Good price for a J-3?

[oscroft]

Hi all. Do you think £46.50 (inc p&p) is a good price for a J-3 (50/1.5) in very clean condition? (I'm tempted, seeing as FSU sellers usually want anywhere between £50 and £70 plus p&p for them).

Opinions welcomed, thanks.

 

[raid]

Alan: Most importantly with a J-3 is the correct shimming for correct focusing. I find the cost of 46.50 Pounds too high without a guarantee that the lens focuses appropriately.

 

[SteveM(PA)]

I bought one today for $89, a black 1983, said to be exc+, but it's a total crapshoot, I know...very excited about it anyway : )
Just curious, who has gotten one fresh from the motherland and didn't need to have it shimmed, sweenified, etc.?

 

[oscroft]

This one's a silver 1960 model (60... serial number), if that makes any difference regarding quality control?

 

[rolleistef]

not really... is it a kiev or ltm mount? Kiev mounts are said to be *sometimes* more reliable but you're very lucky when you don get a good lens...

 

[wlewisiii]

This issue has nothing to do with QC. It has to do with the FSU using the Contax registration distance instead of the Leica distance. A good explanation is here: http://www.dantestella.com/technical/compat.html

As Raid said, that's way too much without a guarantee unless you plan to use it only on a Fed or a Zorki. Even then it's higher than I'd be willing to pay.

Good luck!

William

 

[oscroft]

This issue has nothing to do with QC. It has to do with the FSU using the Contax registration distance instead of the Leica distance. A good explanation is here: http://www.dantestella.com/technical/compat.html

Ah, understood, thanks.

I would only be wanting it for use on FED and Zorki bodies (yes, it's LTM - sorry, I should have said). But that's two respected opinions telling me it's too expensive, so I think I'll give it a miss at that price - thanks guys.

 

[FrankS]

If you get a J3 that works for you, it's a great lens and worth that price. See if you can get a trial/inspection period of 1 week to test it.

 

[w3rk5]

I bought one today for $89, a black 1983, said to be exc+, but it's a total crapshoot, I know...very excited about it anyway : )
Just curious, who has gotten one fresh from the motherland and didn't need to have it shimmed, sweenified, etc.?

I've got a 1962 J-3 (silver one) that only needed to be cleaned and relubed. I think I paid $40 US total for mine. I guess it was because it wasn't cosmeticly mint. Anyway, it's my favorite lens. Almost forgot.......it's a LTM.

 

[raid]

I bought my sharp J-3 directly from Brian Sweeney. I asked him ahead to find a good lens for me. He got me one that cosmetically looks like &^%$#, but he adjusted the shimming and it held its place against 11 other LTM 50mm lenses. Mine is a better one according to Brian, made for military applications.

 

[brachal]

I recently paid $120 for a near mint '61 ltm J-3 from fedka. Maybe a little high, but I think its performance justifies the price.

 

[varjag]

I won mine (1953, Contax mount) for ~$53 with shipping.

 

[wlewisiii]

As a point of reference, I paid $72 for mine but did consider that high at the time. I got it adjusted (evidence here 🙂 : http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/data/6287/661537-R1-008-2A.jpg

Mr. Sweeney did the work on that lens and it was a very real selling point later.

The J-9 is exquisite - as long as you _know_ it works... But there is so much that can go wrong...

William

 

[lubitel]

I also paid 75 dollars, but it is in really good condition and focuses perfectly on Bessa R. So I have no regrets - its one of my favourite lenses.