Jupiter 3 or Canon 50/1.8?

[micromoogman]

I am thinking of getting rid of some stuff. I have two lenses that are pretty similar so keeping both seems unncessesary. First a 1960 J3 which is good, really nice actually. The other one is a Canon 50mm f/1.8, black/chrome, equally good. Guys, which one should I keep? The Canon might have a higher value but considering the designs, quality feel... I don't know.

 

[bowieknife]

I own both, the Canon has a higher resale value

 

[micromoogman]

But how about pictures? Canon has obviously a better build quality but the glass might be better in the J3...

 

[f16sunshine]

Niether is worth so much. You have both choose the one you prefer.
Most people making this sort of choice ask opinions because they don't have either or both lenses on hand.

So here is an opinion.
i would choose the J3 if it is a good one. I like the look wide open. The canon is a better lens overall in my opinion. But not by much (again in my opinion). Output is king and I prefer the J3 output.

 

[goamules]

I have both, and while the J-3 is excellent, it has an aluminum barrel. I would keep the Canon for longterm use and better wearing ability. Also, if the price goes up, you'll make some money when you sell. Of course, you can also base your decision on how the pictures look, both are different designs.

 

[jarski]

I'd keep Canon. J3 is cheap to replace if you want one again.

link to good history source.

 

[ferider]

In cases like that, keep both. A good J3 is actually very difficult to replace. The Canon has Summicron quality. You can use one for portraits, one for landscapes/street, etc.

 

[Mablo]

A J-3 from 1960 in good condition is quite rare. I'd keep that in any case.

 

[micromoogman]

In my opinion the J3 has more originality in the pics, the Canon is just plain good. But owning two LTM 50mm sub f/2.0 makes me somehow uncomfortable...

 

[ferider]

You are asking the wrong people. Last time I counted, I had 6 Leica mount 50mm lenses, and I don't even like 50mm 🙂 .... I know some here have over 30 !

Relax. Use both. Choice is good.

 

[raid]

I have (multiples) of both lenses, and I like both.
The Canon glass of older lenses has a tendency to fog up once in a while, while the J-3 has a less robust built. Both have superb optics.

If your J-3 has good glass in it and it is well matched to a camera, there is nothing bad about it. Keep it. Maybe get another J-3 to enjoy a different year model.

The Canon 50/1.8 is of Summicron quality, as Roland has said, so what is there to dislike about it? Keep it, and get the Canon 50/1.4 to add to the enjoyment.

 

[uhoh7]

A J-3 from 1960 in good condition is quite rare. I'd keep that in any case.

In fact it can bring more in resale than the canon, which is very common at 150usd.

I very rarely see good j3s. Contax sonnar much easier 🙂

I can't believe you would let it go...esp since those lenses are quite different.

 

[ray*j*gun]

I haven't seen a nice J3 LTM for sale here in a while. I just checked Fedka and yikes they are expensive there.

 

[micromoogman]

I'm just in the annual process of downscaling, the usual x-mas-bad-feeling-over-having-too-much...

 

[Thomas78]

I think - if you can afford it - keep both, they should compmlement each other.

The J3 for its Sonnar characteristics and the Canon 50/1.8 for its image quality.

 

[micromoogman]

Also, I have maybe used that Canon lens three times over the past years. I's just collecting dust. The J3 is pretty new for me, so it's getting more attention at the moment.
I believe prices for any fast RF lens are going up because people are using them on Nex and other digital cameras...

Thanks for input anyway. I'll keep both of them for a while. BTW:I wonder if that amber coating on the Canon vs. the blueish on the J3, and color photography could make a difference? I tend to shoot BW more often...

Canon looks pretty sweet on tha Zorki 6!

 

[goamules]

I'm like you, shooting a 1963 J-3, letting the Canon 1.8 sit. But I'm keeping both. How can people say the J-3s are "getting uncommon" and such? Didn't they start making them in WWII, and continue until the 1980s? I don't think Canon 50/1.8s in LTM were made nearly half as long.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

If the J-3 is good wide-open, keep it.

Canons are easier to replace than a J-3 that is in good shape, and accurate.

as far as durability- the Canon 50/1.8 in Black mount is more prone to Haze forming on the interior elements and becoming damaged. The glass used in the surface behind the aperture is prone to etching.

 

[uhoh7]

Also, I have maybe used that Canon lens three times over the past years. I's just collecting dust.

And you are asking which to sell?

Sell the canon, no brainer.

If you have huge remorse you can get a better one next week.

I'd like to see them head to head at f/8---do that before you sell. 🙂

 

[250swb]

As has been said, the Canon is Summicron quality, the J3 isn't. On the other hand the J3 has its own cheeky character, while the Canon is supremely efficient. You can't buy a Summicron anywhere near the price of the Canon, but if you buy enough J3's eventually one will be good. So the most difficult one to buy again if you regret the sale is the J3, while the Canonicron would be pretty much guaranteed quality if the glass is clean. So logic says to me sell the Canon, but plan to eventually buy another, it is one of the classic rangefinder lenses.

Steve