batterytypehah!
Lord of the Dings
Hi all,
I'm new here -- read more in the intro forum if you want.
I recently won a IIa body on e*ay for $129 - couldn't believe I was the only bidder. It turned out to be a winner. Nice clean user, just one and a half Zeiss bumps, all shutter speeds fine. Pretty stiff focus wheel, though. It's my first Contax but I think it's supposed to be smoother.
My only lens at the moment is a Helios 103.
Okay, so maybe I should have done my homework but I found out too late that the Jupiter 12 doesn't mount on postwar bodies. Meaning Contax and Nikon lenses are my remaining choices for wides (right?). The prices make me dizzy... I mean, a Nikon 35/3.5 went for over $200 a few days ago. Give me a break, for a 35? I'd rather carry a Minox 35 or Olympus XA along with the Contax. Faster lens, a quarter of the price, doubles as a meter, ready to shoot before I even have the Helios off & stashed.
Long winded intro, sorry. Question is this: The J-12 seems to come in various versions, some with the really long, interfering "tail," some, judging from auction photos, shorter. Do truly none of them fit a IIa/IIIa?
Other options? Needs to be shorter than 35 mm (see above) to have real life usefulness. Under $200 in user condition (let's say some cleaning marks, dings on barrel, etc.). Is this realistic?
Thanks!
I'm new here -- read more in the intro forum if you want.
I recently won a IIa body on e*ay for $129 - couldn't believe I was the only bidder. It turned out to be a winner. Nice clean user, just one and a half Zeiss bumps, all shutter speeds fine. Pretty stiff focus wheel, though. It's my first Contax but I think it's supposed to be smoother.
My only lens at the moment is a Helios 103.
Okay, so maybe I should have done my homework but I found out too late that the Jupiter 12 doesn't mount on postwar bodies. Meaning Contax and Nikon lenses are my remaining choices for wides (right?). The prices make me dizzy... I mean, a Nikon 35/3.5 went for over $200 a few days ago. Give me a break, for a 35? I'd rather carry a Minox 35 or Olympus XA along with the Contax. Faster lens, a quarter of the price, doubles as a meter, ready to shoot before I even have the Helios off & stashed.
Long winded intro, sorry. Question is this: The J-12 seems to come in various versions, some with the really long, interfering "tail," some, judging from auction photos, shorter. Do truly none of them fit a IIa/IIIa?
Other options? Needs to be shorter than 35 mm (see above) to have real life usefulness. Under $200 in user condition (let's say some cleaning marks, dings on barrel, etc.). Is this realistic?
Thanks!
mhv
Registered User
No J-12 will fit your IIa, ever.
I got a used Cosina Voigtlander 21mm f/4 Color-Skopar SC with finder for around 200$... But I was lucky.
If you're willing to spend a bit more, Stephen Gandy has some SC lenses left you could use, 21mm, 25mm, or 28mm (no 35mm left!).
http://www.cameraquest.com/nrfVClens.htm
The SC lenses are sharp, contrasty, and very well made. If you prefer a more vintage look, your options are few.
You could hunt for a Zeiss-Opton Biogon 35mm, or for the same price get a wider lens from Stephen.
The Nikkor 35mm f/2.5 is no slouch on colour and B&W film, and beats the Jupiter, which is already a fine lens.
I got a used Cosina Voigtlander 21mm f/4 Color-Skopar SC with finder for around 200$... But I was lucky.
If you're willing to spend a bit more, Stephen Gandy has some SC lenses left you could use, 21mm, 25mm, or 28mm (no 35mm left!).
http://www.cameraquest.com/nrfVClens.htm
The SC lenses are sharp, contrasty, and very well made. If you prefer a more vintage look, your options are few.
You could hunt for a Zeiss-Opton Biogon 35mm, or for the same price get a wider lens from Stephen.
The Nikkor 35mm f/2.5 is no slouch on colour and B&W film, and beats the Jupiter, which is already a fine lens.
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Vics
Veteran
Be careful not to try focusing lenses other than 50mm using the wheel. I second mhv on the w-Nikkor 35/2.5. I love mine, but they're not cheap!
Vic
Vic
micromontenegro
Well-known
Sorry, but barring luck, no, at the moment it is not realistic.
But patience and time can pay off. I did get very lucky after some years of looking, and got a killer deal on both 21 and 35mm Biogons.