Jupiter 9 recommendations?

T

The Meaness

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I'm thinking about getting a Jupiter 9, or maybe a CZ opton 85/2. I prefer medium to high contrast and love the sonnar design. Is there a 'sweet spot' as far as years or versions? Any insight and especially pictures would be helpful - thanks!
 
With all FSU gear, it is sort of "the older the better". At least where Kievs are concerned, two periods produced the best cameras and lenses: The immediate post war years while they had the influx of German consulting and tools, and the first decade after Stalin's death when they obviously felt well and enterprising.
 
Do not get either one if it is for a Leica mount camera, get the Nikkor 8.5cm F2 in Leica Thread Mount instead. It will work wide-open across the full distance range with your cameras, the J-9 must be optimized for a limited range. The Carl Zeiss Opton lens is in Contax RF Count and requires an adapter.
 
Nikkor 8.5cm F2, wide-open on the M8:

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Tight crop:

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F2:
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F4:
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1958 J-9 at F4 and Infinity:

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Same lens wide-open and close-up:
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The Nikkor 8.5cm F2, same camera:

F4 and Infinity
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And F2 and close-up:

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The Nikkor is made to the Leica standard, the Jupiter-9 is not.
 
I agree with Brian. The J9 ltm is not worth the effort unless you plan to use it for landscapes and stopped down only. I did go with a Zeiss opton f2/85 in Contax RF and adapter for leica M. It has IMHO more "soul" than the Nikkor which I also have (and will sell). Here is a short flikr set I made of some samples of the Opton on RD1 and M8.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36366328@N04/sets/72157622111763422/
 
I experimented a good bit with that 1958 J-9, reduced the distance between the front and rear group to reduce the focal length, then shimmed the lens.

Wide-open at 2m:

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F4 at 2m:

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Focus held quite well through 5m at F2:

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But at minimum focus, 1.15m, still get a back-focus:

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f16sunshine said:
I agree with Brian. The J9 ltm is not worth the effort unless you plan to use it for landscapes and stopped down only. I did go with a Zeiss opton f2/85 in Contax RF and adapter for leica M. It has IMHO more "soul" than the Nikkor which I also have (and will sell). Here is a short flikr set I made of some samples of the Opton on RD1 and M8.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36366328@N04/sets/72157622111763422/
Click to expand...


I need to pick up a CZO 85/2- I have the correct adapters for the Leica.
 
Another vote here for the Nikkor 85/2. I really love this lens!

I have not used either of the lenses you mention, but bought the Nikkor with the Jupiter in mind as an alternative. With the multiple issues of design and manufacture in J-9s I thought the Nikkor a much better bet, and one I have been very happy with. My lenses have been bought on a budget and are mostly FSU. After the the 85/2 I wish the Nikkor 50's were better priced.
 
Wow! Thanks for the info and especially the pics. Both the Nikkor and the CZO perform amazingly in these shots! I guess I have a harder decision than I thought.
 
While I agree that Nikkor is a super lens - they are heavy and pricey. I used to own one and sold it or that reason. I now have a Chrome Jupiter-9 LTM and like it a lot. I used to have a black one too and it was a good lens. You can see this thread with pics, including ones from my black J-9:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59733

and this one from my current Chrome one:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=1323893

It's a lovely lens when you have a good one.:

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Scan316.jpg
 
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