Jupiter 12 on a Contax IIa ? How about Helios ?

[David Murphy]

I know you Zeiss Ikon Contax experts are probably exasperated explaining all of this, but I need to ask. Will a Jupiter-12 35mm f2.8 work on a Contax IIa ? How about the Helios 103 53mm F1.8 made for Kiev ?

My limited understanding of these lenses is that they will work on either pre-war Contax or Kiev's only, but I am not sure. I own them both and previously used them with my Kiev 4 (now sold). I just bought a Contax IIa on eBay (after about two years of sporatic hunting) and I need to decide whether to sell or keep the Kiev lenses. Are there any modestly priced options for a wide lens on a Contax IIa ? Perhaps the Nikkor 35/2.5 ? Voigtlander ? Any thoughts are welcome.

 

[Bill58]

David;

I can't answer your question but wondering if you'd care to comment one the Contax II vs. the Kiev 4?

I want one of either too w/ a 35mm on it.

Bill

 

[David Murphy]

David;

I can't answer your question but wondering if you'd care to comment one the Contax II vs. the Kiev 4?

I want one of either too w/ a 35mm on it.

Bill

Bill, I bought the Contax a few minutes ago so I do not have it yet. The Kiev 4 was an interesting camera and I enjoyed it, but I wanted to try the real thing, and I prefered the non-metered version (i.e. the Contax II, IIa - the Kiev 4 is a Contax III, IIIa copy). There was a long thread on Contax vs. Kiev recently and I think the upshot was that Kiev offered very good value, while not being quite in the "fit-and-finish" league of Contax.

I can comment on the Jupier 12 lens however. I think it is quite a fun lens to use and well made -- impressive glass work. It does not blow you away with sharpness like some of the more modern Japanese rangefinder lenses, but it is quite decent for the money. I paid about $60 with a finder plus shipping from Russia. It looks good too.

 

[Bill58]

Yeah--the Ruskie offers low entry price, but I also don't want a bunch of problems either. The J12 has a bad rap for flaring in the sun.

 

[rxmd]

The J12 has a bad rap for flaring in the sun.

Is that really the choice between the J12 and another 35mm lens in Contax mount? The J12 is so cheap that you can easily get both if you skip going to the movies one evening, and it is an impressive and beautiful lens regardless of the problems you have when you point it directly at the sun.

 

[Mark Wood]

David,

The Jupiter 12 won't mount on a IIa because the rear element protrudes too far back into the camera. Designing the IIa to be smaller that the II meant leaving much less space behind the lens mount. There's an excellent article on the IIa/IIIa by Ivor Matanle in this week's Amateur Photographer magazine in the UK that explains it all. The Biogon 35 mm lens had to be redesigned for the IIa/IIIa but all other lenses from the pre-war era (and the other FSU lenses) are fine. I've been using the new Voigtlander 35/2.5 an a IIa (and a Kiev 4a) with no problems at all. It's a beautifully engineered lens and it's also very good optically. The IIa is a beautifully made camera and if properly serviced, a joy to use.

As for the Helios 53/1.8, yes it will fit the IIa. I've tried one and the only slight problem that you need to watch is with the metal locking tab on the lens. It's much more crudely finished on the helios than the Sonnars (or the Jupiter 8s I've used) and its sharp edges can scratch the retaining spring clip on the lens mount as you lock the lens in place. Pressing the clip down as you mount the lens solves this.

 

[David Murphy]

Mark - Thank you for the well-informed advice. I'll try to get a copy of Mantanle's article -- I read the book on collecting SLR's he wrote a few years ago and greatly enjoyed it (as well as learning quite a bit from it). Looks like I'll put the Jupiter 12 up for sale here on RFF!

 

[rover]

There's an excellent article on the IIa/IIIa by Ivor Matanle in this week's Amateur Photographer magazine in the UK that explains it all.

What is the date on the cover of this AP? I would like to try to find it, the news stands here though don't get every issue and often if I multiple issues for sale at the same time.

 

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

What is the date on the cover of this AP? I would like to try to find it, the news stands here though don't get every issue and often if I multiple issues for sale at the same time.

I got hold of a copy yesterday,it's the 16th Sept. Issue.

Brian.

 

[Mark Wood]

David

Ivor Matanle's other book, "Collecting and Using Classic Cameras" has an excellent, thorough chapter on Contax rangefinders - he's a great fan of the Contax system in general. He's actually selling new copies of both of his books on eBay at the moment. (His user id is "ivorsclassiccameras.") I've found both of them fascinating.
I'm sure he's doing more than his bit to keep film sales going in the UK with his books and Amateur Photographer articles. They've certainly ended up costing me far too much through "having to buy" bits and pieces!

 

[rover]

Ivor Matanle's books are two of my favorites about cameras.

Thanks for the date, I will keep my eye's open this weekend for this issue of AP.

 

[Xmas]

It will improve the J12 a lot if you paint its rear bevel with black board paint, it will then behave like a normal lens, rather than producing interesting, hot spots.

Noel