extremely enlarged photos of some out-of-focus thingies.


In my examples, a vertically polarized phase lattice was set up at 3 meters (10 feet) on which the JUPITER-3 PLUS was focused, while synthetic reference vegetation seen out of focus in the background was at 15 meters (50 feet).


Note: my "vertically polarized phase lattice" was created using Alien technology from Area 51. This technology is from my days working as a Very Important Person at the US Department of Defense "Skunkworks". The "synthetic reference vegetation" is a favorite snack of extraterrestrials. Naturally, I have lots of it lying around my house.


[SIZE=+2][SIZE=+3]Recommendations[/SIZE][/SIZE]



This is the LEICAMAN'S 50mm lens. The LEICAMAN, like LEICA, isn't about photography; he's about the experience. This is the lens to have if you expect the best. Especially if "the best" means something from Russia.


If you're a photographer/audio engineer/opinionated blogger like me, I prefer the KMZ JUPITER-8 50mm f/2 which is sharper, smaller, lighter, doesn't block the viewfinder, and is easy to buy. Plus, the original JUPITER-8 smells of industrial axle grease. This JUPITER-3 PLUS excels only at élan, bokeh, and giving you that intangible Lomo vibe.


[SIZE=+2]Help me help you[/SIZE]

If you've gotten your gear through one of my links, you're family. It's great people like you who allow me to keep adding to this site full-time.



Since you're family, I'd like to take photos of you eating french fries at the local family restaurant and doing cute things at various SoCal locations. Please email me for your contact info. Thanks!
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"In my examples, a vertically polarized phase lattice was set up at 3 meters (10 feet) on which the JUPITER-3 PLUS was focused, while synthetic reference vegetation seen out of focus in the background was at 15 meters (50 feet)."

For the win.

Dante
 
I meant "1:1 copy" no matter whether it was stolen or not.
Btw.: pants or trousers? 😀 chips or french fries - I prefer pommes frites...
 
Many opinions, but is there no picture examples in addition to those presented on the lomography? I'm waiting for my Jupiter 3+ and I promise to post och link examples as soon I have developed my first films.
 
santino said:
I meant "1:1 copy" no matter whether it was stolen or not.
Btw.: pants or trousers? 😀 chips or french fries - I prefer pommes frites...
Click to expand...

Hi,

Thanks, American English is always a problem for some of us. BTW, here it's usually pants under the trousers; meaning both are worn together. 🙂

Regards, David
 
Lens received but, no images to show just yet. Weather permitting I will try to post some later this week.
The lens is very nicely made, feels like a quality piece of gear with some heft, much heavier than the original J3.
The finish looks a lot better than in the photos Lomography have posted
The Iris is the most rounded I have seen in a small format lens ever, 13 rounded blades and a real smooth and even consistent resistance from 1.5 to 22 but no click stops.
The only thing I wish Lomography would have included in the nicely made package is a cap for the M mount adaptor which I think most would prefer to leave on the lens.
 
now that are positive news, The finish is important and the resistance of click stops too, Can't wait to see images..
 
First impressions

First impressions

Like Jan, I received my lens today from cameraquest. I ordered it on Saturday, and received it on Monday: i.e. 2 days.
Here are some thoughts:

Stephen does an excellent job of packing. The mailing box is relatively large compared to the actual lens box. Inside are layers and layers of foam and bubble wrap.

Then comes the Jupiter 3+ box. This looks elegant and intruiging. Inside, the first disappointment. Instead of a plastic or foam lens cradle, there is just a folded up thin cardstock cradle surrounding the lens. My cardboard cradle has torn in the shipping process. The lens appears to be intact. Beside the lens is a smaller rectangular box, the size of a pack of cards. Inside is a cleaning cloth, and the LTM - M adapter. As Jan points out, there should be a rear cap for the lens adapter. Instead, the manual merely warns you "to be careful to not cut your fingers on the edges of the adapter". For $650, you really should include a rear cap!!

There are 3 booklets inside.
The grey one labelled "Manual" merely tells you what's what on the lens: e.g. aperture ring, focus ring, etc. Its thick only because it does this in a variety of languages.

The reddish orange book seems to be full of hyperbole. It proclaims proudly that the lens elements are made of glass (page 19). Glass is more scratch resistant, and gives better light transmission than plastic, I suppose. Remember, Lomographic sells cameras with plastic lenses too.

The remaining green book extolls the virtues of the lens, and is more of a picture album.

OK, lets look at the lens itself. It is compact, and relatively light. I had my Nikkor 5cm 1.4 SC beside it. The Nikkor has thicker chrome, larger barrel diameter, and about 5mm more length. The Nikkor is heavier than the Jupiter 3+. Both are tiny compared to the giant size Canon 50mm 1.4 in LTM.

There was excess focusing helical grease on the lens body. I wiped it off with a Q-tip, and degreased the lens body with alcohol pads. Don't sneer at Russian workmanship. My Voigtlander 35mm 3.5 Heliar had a similar issue, with bright yellow colored grease. The focusing is nicely dampened: not too stiff or too light. The aperture ring turns with little resistance. Here I wonder if they should have departed from slavish devotion to the past. The diaphragm scale would be more useful if it had been spread out more. Only about 2mm separates f/22 from f/16. With metered cameras such as my M7, it won't make a difference. However, with my M3 and MR-4 meter it will be tough to make an accurate exposure at these small apertures.
The mount has a milled out section at the 12:00 position to allow the RF cam to couple to 0.7 m. They seem to have copied the original J3, then modified the mount for closer focusing with the RF. I'm sending my Nikkor off to have the same thing done by DAG.

Mounted on my M7, the lens seems downright tiny. The front lens element is so large relative to the barrel that the lens identiy ring is basically just the inside of the lens barrel. Check with the moon shows infinity to be accurate. Well, time to start taking pictures.
 
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