fidget
Lemon magnet
Hi, I'm trying to buy a J9. Whilst looking at some of the items on thE bay, many are described as portrait lenses. I know that some lenses are good for portraits because they give a soft, flattering image (without high definition skin pores, zits, w-h-y). These lenses share the 80 to 100 mm range, which I understand is a good focal length for this use. So....is the J9 a 85mm lens with soft focus or is it capable of higher definition/resolution? (I would want to use it for almost everthing but portraits)
Dave....
Dave....
Ash
Selflessly Self-involved
It all depends from lens to lens. I've never used one but you might want to search sample images of j-9's.
I think its only called a portrait lens from the focal length, the rest is just a blag to make you think this 80mm ___ is better than that 80mm ____
I think its only called a portrait lens from the focal length, the rest is just a blag to make you think this 80mm ___ is better than that 80mm ____
Bryce
Well-known
Dave-
I've got a J-9, though it's in Pentax screw mount. I believe the optics are the same, mine being new enough for multicoating. It is very soft wide open, though both sharpness and contrast clean up at about 5.6.
I've got a J-9, though it's in Pentax screw mount. I believe the optics are the same, mine being new enough for multicoating. It is very soft wide open, though both sharpness and contrast clean up at about 5.6.
clarence
ダメ
The J-9 makes a great portrait lens not only because it is not clinically sharp, but also because it is capable of focusing at close distances up to 1.15m. This capability allows for frame-filling facial portraits.
Clarence
Clarence
fidget
Lemon magnet
Hmm, thanks for that. I hadn't thought about the lens softening up when wide open. But then, don't all, at least to some extent. I guess that there are also variations between examples.
Dave
Dave
SCOTFORTHLAD
Slow learner,but keen!
I also used J9 in M42,for photographing merchant shipping and the local Docks,I found it fine, and sharp enough in reasonable light using 200 asa. colour neg.film.
Brian.
Brian.
V
varjag
Guest
My J9 sample has that "soft yet sharp" wide open look that makes particularly flattering female portraits. The only drawback it has is poor flare resistance at large apertures.
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
As varjag says. Somehow not soft, but still not as sharp as a macro or such.
I had problems with it, though, it had a (re)assembly issue. Someone put it together in a way that focus was off and impossible to focus past 10m. I've heard about misalignments with the J-9 far too often. You need luck with it, or the willingness to take it apart and fix it.
It was no big deal, really. If you are okay w a screwdriver, i mean.
I had problems with it, though, it had a (re)assembly issue. Someone put it together in a way that focus was off and impossible to focus past 10m. I've heard about misalignments with the J-9 far too often. You need luck with it, or the willingness to take it apart and fix it.
It was no big deal, really. If you are okay w a screwdriver, i mean.
oscroft
Veteran
I've got a 1961 J-9 in LTM mount, and it's a bit battered but it's nice and sharp. (I also have a 1977 one that I haven't had a chance to use yet - must take it out this weekend)
Michiel Fokkema
Michiel Fokkema
Hi,
The Jupiter 85 is an excellent portrait lens. If you can find a good one.
Problem with the Russian stuff is that there never was good quality control.
There is a lot of difference between individual samples of the same lens.
I've had three. The first one fell apart, the second one was very prone to flare. The third one is very nice and performs good. Wide open a bit soft, stopped down sharp enough. I do use a big lenshood on it.
Cheers,
Michiel Fokkema
The Jupiter 85 is an excellent portrait lens. If you can find a good one.
Problem with the Russian stuff is that there never was good quality control.
There is a lot of difference between individual samples of the same lens.
I've had three. The first one fell apart, the second one was very prone to flare. The third one is very nice and performs good. Wide open a bit soft, stopped down sharp enough. I do use a big lenshood on it.
Cheers,
Michiel Fokkema
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
Michiel (or anybody else):
What kind of hood do you use for the J-9? Where did you get it?
thanks
What kind of hood do you use for the J-9? Where did you get it?
thanks
dexdog
Veteran
The J-9 accepts a 49mm threaded hood. A couple of eBay sellers (e.g., American Eagle) have them pretty cheap, usually 10 to 12 USD.
V
varjag
Guest
I use a Soviet plastic slip-on hood for 85mm lenses.. one would say authentic 
Spyderman
Well-known
Jupiter 9 is a very good lens. I would say it's very underrated as well.
Regarding the soviet QC I think most of you are underrating that as well. All lenses that I have are fine (all checked by 2-camera-collimation-method). Also all my cameras are fine (except for some RF adjustment). Or myybe I am just lucky...
The problem of most of the Jupiter 9 lenses is that someone might have tinkered with them. And that they are very complicated to reassemble. Well, at least they were complicated before the God-sent manual appeared on http://www.pentax-manuals.com/repairs.htm
With the manual in front of you - there is no problem in reassembly of the much-maligned Jupiter 9.
Regarding your original question about sharpness here is a shots from the Jupiter 9 - just an example how how sharp it can be...
J9 @ f/4
There are more shots with it in my Flickr gallery marked with tag jupiter9
Regarding the soviet QC I think most of you are underrating that as well. All lenses that I have are fine (all checked by 2-camera-collimation-method). Also all my cameras are fine (except for some RF adjustment). Or myybe I am just lucky...
The problem of most of the Jupiter 9 lenses is that someone might have tinkered with them. And that they are very complicated to reassemble. Well, at least they were complicated before the God-sent manual appeared on http://www.pentax-manuals.com/repairs.htm
With the manual in front of you - there is no problem in reassembly of the much-maligned Jupiter 9.
Regarding your original question about sharpness here is a shots from the Jupiter 9 - just an example how how sharp it can be...
J9 @ f/4
There are more shots with it in my Flickr gallery marked with tag jupiter9
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Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
I've been looking for one of these, and no luck. Do you know where I could get one, specifically? Thanks in advance.varjag said:I use a Soviet plastic slip-on hood for 85mm lenses.. one would say authentic
V
varjag
Guest
V
varjag
Guest
Spyderman
Well-known
varjag: I admire your ability to focus at f/2. But maybe it's the Kiev.
Most of my shots (on Zorki 4) wide open have the plane of focus in front of or behind where I intended to focus. My solution is simple - just stop it down to f/2.8 or f/4.
Most of my shots (on Zorki 4) wide open have the plane of focus in front of or behind where I intended to focus. My solution is simple - just stop it down to f/2.8 or f/4.
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
Spyderman,stop showing off woth your beauty!
And i don't mean the J-9!
And i don't mean the J-9!
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
dexdog: Yes i thought of a generic one, buit this lens has a huge front element, i'd like something as efficient as possible (thus not one made for normal or wide elnses)
-and still one that is not vignetting.
Bottom line, i want one that is made for it.
A zeiss, or a FSU one, i guess.
-and still one that is not vignetting.
Bottom line, i want one that is made for it.
A zeiss, or a FSU one, i guess.