Best body choice for a jupiter 12 ?

[f16sunshine]

After long wanting on in ltm, I bought a Jupiter 12. I had one in Contax mount years ago and really liked it a lot. (love the "flaws").

I've owned a LTM bodies over the years. Canon, Bessa, Yashica (currentlly).

My understaning is the Jupiter 12 lens works best on Russian Bodies.
It will not work at all on my Current Bessa Body, M5 is out, my favorite LTM body the Canon 7 is also out(???).

I have both a Yashica YE and YF ltm bodies so am not emty handed when the lens arrives.
Niether of these have 35mm Framelines.

I would like a body with 35mm framelines in the finder although an external finder is not out of the question.
The Canon 7 would be great but I have read mixed reports about compabilty.

Which body do you all recommend. I'm not going to buy an M2 or M4 for this lens.
It's for special use. I can manage with a Russian or Canon.... which one ?

Thanks for the replies and comments. Any J12 images are of course most welcome 🙂

 

[rumbliegeos]

I used one on a IIIF with a Russian 35mm auxiliary finder quite happily for an extended period. It wasn't a camera with integral framelines, but it still made a pretty small kit. Nice lens.

 

[bobby_novatron]

f16sunshine -- FWIW I can tell you my experience with my particular J-12.

1. It worked fine with my Zorki-4 rangefinder, no issues with mounting.
2. Tried it on my M 240, it also mounted without problems. Without profiling and shot wide-open it tended to produce some magenta + distortion in the far corners.
3. I tried it on my Canon 7 rangefinder. Again, no issues, it mounted 100% fine. This was (for me) the ideal set-up since I could call up the 35mm framelines and enjoy shooting the lens properly.

When I purchased the J-12, I researched them a lot and determined which years were better than others, and the later models (especially the black models from the 1970's and 1980's) do not have the mounting problems compared to the earlier versions. At least this proved to be true in my case.

As a caveat: the J-12 is a vintage lens and does not perform anywhere near the same level as a Zeiss C-Biogon, but it's still a great lens to use, especially with film.

Here's an example using the J-12, with Tri-X in HC-110.

And another, same film and developer:

 

[f16sunshine]

Robert thank you!
I should have just asked you to begin with since it's your old lens that i will be using 🙂

The Canon7 was a camera I've owned a couple times before and would happily own again.

I'm familar with the look of the J12. I had the Contax/Kiev version. I also owned an old Zeiss Biogon as well as the new ZM Biogons. You're correct in that they are not the same lens.
The old versions are defiantly far from "perfect" but.... they give a certain look I like for film.
I won't be using it on any digital cameras. If a Canon 7 will work.... I'm going for a Canon 7 🙂

Cheers!

 

[f16sunshine]

How about then ZI anyone try the Jupiter on a ZI.
I found a Flickr post where the photogrpher claimed he used his J12 on a ZI.
Anyone try ?

 

[ForestCap]

My 1976 J-12 mounts and works well on my Canon-7. My Canon-7's light baffle is in good condition, it's flat and not deformed. I can see the frameline for 35mm even with eye-glass. So this is a nice combo when I don't want to use external viewfinder.

J-12 doesn't mount on some early FED-2 by default, you need to bend the rf coupling arm upward to have the j-12 mounted.

I also like using it on my zorki-1 for the light weight and it's still quite compact. I added a Japanese made Albada/bright line finder on it, like the ones made for Yashica aux. lenses. They usually have slightly higher eye-point than Canon-7's finder, so it's quite comfortable to use.

A sample shot from the Z-1/J-12 combo. Expired Konica Minolta VX100s, developed in Tetenal C41
(this is the 25th roll from the 1L kit!):

 

[rhl-oregon]

Andy, my (also new to me) J12 fits my Canon L1.

I took off the back, set it to B, screwed in the lens, wound it & fired. It clears the curtain fine.

Haven't shot any film with that combo yet. Will do sometime soon. But I think I mentioned that it plays well with the A7.

 

[farlymac]

The later models are supposed to work fine on the Canon P, which does have 35mm frame lines.

PF

 

[f16sunshine]

Mr Yang, Robert, PF

Thank you!
I think I'll post an add for a Canon 7.
I always liked it before.
The L1 is a camera I long had an interest in but it's hard to find.
Looking forward to fall with the Jupiter 12 and a Nkoor f2.5/35 comparison 🙂

 

[rhl-oregon]

There's a crazy estate find L2 3 lens kit on the E(lliott?) bay @$300. Also some cheap 7's, a good L1 in Japan....

Getting a model with the RF magnifier will be a boon for your eyes, esp. for focusing a 35.

 

[fer_fdi]

Many Jupiter-12 from mid 70s onwards fit the Canon 7 and P.
When I searched (looking to use one with my digital X-E1) I found J-12s from the following years/serials worked fine on Canon P or 7:
Silver: 60xxxxx. Black: 75xxxx, 77, 78, 82, 84, 87, 90. I bought one from 1986 and it worked.
In general, it seems that 80s specimens should fit fine. The mushroom rear element seems to be slightly smaller on those.

I use a LZOS Jupiter-12 from 1986 on my CLE, no problems; good focus, etc. with both a chinese noname M adapter and a good one.
This one fits my X-E1 too.




BTOH just got a KMZ Jupiter-12 that draws very nicely but is focusing wrongly.
Any help welcome please. Thread here:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/foru...d.php?t=156727

I need help about how to open the lens to find the shims and how to reassemble correctly

.