Jupiter 8 lens coating question

[Brian Legge]

I just purchased a Kiev 4a. It came with 3 Jupiter 8s, two from the 1960 and one from 1968. The seller was offering it all as a kit so I picked it up, hoping at least one would be in good shape.

Each seems to have very different coating. Is anyone familiar with the evolution of the coating on these lenses? I'm was somewhat surprised to see two lenses from the same year with different looking coating. The lens from 1968 seems to have the strongest coating and brass-looking aperture blades.

 

[Brian Legge]

Ah, okay -

One of the 1960 lenses looks like it has a coated rear element but an uncoated front element perhaps. I assume someone replaced the glass at some point. That would make more sense. 🙂

In any case, I'm looking forward to getting out this weekend with the camera and taking a few pictures. I'll probably try to test the lenses briefly to see which one I want to hold on to.

 

[QUAsit]

Soviet coating types vastly vary in color and `intensity`, so front element could look really uncoated, while it is coated, but... in almost uncolored way.

Truly Uncoated lenses look like they made of bottle glass.

 

[wolves3012]

I think the Jupiter 8 was a coated lens from the outset. If you have one with no coating, it's either been removed or the element changed (somehow). As QUAsit says, it can be deceiving. My older J8s do have a coating that has little colour. And yes, I agree that the coating colours vary widely.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I've seen some uncoated optics used in what could be described as "assembly practice", but all of the regular production J-8's are coated.

 

[xxloverxx]

I think Brian's right about all the regular production J8s being coated. All the one's I've seen, in both LTM and Contax mount, are.

 

[Brian Legge]

Interesting. I underestimated how much variety there was in coating appearance for lenses at least potentially assembled the same year (assuming one one has been swapping elements) Thanks for the info all.

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

I have still three Jupiter 8 lenses in ltm (sold a tabbed one just a few weeks ago to a fellow member). The old chromium ones all seem coated, altough differently. The latest black one is seems not coated. Sorry for the big photo

 

[Sonnar Brian]

That is my experience: lots of differences in the coatings. It could be a batch type thing, they come out slightly different- but all pretty much do the same thing.