Thanks for the nice words, petronius.
I don't see, how a different body could change the result unless its from internal reflections in the body.
I've given up on the J12; this experience in combination with the weird handling was too much. I'm looking for a 35 Ultron now.
Hi
Andreas,
In my interpretation, it does happen that a specific lens will give different results with different Kiev bodies. It seems that in the Kievs the distance from the mount to the film plane may vary - not to speak that the pressure plate is to be given attention.
For this reason, when I prepare a Kiev for work, afterwards I run a test with each of my j-8, and other standards, on it to look for the specific best one, and results vary. The crappy one is crappy in all bodies, but the best one varyies according to the specific body.
As for the lenses themselves I would say, as a very gross statement, that 10% of the standards are outstanding, 80% run from good to very good, and a 10% are crappy. Of course any Kiev user doesnt have the chance to gather some dozen J-12.
But look at what happened to me. The Helios 53 is held as a glorious lens. The first one I got happened to be a crappy one, so it took me a long time until I decided to try again, while I never could understand why is so cherished. Finnaly after some years, I bought one, plus another one that came with a camera. And indeed both later ones happened to be glorious.
So I think that if you are going for a CV, it will be a better investment to go for wider than 35mm and give another cheapo J-12 a chance.
As for the portruding rear, it is here where the sharpness comes from. For better handling take care that in case you buy a J-12, you get the custormary bakelite case, and not just any case. With the correct bakelite case, you can use thin foam strips forming a kind of inverted conus, preventing the protruding end from touching the base of the case.
A step up ring 40.4 to 49, strongly attached for life, will enable to mark over it the aperture numbers inside the lens for fast and easier manipulation, as well as a basis for a metal stuck cap.
Cheers,
Ruben
