Lens choice for IIIc

[Honus]

A week ago, I posted a request for a lens recommendation for a newly purchased IIIc. I said that I wanted a fairly fast 50mm lens and that my budget was about $300. I also mentioned that I was thinking of either a good used Elmar or a new VC 50 1.5 Nokton.

My unofficial tally recorded the following lens recommendations:

Summitar 50mm 2.0 - 7
Canon 50mm 1.8 - 4
Elmar 50mm 3.5 - 3
All Others -10

I appreciated all of the help. After painstaking research, I purchased the following lenses:

Voigtlander 35mm f2.5 Color Skopar
Jupiter 50mm 2.0

I realize that the 35mm Skopar is a bit of a deviation from my original request, but it appears to be an excellent value. I am surprised that no one mentioned the possibility of using a Juper 8, however. (I should mention that Graybeard suggested a 50/3.5 Russian lens).

I kept within my $300 budget with almost $50 to spare (to apply toward a 35mm finder 🙂 )

I really wanted a modern optic with good resolution and contrast, which is why I was looking at the Nokton. After the IIIc was delivered, I realized that a more appropriately-scaled lens was in order. I considered the 35/1.7 Ultron, but the size, positive reviews and posted images from the Skopar convinced me to purchase it instead. The Jupiter should be fun and, at $25, has no downside risk.

I might also add that the IIIc has been delivered, and is simply a work of art. Mechanically and optically perfect, just as advertised. I am one happy camper.

I hope to post some images, once I receive the lenses and run some b&w film through the camera.

Cheers

 

[ScottS]

If you've only got $50 to spare and still need a 35 finder, you might look into getting a russian finder (since you've already got the Jupiter-8, you will probably not be completely opposed to the idea).

If you'll be sticking with the 35/50 combo, the single 35 finder will be the cheapest. I picked one up for $22 including shipping from Australia. It's not a brightline, and there's no parallax correction (but then again, the same holds for the built-in 50 finder in that IIIc). If you anticipate wanting to use 28, 85, or 135 in the future, the turret finder will probably run around $50 or a little less (I sold one here for $40 a couple weeks back). It's a bulky finder, so since you only have the 35 now, the single 35 finder is probably best. A new CV brightline finder will be aboue $125 or so.

Scott

 

[djon]

IMO you do want a bright line finder. You'll be amazed at what a wonderful camera that IIIC is with one. Classy.

Save your lunch money 🙂

The non-brighline Canon finder is a compromise, bettter than the IIIC's basic 50mm finder. But they're getting ridiculously expensive (KEH has a "bargain" Canon 35 for $79...I'd sell my "excellent" pair of 35 and 100 for $100). Canon IS parallax correctable (turn a dial) fwiw. see picture at www.keh.com

 

[einolu]

I have a jupiter 3 and its a wonderful lens, even if it needs a hood in bright conditions.

 

[doubs43]

You will no doubt want to expand your lens selection to include the 90mm Elmar or possibly the 75mm VC. If either is contemplated, I'd seriously look at the Leitz Imarect finder. While the FSU turret finder has a nice view with the ability to see outside of the actual image area, the parallax correction is - at best - only fair. ("Fair" is being generous IMO) Those that I've used (several examples) have not fit the accessory shoe of my Leicas well and wobble in the shoes translates to poorly framed images.

The Imarect finder will fit your shoe tightly, be aligned correctly and offer FAR superior parallax correction. The single complaint that will be heard is that the field outside of the image area will be masked and unseen. Keep both eyes open and you'll soon learn to "see" outside of the image area.

You'll pay about the same for either finder. I'd look for the early Imarect with the 7,3cm setting if the 75mm CV lens is a possibility. Otherwise, the newer version with the 8,5cm field will work too.

Walker

 

[furcafe]

I 2nd the recommendation for a bright-line finder for the IIIc (or any other "Barnack"-style LTM camera). It helps framing a lot, & since you're using a separate VF window, anyway, you lose little in the speed-of-use department. The Leitz 1 (can't remember the designation) can be found on eBay for around $150 (in good optical condition, if not perfect cosmetics) & I'm sure the Cosina Voigtlander 1 is good, too.

IMO you do want a bright line finder. You'll be amazed at what a wonderful camera that IIIC is with one. Classy.

Save your lunch money 🙂

The non-brighline Canon finder is a compromise, bettter than the IIIC's basic 50mm finder. But they're getting ridiculously expensive (KEH has a "bargain" Canon 35 for $79...I'd sell my "excellent" pair of 35 and 100 for $100). Canon IS parallax correctable (turn a dial) fwiw. see picture at www.keh.com

 

[Richard Black]

I use the IIIc with the Jupiter 12 and the viewfinder that came with it. I haven't found a downside to it at all. The old lens provides a wonderful "look" that the modern ones don't. I like the character of it. The J-8 and J-3 lenses I have work with my IIIc. You'll enjoy the old lady.

 

[ScottS]

The leitz brightline tends to go for more than double the CV finder on ebay -- often over $300. If you want a brightline finder, go for the CV. For non-brightline finders, the canon is one of the better ones -- if you can live without the parallax correction, though, I think the russian one is almost as good as the canon one for much less money. Since I have both, though, my preference to use is the Canon one (unless I'm using a Russian body) since it's got the parallax correction. As of yet, I don't have a brightline 30 finder.

Scott

 

[Graybeard]

You will be quite happy with a Jupiter 8; IMHO a good J-8 outperforms the Summitar. The J-8 and the J-12 (35mm/f2.8) are the least troublesome of the Russian LTM lenses and you are more likely to get a good example than with a Jupiter-3, where the odds favor your receiving a lens whic will not focus properly. I prefer the later, black versions of both lenses, if for no other reason than the lubricant in the focus helix threads won't have become petrified