Jupiter 12 (35mm f/2.8) mounting issues on Fed and Zorki cameras

[Ejg1890]

I am considering the purchase of a Jupiter 12 for my Fed 2 and Zorki 3 cameras. Reviews I’ve heard of this lens are positive, but I’ve also read people have had issues mounting the lens on cameras including FSU cameras, which I would find surprising considering it’s an FSU lens. Has anyone on the forum used the Jupiter 12 with either the Fed 2 or Zorki 3? Any mounting issues? Anything I need to be aware of? Thanks.

 

[dexdog]

Zorki 1b with 1951 J-12 (don't have a Zorki 3). Should fit fine. No Interference while mounting to camera, and shutter works fine with lens mounted.

 

[MNS]

Seem to recall seeing you have to either mount it with the lens set at infinity so the arm is pushed flat. Another idea I've read is to move or slightly bend the rangefinder arm so this lens will fit the camera. Then readjust the horizontal alignment.

 

[Valkir1987]

Sometimes the rangefinder arm is bent or shimmed and as a result hits the side of the rear lens piece. Nothing that cannot be adjusted or fixed. Its a matter of carefully screwing on the lens set to the minimal focus distace to check first.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

jupiter 12 hits rangefinder arm

Hello all, I am new here. I recently took the plunge and picked up a FED 2, an early FED 3, a Kiev 4A and a few lenses. I am starting to sort them out and shoot tests. I find that the Jupiter 12 (35mm) LTM won't quite fit either of the FEDs. The barrel of the lens hits the rangefinder arm. Has...

rangefinderforum.com

People have experienced problems with the Fed 2 and Jupiter-12. Early J-12 lenses have a metal collar on the rear group, later- just exposed glass.

 

[Ejg1890]

jupiter 12 hits rangefinder arm

Hello all, I am new here. I recently took the plunge and picked up a FED 2, an early FED 3, a Kiev 4A and a few lenses. I am starting to sort them out and shoot tests. I find that the Jupiter 12 (35mm) LTM won't quite fit either of the FEDs. The barrel of the lens hits the rangefinder arm. Has...

rangefinderforum.com

People have experienced problems with the Fed 2 and Jupiter-12. Early J-12 lenses have a metal collar on the rear group, later- just exposed glass.

So, based on this I need to purchase a later (black) copy of the lens? Comparing pictures I did notice the are between the bulbed glass and the lens barrel did change slightly.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Given the problems I've read about, the later one is more likely to work. I use an early 1952 KMZ J-12 that has the metal collar on my Leica M9 without problems. Why some of the Fed 2 bodies have problems- sample-to-sample variation, or somebody modified the RF follower on mine.

 

[dexdog]

I have several varieties of early 1950s Jupiter 12 lenses, some with metal collars on rear lens group, some without collars. The lens on the left has rear diameter of 30.5mm, the lens on the right has rear diameter of 32.0mm. The lens on left will mount on the Fed 1b, the lens on right will not.

 

[Ejg1890]

I have several varieties of early 1950s Jupiter 12 lenses, some with metal collars on rear lens group, some without collars. The lens on the left has rear diameter of 30.5mm, the lens on the right has rear diameter of 32.0mm. The lens on left will mount on the Fed 1b, the lens on right will not.

What years are the lenses made? The ones I’m looking at resemble the right and are made in the 50’s.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Real experience sharing from me and FSU users at rangefinder.ru :

The earlier copy of J-12 the better.
Black ones are OK, but silver ones from fifties are better.

Yes, with some LTM FSU cameras J-12 will not scew-in completely.
Simply because RF shoe on RF arm is touching the lens block.
Stupid peope will continue to force the lens into the mount.
Black painting on the lens block gets scratched. RF arm is locked.

The fix is easy, as most of Russian fixes. Just use your fingers to push RF arm closer to upper plate. Well, usually, it is up 🙂

Again, it is done on practice. My own included.

Note for forum's theoretics , focusing accuracy is not affected.

Forgot to add. You could actually see the problem if FSU LTM camera has removable back. Remove the back, open curtains. You should be able to see the problem at to where and how much RF arm needs to be bended. Up or down.

 

[Doug]

I got a J12 to use on a Kiev and a Nikon S3-2000. The metal collar on the lens scraped the camera body when mounting so I filed it down a little. So this combination did have some mount interference.