Jupiter-8 vs Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 50 f/2

[grapejohnson]

Does anyone own both of these lenses? Care to do a comparison? I've been curious as to how close of a copy the J-8 is to the Zeiss counterpart. If this has already been done, someone direct me towards the post. I'm willing to bet that a properly shimmed and adjusted J-8 would perform just as well as the CZJ. Nobody can ever believe my pictures are taken with a 40 dollar lens.

 

[sevo]

Several of either, as a matter of fact. The good among my J-8's are on a par with the CZJ's, but their production quality was less constant and I own one or two quite substandard ones.

 

[grapejohnson]

Several of either, as a matter of fact. The good among my J-8's are on a par with the CZJ's, but their production quality was less constant and I own one or two quite substandard ones.

I know the construction is no comparison, and like most FSU lenses they're hit or miss. But, optically, how different are they? I'd love to see them side by side.

 

[sevo]

I know the construction is no comparison, and like most FSU lenses they're hit or miss. But, optically, how different are they? I'd love to see them side by side.

They are not discernably different, that is, the sample variation among them is bigger than the difference to the CZJ.

 

[Elmar Lang]

A correctly assembled/tested Jupiter-8 is an excellent lens, perfectly comparable to a CZJ Sonnar 50/2.

The problem with ex-USSR lenses is the quality control, that allowed defective lenses etc. to be put on the market.

E.L.