Jupiter-8 lenses

[shimo-kitasnap]

annyone got any pics taken with the black latter model of this lens in color and black and white, I'm trying to determine if it's worth getting for my M6.
Is the color rendition cool or warm?
High contrast/low contrast?
nice wide open at f2?

Thanks,

 

[AzzA]

I'm considering getting the same lens at the moment, so would be interested in seeing some examples too 🙂
cheers

 

[sockeyed]

I have both, but can't think of any images that I have posted specifically from a black one. As far as I can tell, they both render similarly in b&w and colour.

My primary complaint about black J-8s, however, is that the entire front part of the lens rotates when you focus. This means that your lens hood will spin, and that you're never quite sure which way the f-stop ring will be pointing.

 

[spiderfrank]

if you visit my flickr site ( search for spiderfrank ), I have some photos taken with my Jupiter-8 (an old one, from 1957), both colour and black and white. Every photo is tagged with the name of camera and lens, so you can recognize them. i like the colour rendition of my old J8 (I prefer it over my Summitar), so I think it should be very good also in more modern lenses

Franco

ps: if you search in flickr for "jupiters rule" you will find a lot of samples

 

[Kapa]

I've got a Black Jupiter 8 with green and white text. Serial number is (0895040) so I guess this could be from 1989...? I don't think I have any photos dev'd from this lens but will have a look. Aperture ring doesn't rotate when focusing, but has no click stops like on the Industar 61...

 

[SteveM(PA)]

These are from my black one, I think it's an '83, clean, smooth lens. Film and digital, varying degrees of PS or filtering used, but hopefully the sharpness comes through. Sharpness wise, wide open, it is equal to my sratchy '55 collapsible 'cron, but my scratchy beater DR 'cron smacks its heiny. You can see these much bigger on flickr. Edit: these are all wide open except the last one which is f8.

 

[john_van_v]

This should convince you:

Its the yellow stuff on the blacks that does this, though the silvers are said to be better.

 

[Florian1234]

I also use a J-8, but the chrome variant. Its a 1958 or so model. Look at my flickr page for the results.🙂

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I've seen some really good late black J-8's, some "not so good". The best was as good as my 5cm f2 Nikkor in LTM. It did require shimming for use close-up and wide-open. But so does the latest Zeiss Sonnar.

 

[AzzA]

hmm some very nice pics. I want one of these for sure now.
Just need to find somewhere to get one from. Any ideas where to get one thats been tested/calibrated already? I'm a bit sick of having to gamble on eBay, but i guess thats the only real option..

 

[le vrai rdu]

nice lens, I love the bokeh, here, f2, on a kiev 4 , the filmwasn't correctly fixed, so there is something like haze, but it is not due to the lens 😉

 

[spiderfrank]

Azza, I bought my j8 from Fedka: it arrived with a Kiev 2a that had a huge light leak problem, so they changed the camera, but I kept the lens, and now it works very well on my "new" Kiev II. No problems at all... Try Fedka.

 

[AzzA]

Thanks spiderfrank, I want to get a J-9 aswell so it looks like they stock those too.
cheers

 

[wilt]

This and this was shot with a black J8 from 1976.

 

[john_van_v]

I've seen some really good late black J-8's, some "not so good". The best was as good as my 5cm f2 Nikkor in LTM. It did require shimming for use close-up and wide-open. But so does the latest Zeiss Sonnar.

Dante Stella implies in his writing that the silvers are the far better. I have only used black so far, and I believe the coating is what makes its pictures dramatic.

Do you know about any differences between black and silver coatings -- just the thickness I imagine.

Going with this thought, I am wondering if there would be any benefit to having my two ancient Leica LTM lenses coated, to get the same effects.

What do you think?

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Just saw this- I would not get the older Leica lenses coated. If they are hazed, get them cleaned. The uncoated optics have a character all their own, should be appreciated. Just use a hood!

I believe the formula of the later J-8's is improved. The diameter of the glass seems slightly bigger. Found that out when replacing some damaged glass of an older J-8. The coating is improved. I just shimmed a late 1986 J-8 optics module into an earlier 1960 mount, a chrome one where the front does not rotate. SHould be interesting. It's on the Zorki 3M.

 

[john_van_v]

The uncoated optics have a character all their own, should be appreciated.

You are probably right; I just have not found the sweet-spot yet.

But here is a picture of the "Helmsly" building on the West Side of midtown Manhattan with a 35mm lens, famous for its curved corners -- predates Leona (!!)