Jupiter lens

[Tun]

Hi, this is my first post here.

I am very interested in getting a rangefinder, having look at so many models like Contax III, Kiev 4, Fed 1, Fed 2. I think i better start with Russian rangefinders.
I am also concern about lens. Do the Feds and Kiev 4 uses the same lens?

Thanks in advance!

 

[RML]

Welcome, Tun!

Let us know what you decided to get.

 

[Laika]

Welcome Tun! ... Just on your lens question, you may notice you can get Jupiter lenses (ie. J8, J12) to fit the Kiev and the FED/Zorki cameras but the mount is different on the two types as greyhoundman mentioned.

 

[kmack]

Of the Russians the Kiev is my favorite, the only down side for the Kiev's is that then number of non Russian lens is more limited than the lenses available for the Feds or Zorkis (Leica screw mount).

 

[Tun]

I have decided to get a Fed 2. hey laika, is yours a black body Fed 2?
Where do u guys recommend getting a Fed 2 from?
I tried looking up http://www.okvintagecamera.com/index.html but seems that all are Fed 1. I prefer a Fed 2 because of the self timer function.

On ebay, i might buy from grizzlybear, but i dont like the lens that comes with it. Its a 50mm f2.8 lens. i would prefer a Jupiter 3 or Jupiter 12. Is 35mm the shortest focal lens availble?

How much did you guys pay for a fed 2?

 

[Tun]

And thanks guys for the prompt replies. Its nice to receive such nice welcome from your. 😀

 

[rbiemer]

I tried looking up http://www.okvintagecamera.com/index.html but seems that all are Fed 1. I prefer a Fed 2 because of the self timer function.

Welcome aboard, Tun! One nice thing about Oleg(he's the owner of OKvintage) is that you can email him if you want something he doesn't have listed on his page and he'll likely have it or will be able get it for you.
Presumably Grizzlybear would do the same? Never dealt with that seller so I don't know.
You also could post a wanted to buy ad here at RFF and probably get some good responses.
Rob

 

[Kim Coxon]

Hi and welcome,
Most of the J8's tend to get listed seperately or are sold with Zorki's. I don't think there were ever sold with the Feds which generally came with the Industars. (usually the 26 with Fed 2)

Sometimes you see the odd listing for the Orion 15 (28mm) or even the Russar (20mm).

Before you think about getting a J3, I wouls have a search of the threads here, most seem to come with problems!

If you get a camera from Oleg or Fedka, it is likely to work reasonably well. From most other places, it is a bit of a lottery. They do come up here quite often, I will be putting a couple in the FS thread in the near future. I may also be getting rid of my J3 once I have had a chance to do a comparison with my recently aquired Canon glass.

Regards
Kim

I have decided to get a Fed 2. hey laika, is yours a black body Fed 2?
Where do u guys recommend getting a Fed 2 from?
I tried looking up http://www.okvintagecamera.com/index.html but seems that all are Fed 1. I prefer a Fed 2 because of the self timer function.

On ebay, i might buy from grizzlybear, but i dont like the lens that comes with it. Its a 50mm f2.8 lens. i would prefer a Jupiter 3 or Jupiter 12. Is 35mm the shortest focal lens availble?

How much did you guys pay for a fed 2?

 

[Tun]

oh man, in that case i better not get one from ebay. I try my luck from emailing Oleg.

Now that i have seen laika's black Fed 2. I am in love with it. haha 😀
Did laika painted it black and painted the engraved words in white himself? it really looks cool.

Kim, did you mention that the J3 have some problems?

 

[Laika]

I have decided to get a Fed 2. hey laika, is yours a black body Fed 2?
Where do u guys recommend getting a Fed 2 from?
I tried looking up http://www.okvintagecamera.com/index.html but seems that all are Fed 1. I prefer a Fed 2 because of the self timer function.

My black FED2 I refinished myself, you see a few now and then on ebay but they have also have been refinished (some poorly), all the FED2 were made in chrome.

Seller "Alex-photo" is a good one on ebay.

On ebay, i might buy from grizzlybear, but i dont like the lens that comes with it. Its a 50mm f2.8 lens. i would prefer a Jupiter 3 or Jupiter 12. Is 35mm the shortest focal lens availble?

How much did you guys pay for a fed 2?

If you want a J3, J12 or J8 I dont think you will find one with a camera, they never came fitted on FED's from the factory. For user FED2 cameras I've payed from about $20-25 upwards, a really nice one with a few extras (say a hand meter, case, box) I've payed ~$35-50 (all + postage) all from ebay.

