Is the J-12 the widest?

[Max Power]

I have done a bit of searching on Google in order to find out what the widest FSU RF lens is, and it would seem to be the J-12. Can someone corroborate this?

Secondly, what in particular should someone look for or be aware of when buying a J-12? Scratches on the rear element? Stiff movement? Any recommended sellers?

Thanks,
kent

 

[pshinkaw]

Nathan Dayton's website also lists a Russar MR2 20mm/f5.6 in LTM mount.

http://www.commiecameras.com/

-Paul

 

[kiev4a]

The Russar is a pretty decent lens but usually fetches $500 or more with finder.
The Orion seems to command In the $150 range. (These are just guesstimates).

Some say the white (metal) J-l2s are better than the later black models but I have had better luck with the black ones.

 

[cbass]

Be aware of even slight damage to the J-12's bulbous rear element. The front element is well protected by the deep housing but even slight imperfections on the rear element may show up on film since the back of the lens is so close to the film plane.

I have also read reports of tiny bubbles in the J-12 glass, but apparently these are normal and harmless.

You may have some success obtaining a J-12 with a "want to buy" post in the classified section of RFF (I bought my chrome J-12 from a fellow RFFer).

Personally, I've had a devil of a time trying to mount the J-12 to my FED-2b. Could be the camera, could be the lens. I'll know more after I pick up my Zorki-4 this weekend. Just remember that these are older lenses and may have slight compatibility issues with various FSU bodies.

 

[kbg32]

There are plenty of Orion 15s on ebay these days - 28mm f6. I got mine for $135 including shipping a while back. Nice lens.

The Russar MR2 20mm/f5.6 is a highly collectable lens and commands a high price.

 

[kiev4a]

Personally, I've had a devil of a time trying to mount the J-12 to my FED-2b. Could be the camera, could be the lens. I'll know more after I pick up my Zorki-4 this weekend. Just remember that these are older lenses and may have slight compatibility issues with various FSU bodies.

Check the rangefinder arm that the lens collar pushes against when focusing. Its alignment is more critical with the J-12 than some other lenses. Sometimes you have to carefully bend the arm up or down a little (usually up) so it makes proper contact with the focusing collar on the back of the J-12.

 

[phototone]

In Contax/Keiv mount, the widest FSU lens is indeed the J-12. As others have posted there are wider LTM mount FSU lenses. the Russar 20mm, and the Orion 28mm. The Orion 28mm is a very nice sharp lens, but is slow at f/6.

If you want wider-angles in Contax/Keiv mount you need to look to Cosina/Voigtlander for they have a few, which are now discontinued, but still available at closeout.

Then there are the Zeiss (original Contax) lenses themselves, the wonderful 21mm Biogon, and there was a 28mm, but those are very pricey and long discontinued.

Nikon may have made a wide angle in Contax mount, which has a slightly different focus than the Nikon RFDR lenses. The Nikon RFDR mount lenses will fit onto a Contax/Keiv.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I've had both the 28/6 Orion (two or three examples) and the 20/5.6 Russar (one example).

The Orion was indifferent. I had my first some 30 years ago when Soviet equipment was cheap in the UK: there was no mystique to them in those days, and they were seen for what they were, lenses for those who couldn't afford better. I'm pretty sure I've had the 28/6 in both Leica and Kiev mounts and was underwhelmed with both.

The Russar 20/5.6 was far, far worse: not too bad centrally at f/11 but pretty awful at all normal apertures and distances. Others have apparently had better examples, but the best work I've seen with them is still fairly dire. Lovely finder, though.

The 28/6 enjoys a modest cult following among young European photographers who don't remember cheap Soviet kit in the 70s, and among Americans who couldn't buy it because of the Cold War. The Russar used to be very rare outside Eastern Europe -- I remember seeing one 20 years ago in Paris, at the same sort of absolute price ($500 or so) that a mint one commands today -- but it was always a collectors' lens rather than a user.

For a usable wide angle a Cosina Voigtlander wipes the floor with either.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[rbiemer]

Princelle's book also shows a FED 28mm f4.5. I did see one as part of an auction for a Canon on ebay. Dunno if the FEDs are especially rare or not.
Rob

 

[pangkievrange]

I recently bought SC 21mm for contax mount despite of negative comparisons between it and leica lens. I'm very pleased with the results.


pangkievrange

I've had both the 28/6 Orion (two or three examples) and the 20/5.6 Russar (one example).

