Jupiter 8 fit for Bessa R?

[Stephen S. Mack]

I'm looking to pick up a Jupiter 8 50mm from FEDKA, and I was wondering if anyone has had experience with this lens and a Bessa R. Does it register correctly out of the box, or does it need tweaking first? I'm looking at getting a NOS (New Old Stock) lens, BTW.

Thanks to all who reply.

With best regards.

Stephen

 

[MarkoKovacevic]

I personally had my J-8 CLA'd by Fedka's guy, and now it's perfect on my Leica.

Just shoot Yuri a email, he'll tell you quickly.

 

[le vrai rdu]

it fit on the bessa R works great when the lens is ok

mine wasn't, with the cold the optic unscrewed and everything went off (focus and optic quality), just because it was about 0°, too bad for an optique from russia

 

[rbiemer]

I've been using a '55 vintage J-8 that I originally got with a Zorki 3m. The camera is gone but I'm keeping the lens.
But these old lenses are a bit of a gamble.
I would, as suggested above by Marko, ask Yuri if it needs to--or can--be adjusted to Leica standard.
Rob

 

[ethics_gradient]

Mine was fine with a cheap Chinese adapter, no adjustments needed. No problems on a Canon 7s either.

 

[mark-b]

I bought a J8 from Fedka....an earlier version with chrome finish and a focusing nub similar to those on the collapsible I50. I even used a cheap aluminum adapter from China, and put it all on my M8. No issues whatsoever. Gorgeous bokeh; just the right amount of contrast, and sharp when stopped down to at least F/8.

 

[raid]

It is a clone of the CZJ 5cm 2.0 Sonnar, so the lens is great.

 

[lkgroup]

I have a Jupiter 8 currently in the ads.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost-classifieds/showproduct.php/product/19264/cat/all

$70 + $7.50 Shipping Jupiter 8 Silver 50mm F/2 #6535162 lens with orange filter. This lens has been to Brian Sweeney for CLA and is set up for the correct collimation for Leica/M39 Focus. Good glass and smooth focusing.

Let me know if you are interested. It has been Collimated and ready to us on a Bessa camera. LTM mount.

Leo

 

[Mablo]

Bessa R is LTM not M like other Bessas so no adapters needed with Jupiter-8. I had a Bessa R for a while and I used my chrome -56 Jupiter-8 and my -92 black Jupiter-8 with it constantly. I had no problems whatsoever but YMMV as many here are saying. Buying a collimated lens is a good idea.

Remember that you cannot use 35mm/2.8 Jupiter-12 with your Bessa because the protruding rear lense is too long for your camera innards.

 

[brachal]

A Bessa-R with a Jupiter-8 is a great combination. I have a black, 80's vintage J-8 and an early 90's J-8-1. The J-8 is a little better done than the J-8-1. One thing to be aware of is that the whole front of the lens turns when you focus both of these lenses. That can take some getting used to.

Both of mine came from fedka, and I've been thrilled with both. Jupiter-8 on a Bessa-R:

 

[brachal]

And color:

 

[rbiemer]

Bill (and Stephen) the early versions of the J-8 do not rotate the front of the lens as you focus. Not sure when the change was made, nor am I sure when the focus tab was eliminated. On mine, it is only a tab not an infinity lock and I like that tab quite a lot; I've used my Jupiter enough that I can have the lens pretty close to in focus before I raise the camera to my eye. Then fairly quickly get exact focus once I'm looking through the VF of the Bessa.
The thin about the J-8 that got me a bit is that the aperture on mine opens and closes opposite to the arrows in the VF for the meter. But, again, enough use and it's not a problem for me anymore.
Rob

 

[jtzordon]

The J-8 I have I bought from Leo, also fixed up by Brian Sweeney. It's been a pleasure to use on my Bessa R and Canon P, other than being a bit difficult to find the threads when screwing it onto the body. I love the imaging characteristics on it.