The best version of J-8???

[Monochrom]

Hi, i was trying to look for the ebst version of the jupiter 8 lens for m39/ltm.

This is for the experts of CCCP photo gear!

Some time ago a memebr of RFF told me he had a J8 which was as sharp as a summicron...is that possible???

So please help me to find out how to recognize the best from the worse.

Thanks in advance!

🙂

 

[Livesteamer]

I have several and they all perform well but my favorite is the 1956 model with the focusing tab. Joe

 

[Monochrom]

thanks, but please tell me more about your favourite one, why you chose it?

 

[biomed]

I have a 1957 and a 1962 J8. I also had two of the newer black versions with printed numbers and markings. The 1962 is the best performing lens of the four. It has a quality that give photos a sort of vintage look. I didn't choose the different lenses for any specific reason. They just happened to be on the Zorki 4 cameras I purchased. A good copy of the J8 can be a very nice but many are plagued with problems. The early ones with aluminum barrels can suffer contrast and flare problems. The later black versions may be better due to the better lens coating. One issue with the aluminum versions is the vulnerability to damage. The aluminum is pretty soft. I keep thinking that I will have one of mine cleaned and lubed. Buying a J8 is a gamble. I Have one good one out of four I bought.
If I were to buy another J8 it would probably be from Fedka.

 

[Brian Legge]

One nice thing about the Jupiter lenses is that cleaning and relubing is fairly straight forward. I cleaned, polished the helical and relubed my 1962 J3. It feels so much smoother now.

Or I should say that its a straight forward job as long as long as you are careful when removing the retaining ring in the back and as long as you don't misthread the helical. On the positive side, its relatively easy to tell when you get it wrong. 🙂

I have a early black J8 I picked up as a practice lens to adjust the shimming and to re-drill the aperture ring. I haven't gotten around to that project yet but can say ergonomically, I prefer the earlier version where the aperture doesn't rotate. The later lens has less play and focus is smoother but the moving aperture annoys me. 😉

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Given their age and the fact that they will all be used and second-hand I can't see the point of chasing after anything in particular other than wanting a certain type of J-8. Of course, a technician could check it and restore it to the original condition but that assumes there's no damage.

FWIW, I bought one in the local flea market with the English labelling and have been very pleased with it from that day onwards and it cost far less than a 24 exposure film...

Secondly, it seems to me that the best way to buy one is on a camera as a lot of the cameras go dirt cheap these days and often have hardly been used.

Regards, David

 

[Fotohuis]

The most expensive part can be the CLA of the J-8 lens. It is my favorit FSU lens, I have a Black version and it works very smoothly. To be honest it looks almost new. I can also recommend Fedka. If you live in Europe they can sent it directly to you from Ukraine. I have only positive experience with Fedka, they take really care of their customers in all aspects.

http://flic.kr/p/nyE6xa

Zorki-6 with the Black version Jupiter-8.

 

[Monochrom]

Thnk to you all for your advice.

I´ll check Fedka!

I think it´s a bit of a gamble to go for these j-8´s

I had a black version, but it was a kiev remounted lens, so i had to make a deep surgery to bring elements to leica standards.

I´ll start again with a J-8 from the 50´s the focusing tab seems pretty useful.

I have an orion-15 and a J-12, both excellent lenses, in the case orf the O-15 the seller told me it was a kmz sample, but was the more common one.
And i had to CLA it completely, but @ no extra expense i did this myself. had to learn 🙂 i´m quite away from the north hemisphere and here i´m by my own.

so thanks again!

🙂

 

[pete hogan]

Jupiter-8 that Fedka sent me last year is a 1968 KMZ type PT3070 export version with English markings and no focus tab (ref sovietcams site). Aperture and focus adjust are smooth. Nice, sharp images. As good as I want or need.

He also sent me excellent Jupiter-11 and Industar-22 lenses and Zorki 1c.

Yuri is the good FSU source imo.