Jupiter 11 - What's It Like?

[ARCHIVIST]

I am thinking of buying a Jupiter 11 135mm tele in LTM.

Have any of you had experience of this lens please?

I have noticed that there are some Leitz Hektor 135mm lenses selling for the same price as some of the higher priced Jupiters - around the $100AUD to $125AUD price points. Which would you buy - is the Hektor better?

Cheers
Peter

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I have no experience with the Jupiter-11, but Leitz HEKTORs are very underrated lenses in my opinion. That seems to keep their prices low.
Same goes for the 90mm f/4 Elmars.

Isn't the Jupiter-11 a Sonnar 135mm copy though?

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I was reading reviews about this lens just yesterday, in Russian. Several times it was mentioned it is not "portrait" lens. LTM RF min. focus distance is ... 2.5 meters.

 

[goamules]

The best 135mm LTM lens I've found, hands down, is the Canon 135/3.5.

 

[sevo]

The Hektor and Elmar generally are superior. But individual samples of the J-11 can be excellent. Be warned that the Hektor and Elmar were Visoflex kit lenses, so the barrel and helical are removable components - apparent bargains on ebay sometimes lack one or the other.

 

[02Pilot]

There's a Nikkor 135/3.5 in LTM that's also quite good (and heavy).

 

[David Hughes]

I was reading reviews about this lens just yesterday, in Russian. Several times it was mentioned it is not "portrait" lens. LTM RF min. focus distance is ... 2.5 meters.

Hi,

That's odd isn't it. About 8ft away seems reasonable and usable indoors...

Regards, David

 

[pschauss]

I have 3, one each in LTM, Kiev, and M39 Zenit mounts. I have not used any of them in some time, but all of them produced acceptable results, especially based on the prices I paid when I bought them. The main problem I had with them on my rangefinders was framing.

 

[paw080]

Hi Peter I've had a Jupiter-11 for about ten years. I got it on ebay for less than $30.00.

I used it a lot for about a year and a half. Mine must be a good one;

I gives a very sharp image, and I'm happy with it. Oh yes, its in LTM.

Tony🙂

 

[julio1fer]

I have used Jupiter-11 in LTM and Kiev mounts. As said above it is very sharp, similar to the classic Sonnar. I did not use it very often because I do not feel comfortable using long lenses in RF cameras - above 85mm I go to the old SLR.

 

[ARCHIVIST]

Thanks all for very informative feedback.

Now, finders - do I go for the FSU turret finder or another makers dedicated finder?

Cheers
Peter

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

The ex-USSR (? KMZ) clone is a good finder and you can use it with other lenses as you get them...

One point, there's a right handed and a left handed version of the finder. You need the right one for your camera but it doesn't matter for Kievs and Contaxes. The body has to clear the shutter speed dial and so should be on the left side of the shoe when seen from the rear of the camera.

Regards, David

 

[ARCHIVIST]

Thanks David.
Good info.

Cheers
Peter

 

[pschauss]

I have used a KMZ finder but I have found that the Leica finder is more accurate.

 

[Roger Hicks]

In my experience, it is the sharpest of all the Zorkii/Kiev lenses.

Cheers,

R.

 

[David Hughes]

I have used a KMZ finder but I have found that the Leica finder is more accurate.

Hi,

Probably true but I only know about pre-war ones and the Ukrainian made stuff.

Having said that, I wonder why people worry about VF accuracy given the amount of cropping that is done with film. Slides lose a bit all around the frame, 5" x 7" crops the sides by half an inch and so on. I can't imagine all the film users on this forum getting 4" x 6" done as the aspect ratio is correct and no one mentions 8" x 12" which is also 3:2. Most mention 8" x 10" as their large prints and that crops a good bit (2 inches) off the sides too.

I guess that will be seen as pedantic but I look for the weakest point in things that have several processes done (like film use) and the KMZ finder fits into my specification of more than adequate film camera stuff, meaning within spec. as we say...

Regards, David

 

[ForestCap]

Yesterday I was reading this page regarding some lenses in Kiev/Contax mount,

http://kiev4.narod.ru/tutorial/kiev4_e.html

There is a table on the page showing resolutions and stuff, including J-11.

 

[fer_fdi]

I have a very clean m39 1960 Kazan Jupiter-11 and love it.
Sharp and sweet at the same time (Sonnar). Very nice OOF. Nice colors also.

 

[ARCHIVIST]

Thanks for all the replies and info/opinions.
Very much appreciated.

Cheers
Peter

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

I vote for the Canon 135mm