best FSU lens 28-50 mm in LTM?

[nrb]

The J3 is simply a J8 with an extra stop, but all russian lenses can be capable performers if generally not in the same league as the original products. Remember that these are copies of german technology taken to the USSR as war booty.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The 7-element F1.5 Sonnar was one of the few lenses to have the edge over its 6-element F2 counterpart.

So far, my better J-3's outperform the J-8's that I have used. The best is as sharp as the Nikkor 5cm/1.4 used wide-open.

 

[darkkavenger]

I would say the J3 if you want a 50mm, and the J-12 if you want a wide. The Orion-15 is too much expensive if you have to consider a performance/cost ratio. 🙂

 

[peptonio]

I like the feel of the Industar 61/LD more than the Jupiter 8. Allso, when you don't have a meter in the camera it is a bit difficult not to have clickstops for the aperture, as it change easy. (Ok, I shoot with big gloves this time of the year...)
/matti

I also think that the Industar 61 is a bit underrated here. ho the look of the J8 is nicer for me the industar can be an enormously precise performer, clear and sharp.
A bit like a CV 2,8/50 Skopar.

peppo

 

[hoot]

Collapsible Industar-22, hands down. Makes the camera truly pocketable, produces surprisingly good photos, has excellent handling and looks smashing too.

Somehow, the J-8 never did it for me. Sure, the photos left little to be desired, but the ergonomics of that lens are simply horrible. It's big, it's clunky, it's ugly, it's difficult to focus (incredibly long focus through, and nothing to grab onto while focusing), and the aperture setting can change at the lightest brush of your sleeve.

The J-12 is my runner-up to the I-22. Once again, it makes the camera more or less pocketable; it has less distortion than any other wide angle lens I've seen; it produces excellent photos (though the flare problem makes the lens absolutely unusable in any form of backlight, since the light completely spills over and ruins the entire negative) and it handles moderately well.

 

[thafred]

I like the Jupiter-3 best of the bunch because of the sharpness, nice bokeh and strong warm colors! (but I was lucky with my exsample it seems) closely followed by Fed-50 wich is very sharp over all with good contrast and pocketability! (as Hoot said!) ...is there a difference between I-22 and Fed-50 ??!?

Another favorite was the Orion 15....Vignetting wide open is quite strong and it has to be stopped down to 11 -16 to deliver a perfect picture..not very practical. When at 8 to 11 it´s sharpness for me leaves nothing to be desired! Colours aren´t too good in my eyes. I´m selling mine on the Bay right now because I got the CV 21...a different animal (esp. for colour photography 🙄 )

I´m with hoot on the Jupiter-8....Sharp lens but it does nothing for me that the J-3 can´t esp. wide open my J8 is horrible wereas the J3 shines at f 2.0! Ergonomics aren´t too good on both lenses, but the rotating aperture ring makes me go mad with the J8!

Hey hoot! Were in Vienna are you? Do you want to meet for a camera and coffee afternoon sometime?

 

[OldNick]

When this thread came out, I was just obtaining a Jupiter 12. I got my 1987 black version from Yuri, and it has turned out to be a great lens. There are a number of images from it in my current gallery, and it shows in my avatar.

Jim N.

 

[Silva Lining]

I have used all of these with the exception of the Orion, The J3 is my favourite. I think the Industar 61 is the sharpest, the Jupiter 8 is sharp with nice bokeh but I love the low-light usage of the J3, and it's bokeh is to die for...

 

[Rayt]

Just a thought: consider getting FSU lenses in Contax mount instead. Contax lenses have have less moving parts and that means less to get wrong. Either that or I have been extremely lucky.

 

[robin a]

Gotta be the J8,has it all.

 

[Spyderman]

I voted J-12 and J-8.

The J-12 indeed is a nice glass, but I also encountered the flare problem. It seems to me, that the flare comes from light reflecting between film and the rear element. Wish they made a film with non-reflective surface 😀

The J-8 is another nice lens, sharp and fast. That said, after my bokeh comparisson, I'm beginning to like the I-61 (non L/D) more. The Sonnar bokeh just doesn't make it for me... and I-61 is at least as sharp as J-8, and IMHO has more pleasing bokeh. And as a everyday take-everywhere lens (where speed isn't that important makes more sense to me.

EDIT: I shot some more films with all my lenses since this post, and I must say it changed my opinion. IMHO the best lens is J-8. It's reasonably fast, light, cheap, has great bokeh and usually works right from the beginning - where J-3 usually needs some shimming to work with Leica or Bessa. If I could have only one lens - it would be an early tabbed aluminium J-8.

 

[raid]

My FSU lenses are few, but I have been enjoying using the J-3 and the I-50.

 

[wlewisiii]

Way back when, I voted for the J-12. Now, it's a bit later and I've found that after buying and selling many more FSU lenses, the one I have to have is an I-61L/D. It's just a really well made version of a Tessar and has always given me consistently pleasant results. I've sold the one I had three times and now know I'll not sell the fourth... :bang: 😉

It's good enough I could consider it as an only lens. I'd rather not, for a number of reasons, but if it came down to it, well, it's good enough for anything any normal lens can do. I hope, eventually, to have 3 normals - a Canon 50/1.5, a Canon 50/1.8 & the I-61L/D as each has a very different and delightful look to it.

Have 2 of the 3 & hopes for the last one reasonably soon... 🙂

William

 

[raid]

William,

Roland is selling his Canon 50/1.5 for alow price.

 

[Murray Kelly]

For me the J-3. I have the j-8s too but both my j-12 (Kiev and LTM) are dogs.
The J-9 is a close 2nd to the J-3. Pity the Helios-103 isn't available in LTM, it really impresses.

Murray
Brisbane, Oz

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Indu 22 because its better than the Elmar
and the 61 L/D because it is the only one with clickstop
I still have to test my Orion so I am not sure whether it is that good

 

[Murray Kelly]

J-3 no argument! "-)
Murray

 

[payasam]

Sorry, but it seems to me that a poll of this kind has little meaning.

 

[Krosya]

The J3 is simply a J8 with an extra stop, but all russian lenses can be capable performers if generally not in the same league as the original products. Remember that these are copies of german technology taken to the USSR as war booty.

Gotta love the booty. 😉
I voted for a J-3 - great compact lens, sharp and great bokeh, one I used to have didnt seem to have any focus shift either. I-22 comes next - great optics, poor handling - worth having though.

 

[pesphoto]

I just went thru an I22,I61,I50 and now a J3. The J3 is by far the best of the bunch.