Jupiter 8 - 50mm f/2

[paulpp]

Came across of these at a very low price and waiting for it to be delivered for use with my R2A.
Obviously am not expecting the highest quality, but wondered what experience others have had?

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

Great lens if everything is in spec. The problem is the focus can be off when not properly shimmed.

Usually the advice is to buy from a credible vendor or at least buy one with a return policy.

If you get a good one the lens can be very good. Great sonnar formula lens.

 

[Mablo]

You can buy a "new old stock" black Jupiter-8 from -92 for a very very attractive price. I've so far bought two examples (later sold the other one with my Bessa R).

Both of mine arrived completely unused and both have been very good performers. Check out the recent 50mm test results by Raid. According to my own humble tests focus is exactly where it should be and is comparable with my 50mm Canon and Leica lenses.

I'm using my Jupiter-8 mostly with my Canons as a go-anywhere lens. It's admittingly soft at f/2 but sometimes a little softness is exactly what I want. From f/4 onwards the lens is very sharp.

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

I have a chrome j-8 that I first used on my M4 and now exclusively on a zorki 1d. it's not a bad performer (flare can be a little weird though) but the handling feels just very awkward to me, compared to my VC lenses or Leitz/Leica, Zeiss stuff.

old, crappy sample shots:

and finally

 

[former member]

A good one is as good as a Nikkor 5cm F2 or collapsible Summicron.

If it looks soft wide-open, probably the shim requires adjustment.

 

[david.elliott]

They seem to be great great value for money. I'm selling mine just because I never got around to using it and dont think that I will. :|

But check out flickr for lots of lovely photos taken with the lens.

 

[ethics_gradient]

I have a black one from the 80's and it's fine on my R3A, focus is accurate with my cheap Chinese adapter. Click-stop aperture would be nice, but for the cost ($30 shipped) I'm not complaining!

 

[kuvvy]

I have a Jupiter-8 and the quality is surpisingly good with, I think, a smooth quality. These were taken on my RD1.

 

[paulpp]

Thanks everyone for the info - now I need to wait for it to arrive.

 

[rbiemer]

I use the J-8 as my main 50mm lens. Mine is "silver" and old enough that it has the focus tab. Not certain, but I think it came with the first Zorki 3m I bought. Have gone through a few🙄--OK, a bunch--cameras since then but have kept the J-8.
I actually like that it doesn't have click stops; that works very well with either my Bessa R or R2a.
Rob

 

[oscroft]

Obviously am not expecting the highest quality

Well, as everyone else has said, if you get a good one, you really can expect something approaching highest quality.

I've had several, and they've all been good - the late black one that I still have is terrific.

 

[-doomed-]

Mine also worked well on my R2a , its a great lense especially if its shimmed perfect , mine is a touch on the soft side wide open but not enough to get upset about it.

 

[le vrai rdu]

bessa R and jupiter 8

 

[jairy hunter]

I've enjoyed mine on my M8 (heresy I know!).

(she's not dying, just acting!) I realize the last isn't 100% properly focused, but you can get an idea of the bokeh which I find pleasing.

 

[raid]

I used to ignore my J-8 but then I now find the J-8 an excellent 50mm lens. I got another J-8 recently from 1956 with a Kiev 3. The 1956 J-8 seems to be better than my other J-8. Brian and others have told us that FSU lenses from the 50's are excellent.

 

[Thardy]

Great lens if everything is in spec. The problem is the focus can be off when not properly shimmed.

Usually the advice is to buy from a credible vendor or at least buy one with a return policy.

If you get a good one the lens can be very good. Great sonnar formula lens.

I bought a new old stock J-8 that seems to be a little soft wide open. How can it be corrected?

 

[former member]

Shoot some test shots close-up and wide open, try to find where the sharpest point of focus falls: in front or back of where you intended with the rangefinder. If the focus is behind the subject, the shim need to be thicker. If the actual focus is in front of what you intended, the shim need to be thinned.

 

[ethics_gradient]

I just got back from assisting a college football game. I don't own a telephoto for my DSLR anymore, so I brought my R3A + J-8 with me to take photos when I wasn't holding the photog's D700.

Full set is here.

 

[newspaperguy]

My old silver J-8 has performed well,
both on on my Canons and Bessas.

 

[tyrone.s]

A good lens. Mine's a silver 1960 serial number. The build quality is nothing special; I use a screw in lens hood and I unscrewed it one day and the front element fell out! I gave it a quick clean and popped it back in. Here's a couple of samples (after I put the lens back together):

@f2, hand held 400asa Fuji 1/30th of a second - you can't tell too much from this picture. Focus seems about right to me - but a bit soft overall. Still good for portraits and detailed enough I think.

@f8 1/500 Fuji 400asa zone focused about 1.8m to 3m

Anyway a couple of samples to add to the pile.