Sonnar lens on a Kiev?

[JoeFriday]

I recently picked up a Kiev IIa (circa 1964) with the standard Jupiter-8M f/2 lens.. I've been seeing a few Zeiss Sonnar f/1.5 lenses show up on various sites, and I'm tempted to get one

first of all, would the Sonnar mate well with the Kiev? and would the image quality be noticeably better than the Jupiter?

 

[phototone]

The Sonnar lens should work just fine on the Kiev....after all the Kiev cameras were made from the same tooling as the pre-war Contax cameras, with slight modifications as time went on, but the lens mount remained the same. You can also use Kiev lenses on your Contax cameras.

Now whether the Sonnar would be better is debateable. Since, in general, they are the same optical formula. The Sonnar would be manufactured to higher standards, but many people rave about the Jupiter ones. You may get a sub-standard Jupiter, or you may get an excellent one.
You can buy several Jupiter lenses for what you pay for one Sonnar. A newer coated Jupiter would probably be better than an older uncoated Sonnar.

In general all Contax and Kiev lenses freely interchange. The only caution here would be the Nikon RFDR mount lenses which, while mounting just fine, have focusing issues with Contax and Kiev RFDR cameras, unless you get a Nikon lens specifically made for Contax cameras, which are rather rare.

 

[Duncan Ross]

I recently picked up a Kiev IIa (circa 1964) with the standard Jupiter-8M f/2 lens.. I've been seeing a few Zeiss Sonnar f/1.5 lenses show up on various sites, and I'm tempted to get one

first of all, would the Sonnar mate well with the Kiev? and would the image quality be noticeably better than the Jupiter?

If it helps I had the Jupiter 3 on my Kiev for some time (which is more-or-less a Sonnar f1.5). After many months of trying both I eventually decided I preferred the standard 8M more. I then went on to break the J3 which put the tin lid on it.

I'm certain Sonnar and the Kiev will mate, and I hope you show us the offspring! 🙂

 

[stephen_lumsden]

Hi JoeFriday

An interesting idea. I have a Jupter 8m myself on my Kiev 4a and was thinking about getting a Sonnar. However I came to the conclusion that I may hold off until I could be certain about the quality and get one with a Contax iia from the likes of Henry Scherer. Until then, with eth Kiev I will stay with Jupiters. I have ordered 2 (a 12 and a 9) from Fedka.com. If they are good I mnay get a good quaklity Jupiter 3 or Helios 3.

Basiaccly what I am trying to say, or ask, is that, have you tried all the options yet?

rgds

Stephen

 

[JoeFriday]

I haven't tried any options yet.. just thinking aloud, basically.. so any other options, such as the ones you just mentioned, are happily welcomed

I haven't looked at a Jupiter 3 at all.. guess I'll give those a look-see.. I know the Jupiters are copies of Sonnars.. so it's more a matter of 'luck of the draw'.. but obviously your odds of winning are much higher with the Zeiss brand, given their higher tolerances.. I just wanted to be sure the higher tolerances wouldn't create some minor potential incompatibility and thus override the higher potential quality of a Sonnar mixed with Kiev gear

time to look up Jupiters