Help me plan my RF future and choose a 50

[navilluspm]

Hello all.

I finally made it to being a FSU shooter.😀

Now, I need help. I know this will sound like heresy, but I don't like having too many lenses or cameras 😱


Right now, after getting rid of some stuff, I am down to 1 SLR (A Contax 167 MT, which was a gift from my brother) and my 3 most beloved lenses (CZ 35/2.8, 50/1.7, 85/2.8).

Thanks to a few generous people on RF, I also have a FED 3b with an industar 26b, a working Kiev with a jupiter 8m, a Kiev in parts, and Contax III in parts, and a lot of leather cases for Kievs and Contaxes.

The Fed really suprised me with how sharp the lens is. I think this will be my main street shooing camera during the day.

I love the feel of the Kiev, however, my Jupiter 8 seems a lot softer than the Industar 26.

For the Kiev, I am looking for a good low light lens that I can use wide open for indoor shots. How do the J3, Helios 103 and J-8 compare wide open? I know that these are different lenses, so let us compare each a f.2 and the Helios and J-3 at 1.8.

I am really interested in the Helios, because of the price that Fedka is offering them for, but I am wondering if I should, instead save up for a J-3, or a Sonnar Opton - with a Contax IIa attached to it.

BTW, when it comes to portraits - I like my SLR, becasue I have a mini Sonnar 85mm (the 2.8 version, not the 1.4). And I love how that shoots a close up at 2.8.

I probably would use this lens for family gatherings and going to the Hospital in February to welcome our next child with out a flash blinding him.

 

[nzeeman]

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43000
here you have my small test of those lenses.

 

[navilluspm]

Thank you nzeeman. Your Jupiter 8m performed very nicely in the test.

Does anyone have an example of a J-3 or sonnar 50mm 1.5 compared to a Helios 103 wide open?

 

[nzeeman]

Thank you nzeeman. Your Jupiter 8m performed very nicely in the test.

Does anyone have an example of a J-3 or sonnar 50mm 1.5 compared to a Helios 103 wide open?

imho j8 took best photo in test. but i also like j8m. sonnar lacks contrast a bit.

 

[julio1fer]

I use a Helios-103, and like it a lot, better than the J-8.

At the price they go, why not get one and sample it?

 

[Roger Vadim]

I absolutely love my 61' J8 on the kiev - its sharp and has got a beautifull rendition of the tones (in B/W). Even wide open its really a bummer. The Industar 61 (53mm from 67) is a bit boring compared to the Sonnar design, sharp, but somehow soulless. Don't know what it is, very beautifull, this j8! Bit softer than my Nikkors, but with style...

Michael

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

In the FSU lens universe, the Jupiter-8 shines best. Followed by the Jupiter-12, and then the Jupiter-3. I wouldn't give any of mine up.

 

[shadowfox]

The Helios is very nice, it's a copy of the Planar design. Very sharp where it counts and nice bokeh. It's a very good all around lens.

The J8 is one of the best portrait lens. The bokeh IMHO is more pleasing than the Helios' (see nzeeman's experiments).

I regret selling my Helios along with my Kiev 4AM 🙁

Now all I have is the J8 for the Kiev.

On the SLR side, I also have the 50/1.7 Planar for my RTS.

Say, navilluspm, what do you like about the 167MT?

 

[navilluspm]

Thank you to everyone who wrote. My initial tests with the J8m were a little too soft for my taste. But that was only one roll. I decided I will try again.

My J8 has some strange droplets in the coating on the inside of the lens. Do you think that might cause a problem with the image? They are not scratches, but look like droplets on the inner elements.

Shadowfox, you asked about my 167MT and why I like it? Well, to be honest, the camera does cause me problems at times. The electronics are a little haywire, and it really sucks through batteries (This is why I use rechargeable AAA batteries, but I still have to charge them every week). When the batteries are fresh, it works alright. I think my camera would be just under KEH's "bargain" catagory.

