Jupiter 8 lens selections

[Cat Face]

Hello everyone! I own 3 jupiter 8 lenses and was wondering if anyone could help me identify the best quality one using the years they were made in (i've been told certain years had better quality control)

Of course I will shoot with all three but i'd still like to know if thats alright.

The first black one, the one I currently have mounted on my Bessa R has a model number reading 015 but I can't think that it would be made in 2001? Anyone got any idea on this one? I'll be finishing the roll of XP2 with this one very soon.

My second black one I just got from Russia, it is from 1992, it looks so clean and nice, I can't wait to use it, anyone got any ideas?

My last one is a silver jupiter 8 with a model number starting 636, which I can only guess is from 1963, this one is quite worn but i'm looking forward to trying a fairly old lens like this.

Any help will be great, thanks guys

 

[bahibo]

I think the best way is for you to shoot a test roll with all three of them, note which frame taken which which lens, and choose which one you like best depend on the image, certain jupiter focus differently on different M body also.

 

[Cat Face]

thanks for the reply.

What i'm doing is i'm shooting one roll with each lens, I might do something like what you suggested and set up a test subject

 

[Spyderman]

First you should realize that it isn't possible to "identify the best quality one using the years they were made in". Generally it is said that earlier are better, but much depends on condition of individual lens. I'd say it's more about the condition of individual lens than the production year.

If you want to shoot a test, do it on one roll of film. That way you can be sure all frames were developed identically and that the differences you see are really differences between lenses - not differences between development.

You should also check that the lenses are collimated at least at infinity - see here.

 

[fidget]

I agree with Ondrej, do test shots on the same roll, of the same subject, even on a tripod if you can as this can eliminate camera shake which may not be constant for all lenses. Make good notes of which one you used and use a good spread of apertures.
I found some variation in my 3 (2 black & 1 silver).
(If you are doing this as a test in controlled conditions, you might think of writing the lens serial number and the f number on post-it note and include this in shot. I remember one of my FSU lenses being so poor that I couldn't even make out the writing on the note, so some other notes may be useful.)
enjoy them..
Dave....

 

[Cat Face]

thankyou for the reply, Spyderman - I didn't think it'd be possible but its worth a try eh?

I will do as advised, when I bought all the lenses I checked the optics- seem pretty much perfect. When you say "see here" you haven't enclosed any links, could you post again please?

Thanks

Edit: Ah Dave, thanks for the reply, you repled when I was typing, i'll do as advised, I have yet another black jupiter 8 if all of them are terrible.