Photos with my J9

[sweathog]

A while ago I bought a J9 from George S., for a very good price.
I have finally shot a bit of stuff with it, and picked up the scans today. I must say I am very impressed so far.
I have mostly used it at f2, and I am very impressed with the performance.
I love the way it renders colours, at least on the roll of PJ400 I used, which I normally find quite flat. The slight vignette really appeals to me.
I am still getting used to framing it. I have tried variously shooting just outside the 90mm framelines on my Bessa R, and sometimes just inside the 75mm lines, and I think just ouside the 90mm lines seems to work better for me.

I am going to try to regrease it in a while, once I have acquired the various tools I need. I think I will follow the instructions on the Kiev Survival Site, as they are very comprehensive (and, probably most importantly, have pictures).

For now, here's a few (rather boring) shots from the first roll, and then more when I pick up the next roll.

 

[payasam]

Getting a good J-9, one which focusses correctly at near distances, has been described to me by a well known seller as "a lottery". You appear to have won. Bad J-9s are believed to have gone bad because of incorrect reassembly. Seems it's a tricky business.

 

[sweathog]

How would you define 'close', given that this is an 85mm lens?
I doubt I'd be using it closer than say 3 meters, realistically, but even then, at f2 it can be fairly critical.
It does seem good to me. I did have a few shots off, but that I think is due to impatience with the stiff focus (the reason I got it at such a good price).

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

Servicing the J-9 can be fun as there are 4 pieces to the helical and it only works if you put back together the right way which is one of about 16 ways it can go together! But it is a very good lens, mine has become my telephoto of choice.

 

[sweathog]

Servicing the J-9 can be fun as there are 4 pieces to the helical and it only works if you put back together the right way which is one of about 16 ways it can go together!

You speak from experience?
Have you had a go at it, and if so did you use any sources to help you?

 

[Morris]

You'll find the best info on Kim Coxon's Pentax site HERE.

http://www.pentax-manuals.com/repairs/j9service.pdf

 

[sweathog]

Thanks for that Morris, that is muh more detailed than the one I'd already found. Mind you, is that for an M42 J9? If so, would my one be different in construction?

 

[Morris]

No, it's for LTM (M39).

I used that pdf myself to clean and re-lube a J9.

 

[sweathog]

Excellent. I will bookmark that for later on.
Thanks.

 

[rolleistef]

is that for a Kiev or LTM?