Choosing a J-8

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breathstealer

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I've been looking for a faster lens for my Canon 7, but decided to hold off because I wasn't prepared to pay for one.

The other day, though, I came across this J-8 on the auction site: 320166016883

The price is really quite unbeatable. For the same money, I can get an I-61 of equally dubious quality locally, but I'd much rather have the extra stop.

I'd just like to get some advice before buying to make sure I'm not doing something really dumb here. Does the seller look trustworthy enough? Also, does that front scratch look like it will be a problem?
 
With the shiping cost, I am not sure that is a good deal. To me, it doesn't look like a good example. I would be tempted to pay just a little more for one without scratches in the front element.

Kim
 
Thanks for your input. The next cheapest J-8 online is almost twice the cost of this one. I think I'll have to mull this one over a bit.

Anyone else with some ideas?
 
I don't believe you can know the quality of ANY j-8 until you test it on your camera.

If I apply my own tests and make from it a rule, then I would say that among J-8, J-8M, and Helios 103, all included my situations is as follows:

20% are crappy
60% are good or very good performers
20% are superb, or in Peter Hennig's words, "Sonnar quality".

Now, I don't know how or why, but the lenses I have bought from Fedka have all fallen between the very good and superb cathegory. I have bought from him two j-8 and one j-9.

Nevertheless, I have also got very good and superb ones from accidental sellers with crappy cameras.

Cheers,
Ruben
 
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Okcamera doesn't have LTM J-8s at the moment, and Fedka's start at $59, which is rather pricey.

However, Oleg has a "good" J-3 for 59+shipping for sale. J-3s are pretty notorious for focusing problems, but if it's been through Oleg's hands it should be okay, right?
 
breathstealer said:
Okcamera doesn't have LTM J-8s at the moment, and Fedka's start at $59, which is rather pricey....
Click to expand...


I strongly differ from your opinion. What are you looking for, Sonnar quality for cents ?

Owning old equipment is cheap when it doesn't work. But owning old working equipment is pretentious and "pricey".
The reason is simple. Non working old gear, or deffective working old gear, there is plenty. But good working old gear is more of a rarity.

You have to think what are you after.

Cheers,
Ruben
 
breathstealer said:
Okcamera doesn't have LTM J-8s at the moment, and Fedka's start at $59, which is rather pricey.

However, Oleg has a "good" J-3 for 59+shipping for sale. J-3s are pretty notorious for focusing problems, but if it's been through Oleg's hands it should be okay, right?
Click to expand...

Oleg is known more for his fine work on Zorkis and Feds and Ltm Leicas and their copies than optics, by some of the members here.
 
I would agree with Ruben's sentiments and suggest Fedka. Yes, it will cost more. Yes, it will be a better lens with an unbeatable return warrenty. He's by far your best bet in this situation. A good J-8 is a delightful lens; take the time to ensure you get a good one.

William
 
ruben said:
I strongly differ from your opinion. What are you looking for, Sonnar quality for cents ?

Owning old equipment is cheap when it doesn't work. But owning old working equipment is pretentious and "pricey".
The reason is simple. Non working old gear, or deffective working old gear, there is plenty. But good working old gear is more of a rarity.

You have to think what are you after.

Cheers,
Ruben
Click to expand...

I suppose in the grand scheme of things, $59 for a lens of that caliber is an excellent bargain. However, I wasn't even considering a lens purchase until I ran upon that really cheap J-8 because I knew I wouldn't be willing to spend the money for a decent copy.

That last sentence is in past tense, though, because this thread (your post especially) has really made me reconsider. I'll give it a little more thought, but Fedka really does seem like the right choice now.

Thanks for your help, everyone.
 
what about this one?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Jupiter-8-lens-...ryZ30063QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I wouldn't mind paying extra for shipping from Russia or the Ukraine as long as it was air-shipped - surface mail takes months.

In my limited experience, there are few problems with J-8's in general, so it's not much of a risk, but I'd rather have a cosmetically clean lens than one that looks kind of rough. And when the price difference is $10-15, and the total including shipping is so low, I fail to see why a person would prefer an $8 lens over a $15 example 🙂
 
I must say I have a dozen or so J-8s and not have notice any duds (albeit I haven't used them all); the problems arise more frequently with the J-3 (my theory is that they have become so valuable that people in the FSU are emptying out parts drawers and mating disparate pieces). Here are my random observations for what they are worth:

1) lenses that come on cameras are frequently the same price or less than for the lens alone; obviously used but not abused cameras with a lens date matching the body strongly suggests that the lens is a good one (beware of almost new old FSU cameras).
2) a dealer may check for scratches, haze and fungus but no dealer - including Fedka and Oleg - optically checks out a lens. If you live in N American the obvious advantage of Fedka is shipping cost and warranty (you will get a good lens eventually) so the higher price on the lens may not really be higher in the long run.
3) a J-3 that I have on my Canon 7 is better than any I-61 and in the same league as my Canon 50/1.8 The J-12 on my Canon7 is amazingly good for the money.
4) While a well setup Zeiss Sonnar is usually better than a J-8 or J-3 the Russian lenses are likely to be better than a Zeiss Sonnar in LTM as most of these German lenses are humps put together from parts looted from the Zeiss factory in the difficult days just after the war - the small runs of genuine Zeiss Sonnars in LTM are worth their weight in gold. Therefore if your needs run to LTM it is worth the effort of finding a good J-8 or J-3
 
outfitter said:
I must say I have a dozen or so J-8s and not have notice any duds ....
Click to expand...

If you really want to know your lenses, you have to shoot a single film, posing a subject at 1m and aperture at f/2. Great surprises will arise, for good and for bad.

It is only in this context that I spoke about "crappy" and "Sonnar like" quality.

Cheers,
Ruben
 
ruben said:
If you really want to know your lenses, you have to shoot a single film, posing a subject at 1m and aperture at f/2. Great surprises will arise, for good and for bad.

It is only in this context that I spoke about "crappy" and "Sonnar like" quality.

Cheers,
Ruben
Click to expand...

Dear Ruben

How about my J-3?
I am curious that my J-3 is "crappy" or "Sonnar like" quality. ;-)
These are all taken around 1m and wide open(F/1.5)


30750010.jpg



70300019.jpg


30750028.jpg


67920038.jpg


67920037.jpg
 
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Hi,
These "look" OK but there is no way to tell unless you you compare the point of focus in the RF finder with the point of focus on the film. A poorly adjusted J3 will still focus properly, it just won't be where you want it to be. 😉 For this reason a controled test shot with a sloping flat surface or indeed a ruler will give the the best chance to assess any errors.

Kim

hyun5suk said:
Dear Ruben

How about my J-3?
I am curious that my J-3 is good or not. ;-)
These are all taken around 1m and wide open(F/1.5)

<img src="http://lh3.google.com/hyun5suk/RwD7amiUlWI/AAAAAAAABjQ/_U22cQnnikU/70310032.jpg?imgmax=640">
Click to expand...
 
Not to be too redundant, but don't buy anything Russian from anybody but Fedka. He's tops in honesty/ customer service. There's probably some equals in the trade, but none better In my not-so-humble opinion.

No--I have no stock in Fedka.
 
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