If your thinking of a wide angle lens go for a later model FED2 that has the high mounted accessory shoe to make fitting a external finder easy.

 

[Kim Coxon]

Hi,
There were a few early Fed 2's with a coloured body but most of the ones you see on evilbay are repaints. I am part way through a black one at the moment having done a blue one (first post on this thread http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14473&page=2&pp=20)

As far as the J3's are concerned, there are a lot of rogue ones out there. I had to send a couple back before I managed to get a pair of decent ones and even they needed a relube and minor adjustment. More info on Brian's thread here http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13670&page=2&pp=20 If you do a search of the threads here, you will find quite a few examples of J3 problems.

Kim

 

[Laika]

Now that i have seen laika's black Fed 2. I am in love with it. haha 😀
Did laika painted it black and painted the engraved words in white himself? it really looks cool.

Yup ..black auto paint with white fills. It does look very cool but the inspiration for it came from what should be every Soviet RF users web site to drool over ... http://www.geocities.com/fzorkis/index.html ... Jim Blazik is the master at making nice cameras simply stunning 🙂

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I've adjusted 7 J-3's now.

The worst had a misthreaded Helical and the rear lens group was not mounted properly in its collar. The pictures looked like a coke bottle had been mounted to the camera.

One required that the focus mount be filed down. It could not focus to infinity as the mount was too deep.

All required re-shimming and adjusting in varying amounts.

Once "adjusted" they were all good performers, although one was knock-your-socks-off, two were "damn-good", and three others were "plenty-sharp-enough". The last one, with the rear module finally seated correctly, I have high hopes for based on the quicky-digital test on my Nikon E3.

 

[Tun]

If your thinking of a wide angle lens go for a later model FED2 that has the high mounted accessory shoe to make fitting a external finder easy.

Without the external finder, Wide angle lens wont work as effectively?
Yes, i have seen wide angle lens that comes along with an external finder. I am not really sure what is it.

hey Brian Sweeney, if i ever have a faulty J3, i might consider sending it to you for repair. hahaa 😀

Very informative replies. Thanks so much guys!

 

[Tun]

Are these 2 lens different?
http://www.ebay.com.sg/viItem?ItemId=7578921029 ----> how come it has another fatter inner rim?
http://www.ebay.com.sg/viItem?ItemId=7575958857

I suppose both are industar 26M?

 

[Kim Coxon]

Both are I26's. There are 3 major variations on the I26. The first had the large knurled rim, The second has a tab for the focus and the third was the same as the second without the tab. There were even more variations on the Fed 2 itself!

Kim

Are these 2 lens different?
http://www.ebay.com.sg/viItem?ItemId=7578921029 ----> how come it has another fatter inner rim?
http://www.ebay.com.sg/viItem?ItemId=7575958857

I suppose both are industar 26M?

 

[Tun]

oh, so both are not 26M? or just different versions of 26M?

 

[Kim Coxon]

Hi,
They are both versions of the Industar 26M. I have attached a photo showing the 3 main variations. There are also some which are coated as shown by the red "n"

Kim

oh, so both are not 26M? or just different versions of 26M?

 

[Tun]

Thanks Kim. Do all jupiter lens have misalignments and other flaws? And only if one were to buy from fedka or oleg, lens and body will be guaranteed in good condition?

I am really in a dilema of buying from which dealer.
a fed 2 from ebay(Grizzlybear) cost US$29 and a fed 2 cost US$95 quoted from fedka.

 

[wlewisiii]

No, not all of the Jupiter lenses have problems but some - the Jupiter 3 50/1.5 and the Jupiter 9 85/2 - in screw mount have more problems than others.

As for sellers, if you have the money, buy from Fedka. All of his equipment is checked out before he sells it and his customer service is second to none. Two examples: when I bought a Kiev 4AM from him, he decided the only one he had instock wasn't working right so he instead shipped me a Kiev 4A that he listed for quite a bit more money but still only charged the AM's price. Then when I bought a "good" graded Industar-22 lens to have a collapsable for my Canon IVSb he felt that none of the lenses he had separate from cameras were good enough to send me (even though I had bought his lowest grade of lens) and he pulled one off of a camera and sent it instead. It's a beautiful lens in very good condition with only some marks on the barrel.

I have bought 3 cameras and several lenses from him and consider him to be the best seller of FSU gear that I have dealt with.

One other thing to bear in mind is to be sure to check the cost of shipping to where you live. A $30 camera with expensive shipping is not so cheap anymore.

Hope this helps,

William