Jupiter 8

[rover]

Well, I just won and auction for a Jupiter 8. I am very entertianed by all of the web sites discussing Russian camera equipment. Not one says definitively that anything is of any consistent quality. For the prices though I will cross my fingers and hope mine is a good one. I can imagine the anticipation of opening the first set of prints wondering if they will be of the quality of those produced using classic Zeiss optics, or of the latter day Holga. In the end the only people making money on these deals are the postal services. Shipping cost were as much as the purchase price.

 

[jdos2]

I like mine, and I've got a bunch in Contax mount.

The look of the pictures is very attractive, the drawing very complimentary, and the same can be said for all the lenses that fit the Contax copy- they simply look good.

I wanna play with a J-3, but it's too expensive for what I understand to be an 'iffier' lens. The Soviets made LOTS of J-8's, I've only heard of a couple of problems.

 

[Oldprof]

I have two Jupiter 8's in Leica thread mount which I am testing right now. Also the 53mm f1.8 Helios 103 in Kiev/Contax mount. I will report on them once I finish the Kodachrome rolls and get them back from processing (this could take a couple of weeks). I will be comparing them to my trusted 50mm Canon FD 1.4.

 

[jdos2]

(my only roll of Kodachrome 25 is in my Nikon S-2. I can't bring myself to finish the last of it, it would so seem)

Weeks for processing? In Cleveland, I get it back either the next day or the day after. If you need a contact here, I can provide one!

 

[rover]

The Soviets made LOTS of J-8's, I've only heard of a couple of problems.

My thoughts also. I really don't think this is much of a gamble and for the short term I now will have the 50mm focal length that I want until I decide to get something else.

 

[Oldprof]

... In Cleveland, I get it back either the next day or the day after. If you need a contact here, I can provide one!

I have prepaid mailers from A&I in California. Plus, I have to finish the rolls before I can mail them. I'm somewhat surprised you still have a Kodachrome lab in Cleveland. Very few places do Kodachrome processing these days.

 

[jdos2]

The first time I asked how long it would be I was told "a few weeks," but it was ready the next day. I couldn't believe it. I just don't ask now, and they don't tell me, but it's back the next day...

 

[znapschatz]

(my only roll of Kodachrome 25 is in my Nikon S-2. I can't bring myself to finish the last of it, it would so seem)

Weeks for processing? In Cleveland, I get it back either the next day or the day after. If you need a contact here, I can provide one!

The last time I used Kodachrome it took 2 weeks to get it back from A&I in California. I would be thrilled to find a lab in Cleveland that turns it out in one or two days, especially since I live in Columbus, just down the street from you. Please provide.🙂

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Kodachrome developed overnight? Jdos2, you're a lucky man... I send my Kodachromes to a place in NJ, and it takes them forever... But I already bought their mailers, so I'm stuck.

Kodachrome 64 is such a great film...! 😀

 

[taffer]

My first roll with the J8 was a Fuji Velvia, last summer. Can't find any single fault to this lens. Both optical and construction quality seem very good, at least for me, being mechanically far better than the Industar 26M I tried before, don't expect swiss silk-like operation, though...

In fact the only faults on my pictures came from myself or from that Velvia thing (sorry, I didn't like it at all...)

Ops, I forgot it, If possible, it's almost better to get these lenses with a camera attached. As you said, postage is more or less the same money than the lens itself, that's why I decided to get a Kiev 4am together with the Helios 103 I wanted to try... It seems that the legendary russian-camera bug exists, after all...

 

[rover]

I was looking for "great" deal for a 50 Nokton and decided that the J8 is a good alternative until the "steal" comes around. For me I probably won't be able to tell if there is anything wrong with the performance of the optics. As long as it screws onto my Bessa and the aperture ring works Iwill be good to go. Besides, I hadn't bought anything in a couple months, this will satisfy my need for something new.

 

[jdos2]

I've 4 Kiev bodies now, all of them have *something* that "ain't right" about 'em. I'm still looking for one that has a working meter, along with a shutter that doesn't fail and working flash sync.