The main reason I like my camera is for the lenses. I really love the lenses I got, especially the Sonnar 85. My lenses are in excellent condition (except the 50) it excellent condition.

How ever, I might have to sell the camera and lenses soon. (See a future post to this regard in the "evil slr" section).

 

[wolves3012]

Thank you to everyone who wrote. My initial tests with the J8m were a little too soft for my taste. But that was only one roll. I decided I will try again.

My J8 has some strange droplets in the coating on the inside of the lens. Do you think that might cause a problem with the image? They are not scratches, but look like droplets on the inner elements.

If the J-8 is too soft try an Industar 61, they are very sharp. Not in a Contax-bayonet though (although it has been done!). The Industar 26 you have is very similar.

The droplets on the J-8 elements could be condensed oil, if you're sure it's not just moisture condensation. Contamination could well soften the image, depending how much there is.

 

[ruben]

Hi Navilluspm,
Your question send us once more to the basics. Quality of old and Soviet camera and lenses varies greatly, according to each single case fate, how it left the factory and what happended during the subsequent 20 or forty years.

All in all, it is my opinion that if you are looking for high quality working Soviet gear it is not going to be cheap, nor easy. Or you can choose to compromise on quality and then you will save money and time.

I haven't, so I by now I own some 8 working or potentially working cameras and about ten standard lenses, plus accesory viewfinders. And of course the 35, 85 and 135 lenses, in whose case i didn't need to buy second samples.

Much of the tremendous amount of cameras is out of the illusion of finally finding the 'good one' for little money. But little money nor big money are the issue.

If you go for FSU gear, or if I started it all again, I would take a clear stand about either relying on good fixers or upgrade myself to the task. Since I live in a very small country and the local official FSU fixer is not a good one, I had to opt for the upgrading myself path. You save money, you are in control, there is enough info at the net for do it yourself, but it drags A LOT of time until you can achieve a basic level.

With a basic level you can remake a Kiev into a first class camera.

Now, our Contax cousins have not it easier, being their problems of a different kind, but amounting to the same gross product hardship.

Back to the issue of my 9 standard lenses, it is not a total lost. Some two are really crappy, but the others are good ones, and some Sonnar quality like. Once I performed a test for knowing which is the best. Nowadays I changed the character of the tests and look for which one is best for the camera I am using . The results are different. The crappy ones remain crappy, but who is the best, changes with the camera in use.

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[mike goldberg]

Hi there, and here's my 2 cents worth: What Ruben says above makes sense. It's not that Ruben is a wizard [sometimes I think he is]... I've had a similar experience. My favorite FSU lens is the J8. It is sharp, the color rendition is good, it is great for B/W and has a wonderful bokeh. Remember tho' that these lenses were made in the 50's-60's-70's. Not all of theme are of equal quality, and many have different coatings.

I have three J8's and a 4th will arrive soon. They are cheap enough from the Ukranian based sellers on the B@y, so if you are not satisfied with one, go for another.

Now I've been talking about LTM above. If you are going to build a Kiev system, you need a J8m in Kiev/Contax mount. Go for this one at Fedka; it is superb and only $19-.

http://www.fedka.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=33&products_id=91

Good luck!

 

[alternatve]

I say a working Jupiter 3 shines better then any other FSU 50. I have a copy, along with the Jupiter 9 and I can't find any reason to get a another 50mm, other then a better copy of another. Or perhaps a ZM Sonner 50mm f/1.5.

Samuel

 

[shadowfox]

Shadowfox, you asked about my 167MT and why I like it? Well, to be honest, the camera does cause me problems at times. The electronics are a little haywire, and it really sucks through batteries (This is why I use rechargeable AAA batteries, but I still have to charge them every week). When the batteries are fresh, it works alright. I think my camera would be just under KEH's "bargain" catagory.

Thanks for the honest review. Appreciate it!