Brambling
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Zorkiy 3m, JUPITER 8 - 50MM F/2, film isopan 100, may 2018
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mconnealy
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neal3k
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Brambling
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Rock 'n' roll is dead, but I'm not yet!
Zorkiy 3m, Yu8, Svema DS100, Aug 2018
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Myrrys.eu
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oldhaven
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Myrrys.eu
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Myrrys.eu
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oldhaven
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These were taken with a Jupiter 8 that is brand new and unused. It is one that was to be used for an Elektronica TV camera, is from 1987, and is a KMZ lens, long after Arsenal was making J-8's. It has no focus or aperture mechanism. I found a way suggested on the internet to use it for macro pictures as will be described below:



I saw something like this done in an old internet article. The large thread on the lens barrel is M42 which is the same size as the mount thread on my Mamiya Sekor SLR. By using a Telesar extension tube set I can mount it without interfering with the mirror on the camera. It is not the same thread pitch, but for some reason it seems to mount without cross threading. This gives a very crude macro capability which has to be used by moving the camera back and forth, and because there is no way to make the aperture smaller than wide open the focus range is very limited. I have to use a camera with through lens focusing and external metering is helpful.
I took the photos hand held, set the external meter at F2 and used shutter speed to determine exposure, A tripod would have really helped so I will do that in the future. I bought the TV lens, and another just like it for very little, thinking I would be able to use the brand new glass in another lens, but I kind of like this macro capability for a Sonnar type lens. It would help to add a J-8 aperture iris to increase depth of field, since the aperture activation ring is there and turns and i can see the slot for the activation mechanism. Unfortunately that would use the 42mm thread unless I jury rig another way to move the ring manually. I could use a variable ND filter also to give me a few more exposure options.
Does anyone with some experience with these have any suggestions about aperture adjustability? Also, what year and type of J-8 would have the same type of lens barrel as this? This is well into the J-8M era, but it is a KMZ and labeled as a J-8. I might want to use my other new TV lens by adding on the correct parts from a Contax/Kiev mount J-8 or J-8M to give me a basically unused J-8 for my Kiev camera.






I saw something like this done in an old internet article. The large thread on the lens barrel is M42 which is the same size as the mount thread on my Mamiya Sekor SLR. By using a Telesar extension tube set I can mount it without interfering with the mirror on the camera. It is not the same thread pitch, but for some reason it seems to mount without cross threading. This gives a very crude macro capability which has to be used by moving the camera back and forth, and because there is no way to make the aperture smaller than wide open the focus range is very limited. I have to use a camera with through lens focusing and external metering is helpful.
I took the photos hand held, set the external meter at F2 and used shutter speed to determine exposure, A tripod would have really helped so I will do that in the future. I bought the TV lens, and another just like it for very little, thinking I would be able to use the brand new glass in another lens, but I kind of like this macro capability for a Sonnar type lens. It would help to add a J-8 aperture iris to increase depth of field, since the aperture activation ring is there and turns and i can see the slot for the activation mechanism. Unfortunately that would use the 42mm thread unless I jury rig another way to move the ring manually. I could use a variable ND filter also to give me a few more exposure options.
Does anyone with some experience with these have any suggestions about aperture adjustability? Also, what year and type of J-8 would have the same type of lens barrel as this? This is well into the J-8M era, but it is a KMZ and labeled as a J-8. I might want to use my other new TV lens by adding on the correct parts from a Contax/Kiev mount J-8 or J-8M to give me a basically unused J-8 for my Kiev camera.



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@oldhaven
KMZ was producing the J-8 for the Fed and Zorki cameras well into the 1980s. This will fit into any J-8 mount for the Zorki/Fed. The aperture ring was compatible as well. I've mounted a 1930s 5cm f2 Sonnar in a late black focus mount, and used the aperture ring on the Sonnar. SO- find a bad-glass J-8, should work.
Two Sonnars remounted in J-8 mounts. The mount and aperture ring are compatible.

KMZ was producing the J-8 for the Fed and Zorki cameras well into the 1980s. This will fit into any J-8 mount for the Zorki/Fed. The aperture ring was compatible as well. I've mounted a 1930s 5cm f2 Sonnar in a late black focus mount, and used the aperture ring on the Sonnar. SO- find a bad-glass J-8, should work.
Two Sonnars remounted in J-8 mounts. The mount and aperture ring are compatible.

oldhaven
Well-known
Thanks Brian, I had not considered going to a LTM or M39 type Jupiter 8. Actually, I already have a few good J-8 and J-8M Kiev mount lenses so this makes sense. I am pleased to hear the parts all fit. I don't own a Zorki or Fed, and have enough cameras now, but using a 39 to 42mm adapter could allow me to use it on my M42 SLR's normally and then use the extension tubes when I want to do macro. I'll hunt for a cheap Zorki J-8.
FlâneurFloyd
Member
tbhv55
Well-known
View attachment 4847214
1959 Jupiter 8, LTM mount, Nikon Z6. Only $40 on ebay last year for a relatively pristine copy.
Nice! The price you paid seems good, for a copy in first-class condition.
The J-8 is one of my favourite lenses. I have two or three copies. (Or possibly four!
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
View attachment 4847214
1959 Jupiter 8, LTM mount, Nikon Z6. Only $40 on ebay last year for a relatively pristine copy.
The old J8's, especially the KMZ's can be wonderful lenses and are still great buys as great Sonnars. I have a US$100 honey that is just great. The other is good, not great. As you have shown in your peregrinations, they do color and image so well.
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
Two with the 1950 ZK 5cm F2- immediate predecessor of the J-8. Converted to LTM using a 1957 J-8 focus mount, on the Nikon Z5. Wide-Open.
View attachment 4847222View attachment 4847223
Well, you know I like the Sonnars and how the treat light. Interestingly enough, Matt Osborne on YT has been drifting away from Leica a bit, He is using an old HB, and is using more Sonnars. He is mostly a mono shooter but he must be beginning to like Sonnars, mono and color. He was not overly impressed with the SBS when he tested it. Maybe his thinking is changing. It may be too late to get one.
The high cost of Leica lenses kept me away and onto Jupiters. It was luck as they are nice lenses as are the other Sonnars, Japanese, German and that primo Brit one. Osborne likes the Canon 50mm f/1.4 but he shoots wide open model shots. I think that you are right that the 50mm f/1.8 Canon is a great lens and a sleeper, i. e., affordable. Thanks for the tip on that one.
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