That being said, I do have a couple nice Kiev bodies that just have to visit the shop...

ANYWAY, I've found that the Jupiter has a very nice drawing- pictures of people with the lens opened up a good bit are gentle, and the out of focus areas are not at all obtrusive.

I do believe the lens is a faithful copy of one of the best lenses of the era. I tip my hat to the original Ziess fellows, and then the Ukranians for making it so affordable as to be silly.

 

[srosenbach]

Hi Rover,

I've had very good results from the couple of J-8's I own. I have a few in Leica Thread Mount for my Zorkis and FEDs, and two in Kiev/Contax mount for my Kiev 4a and Kiev 4 (same design except Kiev 4 has a selenium meter in a "garage" atop the camera.

The results from the Kiev-mounted J-8's are particularly good, I imagine because of the inherent design of the Contax/Kiev rangefinder. The Lecia-type rangefinders can easily get out of adjustment, but if the Kiev RFs work at all, they're spot on. With your fairly new Bessa, you should also do very well.

I have a very nice black-finish, screw-mount J-8 that I got with a Zorki 4K for $22 - I really dislike the Zorki 4K design, so I bought the set for the lens. It was like getting a big, ugly rear lens cap for free 🙂

Best regards,
SteveR

 

[rover]

My Yupiter (I just like saying that) 8 has arrived! Very nice little lens. The focus ring is very loose, it is going to take some getting used to along with the stepless aperture ring. I will get some shots this weekend and we shall see how they come out.

 

[jdos2]

I wish you well with your J-8.

I just came back from a trip to Portugal, I didn't bring any 35mm equipment along at all. I miss the small size of the Kiev, though the Leica bug has bitten me hard right now...

I've bought another Kiev, this one from Oleg in Russia, and will be rebuilt before I get it- making it certain that everything will function well when I get it. I can't wait to again view pictures from that wonderful J-8!

Does anyone have a lens hood for their J-8 lenses? I'm thinking of buying one from CameraQuest. 30$ is almost what the entire camera costs, but from what I hear about the lens, it's the way to go.

Now to find a J-3.

 

[pshinkaw]

All of my J-8's, LTM and Contax/Kiev mount use a 40.5mm front accessory thread. I have had no trouble finding hard (aluminum) and soft (rubber) lenshoods for these lenses. There are numerous Vivitar 40.5's, as well as Series V of VI hoods with a 40.5mm adapter. You can also use a 43, 46, 48 or 49mm hood and use a step-up ring.

I have never paid more than $12.00 for one these hood setups, and usually as little as $4.00.

If you don't access to a camera store odd-and-ends bin, try searching on e-Bay under 40.5mm, Series V or VI.

The easiest ones to buy are the folding rubber ones. If you can, avoid these for rangefinders since they tend to protrude into the viewfinder/rangefinder view.

-Paul

 

[jdos2]

Thanks for the information, I'm going to do just that.

 

[pshinkaw]

I noticed that you are in Ohio. Last month I purchased an old Ednalite Series VI hood and 40.5mm adapter combination from Columbus Camera in Columbus. It was $6.00 for the set. If you're ever down there (I know its a 3+ hour drive) it's worth digging thru their stuff.

-Paul

 

[jdos2]

Ah, I could talk of my journies On The Road To Columbus Camera... I got my 50mm for the Universal there, and my Mamiya 7 with a couple lenses... Truthfully, I hadn't thought to ask there. I was on the phone with them this morning as I was looking to get a Konica Hexar RF. I'll call them back, and when I bring the Guzzi in for service down there, I'll stop by. Thanks- and good advice!

I thought that since the local camera shops didn't have a 40.5, nobody would.

 

[lars]

Woohoo. I just received my Jupiter 8 this morning, from Alex-Photo on eBay. Fast service and communication.

And the rain finally stopped so perhaps I can fire off some shots after work.

...lars