Jupiter 3 in demand

[Range Loser]

I just sold a Jupiter 3 lens on eBay to raise funds after having bought other stuff I could ill afford, and was really surprised by the amount of interest from buyers. I had over 40 people watching the lens and it sold for £155, about 3 times the amount I bought it for a few years ago. I guess it's the upsurge in small digital cameras with interchangeable lenses.
Anyone else noticed a hike in prices if LTM lenses?

 

[Thardy]

I have noticed that there seems to be more demand for lenses now.

 

[Green_Blue]

I guess this is an example of the flow on effect of the shortage of new lenses causing used prices to increase. Although your jupiter 3 seemed to sell for a remarkably high price considering that there are still BIN auctions for around $150 USD.

 

[jarski]

I've noticed hike of post in RFF, talking about hike of rangefinder lens prices 🙂

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Prices seem to be double across the board for Leica mount lenses compared to two years ago. A Jupiter-3 that I worked on went for $325 in the getdpi.com classifieds. A Summar just sold for $300 in our classifieds.

At this point, I'm glad to own the lenses that I do. With used prices what they are, the Cosina Voigtlander and Zeiss lenses are real bargains.

On the J-3, buying one from someone that has used it means a lot. I've had some real basket cases before. One late black J-3 that an RFF member was good for parts only. I ended up using the front element and focus mount, after soaking the J-3 in alchohol for TWO WEEKS to get the broken optics mount out of the helical.

 

[Brian Legge]

I just spent $200 on a J3 on ebay advertised as 'like new' condition with generous return conditions. It just arrived today - I haven't shot a roll with it but I'm blown away so far.

The glass is completely clean. The focus an aperture are smooth. Slight marks on the body but still very clean.

At least testing against ground glass, focus with the lens agrees with the Canon 50mm 1.8 and Summar. I obviously won't know for sure until I shoot some film but I'm cautiously optimistic about the focusing being acceptable.

I'm really surprised at how small and light the lens is. After using the Lynx 14, I expected something significantly larger. If this J3 performs in the same ballpark I expect I'll have several items up for sale in the classifieds in the near future.

 

[wolves3012]

Interestingly, one has just sold on UK fleabay for over £150. I've noticed the Jupiter 3 and 9 and going for quite silly prices recently. Bodies, on the other hand are randomly getting very high or very low prices.

 

[drinkingeye]

bought a J3 by moscowphoto via ebay few days ago for US$ 190.
still waiting for the mail. curious to try it against zeiss c-sonnar 1.5/50 ZM.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I've compared my 1955 KMZ J-3 with the modern C-Sonnar and 1936 uncoated Sonnar.

http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107337

J-3's often benefit from shimming for a Leica. Like the original C-Sonnars.

 

[dexdog]

hmm, maybe it's time for me to sell my 1951 J-3. I have lots of 50s to use, including a Sweenyized J-8 and J-3, as well as a LTM Sonnar that Brian was kind enough to fix.

BTW, Brian I would never sell a lens that you have worked on- you have not seen the 1951 J-3.

 

[tbarker13]

I have a J-3 that is just wonderful. I'd never sell it just because I think it's worth far more than the $150 I paid for it. Even if I sold it for $300, I'd feel like I was on the losing end of the transaction.
But then again - I'm sure there quite a few copies of this lens out there that aren't worth a tenth of that price.

A couple old favorites:

 

[raid]

I have a few J-3 lenses, and they are as good as the original Sonnar Zeiss lenses when correctly shimmed by people who know how to do this shimming.