The Orion was indifferent. I had my first some 30 years ago when Soviet equipment was cheap in the UK: there was no mystique to them in those days, and they were seen for what they were, lenses for those who couldn't afford better. I'm pretty sure I've had the 28/6 in both Leica and Kiev mounts and was underwhelmed with both.

The Russar 20/5.6 was far, far worse: not too bad centrally at f/11 but pretty awful at all normal apertures and distances. Others have apparently had better examples, but the best work I've seen with them is still fairly dire. Lovely finder, though.

The 28/6 enjoys a modest cult following among young European photographers who don't remember cheap Soviet kit in the 70s, and among Americans who couldn't buy it because of the Cold War. The Russar used to be very rare outside Eastern Europe -- I remember seeing one 20 years ago in Paris, at the same sort of absolute price ($500 or so) that a mint one commands today -- but it was always a collectors' lens rather than a user.

For a usable wide angle a Cosina Voigtlander wipes the floor with either.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[reagan]

fedka shows an example of that FED 28mm here. It's dated as "rare pre-war." Were these made "post war" as well?

 

[stephen_lumsden]

Hi

Just got my Kiev 4a back from a cla and I have been thinking about getting a Jupiter 35 mm and 85 mm lenses for it. I have heard indifferent reports about the 35mm and that it does not fit on a Contax iia (which I may get down the road..).
I know wlewisiii has got a Sc Skopar 35 mm on his Kiev and seen good pictures in the gallery from it. Anybody else have one in the Contax mount on a Kiev and how do they compare and are they woth the price difference?

rgds

Stephen

 

[Roman]

Yep, the J-12 in Kiev mount does not fit the Contax IIa (neither does the Zeiss lens it was based on).
I have various J-12 lenses both in Kiev and LTM-mounts, and do own the Cosina Voigtländer Color Skopar 35mm lens, but only in LTM, not in Contax mount, and have to say, unless you have a camera that does not fit the J-12, the Skopar is not worth the extra money! The Skopar is a great lens, but so is the J-12, the Skopar may have a bit more contrast, but the J-12 has less distortion (but maybe a slight bit more vignetting). In fact, I only got the Color-Skopar because the J-12 in LTM doesn not fit the Bessa R. The difference between a good J-12 and a modern 35mm is much less than, say between a J-8 (which I also like a lot) and a modern 50mm lens.

Roman

 

[doubs43]

Roger has pretty well nailed it, I think. Perhaps a little more brutally honest than I'd have been but sometimes the truth hurts.

My Orion in LTM is absolutely new in every respect and takes a nice enough image. I paid $150 for mine. At f/6, it's decidedly slow but ever so slightly faster - in theory, anyway - than the f/6.3 Hektor that Leitz offered. I believe that the Contax offering was an f/8 in 28mm.

As Roger says, none of them will match the CV lenses and I'll go even further; they won't match the much faster Vivitar, Soligor etc. lenses made for SLR's that can be purchased used on ebay for a pitance. My T-4 mount 28mm f/2.5 Vivitar that's on my Exakta cost less than $30 shipped..... a fantastic buy if past prices are considered.

A decent J-12, BTW, can be an excellent lens.

Walker

 

[stephen_lumsden]

Thanks guys

I feel better saving a couple of hundred dollars now, but not totally skimp on them and will try to get a good Jupiter-12 and 9 from Fedka.com.

rgds

Stephen

 

[wlewisiii]

Hi

I know wlewisiii has got a Sc Skopar 35 mm on his Kiev and seen good pictures in the gallery from it. Anybody else have one in the Contax mount on a Kiev and how do they compare and are they woth the price difference?

Thanks for the complement. I'll just simply say that the lens is a joy to use and I consider it to be one of the best purchase I've ever made. If I had the money, I'd buy the 21/4 as well to be my superwide.

I had a nice J-12 before that and it really wasn't lacking anything, but I wanted to get a lens that I could use on a Contax IIA or R2C if I ever got one and they won't accept the Jupiter. A postwar Biogon would have been fine as well, but my budget isn't up for that these days... 😱 That J12 is now in Greyhoundman's hands I believe.

Nothing says you can't get a good J12 now, a SC Skopar later and bodies for both 😀

William

 

[doubs43]

Here's a picture I took with the Orion 28mm f/6. It was taken against the light on a pretty cloudy day as I recall. I can't complain about the lens on this one.

Walker