First Photos w/Sonnar 5cm/2 and Jupiter-11

[batterytypehah!]

Been awfully quiet in the Contax section lately. I'm winding down the holiday weekend here in the U.S. with my first picture uploads to RFF. Bear with me if I blow it.

#1 with a pre-war Sonnar 5cm/2 (collapsible), #2 with a 1961 J-11. Stopped down a little, I think f/4 and f/5.6, respectively. I took these on walks with my dog and I never have enough hands to take notes.

CVS brand 200 ASA print film, scanned from negative on my ancient SprintScan using the Fuji Reala setting. Not cleaned, not adjusted.

I'm still getting used to the camera (I have about 5 rolls through it) and the lenses (1st and 3rd roll, respectively). Both lenses are far from mint examples that I got cheap on the 'bay. So, I'm pleased with the results.

 

[batterytypehah!]

Another attempt, original jpegs were way too small:

 

[raid]

The first image has very nice looking smooth out of focus areas in the background. The color green looks good here. The pre-war Sonnar 5cm 2.0 is a great lens, and it is one of my favorites. Some people place the Sonnar 5cm 1.5 above this lens optically.

Fuji Reala 100 is a wonderful film, and I love it.

The J-11 is a copy of the Zeiss 85mm/2,and it can be an excellent lens. A 1961 lens may be a good one. The frog is sharp. Did you use a lens hood in each photo. I would always use a lens hood for all situations. This is especially applicable to the lenses from the 30's.

I love the Contax cameras and the lenses for them.

Thanks for posting.

 

[batterytypehah!]

Thanks, Raid. I've already become familiar with your enthusiasm for the Sonnars and admire your use of them.

Couple more details: The 5cm/2 has lost some finish on the barrel but the glass is very nice. No scratches, just some haze inside the front element. I'm hoping it's from all the oil that's nearly pooling on the aperture blades! This one will have to come apart once I get the tools, and my courage, together. I have only $50 in it but I would still hate to mess it up. Quickly becoming my favorite, I'm a sucker for compactness and in my book, a IIa is a little too big as it is!

The J-11 is 13,5/4, actually. Another cheap one that turned out to be fine. Spotless glass, ugly barrel. The focus scale is also off (infinity aligns with the f/4 mark instead of center) but as the frog shot proves, focus does match the RF.

No hood yet. Should arrive tomorrow from Fedka.

 

[raid]

Thanks, Raid. I've already become familiar with your enthusiasm for the Sonnars and admire your use of them.

Couple more details: The 5cm/2 has lost some finish on the barrel but the glass is very nice. No scratches, just some haze inside the front element. I'm hoping it's from all the oil that's nearly pooling on the aperture blades! This one will have to come apart once I get the tools, and my courage, together. I have only $50 in it but I would still hate to mess it up. Quickly becoming my favorite, I'm a sucker for compactness and in my book, a IIa is a little too big as it is!

The J-11 is 13,5/4, actually. Another cheap one that turned out to be fine. Spotless glass, ugly barrel. The focus scale is also off (infinity aligns with the f/4 mark instead of center) but as the frog shot proves, focus does match the RF.

No hood yet. Should arrive tomorrow from Fedka.

Yes, you are right; I always confuse the FSU lenses. The J-9 would have been the 85/2. Most 135mm lenses are sharp,so your lens is no exception. If you in the end back off opening the lens yourself, Eddy Smolov will do a good job at low cost levels.

Using a hood will increase contrast and lower flare.