What Soviet Art Tool is best?

[jbrough]

Hi All - I'm crossing the streams here as I am an RD1 user (!), but I'm interested in any advice on what Russian M39 mount lenses are worth trying on the Epson. I have used Russian movie gear before and loved the Lomo lenses, but don't know much about what still lenses are considered best - there seem to be a huge number available. Specifically looking in the 20 - 50mm range, preferably fast. Any help would be great.

 

[mfunnell]

No takers?

...well, I'm no FSU expert but I think the Jupiter 8 (max f2) and Jupiter 3 (f1.5) are your primary fast options (both 50mm lenses). I've only used the J8, which produces nice results. There are assorted Industar lenses out there but the only one I'm familiar with is the I-50 collapsible (f3.5) which also produces a nice result (or, at least, my copy does). I believe the J12 is your fast 35 option (f2.8) though I don't know if it will fit the RD1 (I understand there are issues fitting the rear element in some camera mounts). I don't have one and haven't used one.

At this point I've exhausted my FSU lens knowledge (and I apologise, in advance, if any of the above is wrong or misleading).

...Mike

 

[erikhaugsby]

If you want something wider, the Orion-16 (28mm) is a solid, wide-angle lens. Unfortunately, it is an f/6 lens at best, and costs well over $200.
In the way of superwides, the Russar 20mm is the widest FSU lens that I know of. Unfortunately, it too is plagued by a possibly devastatingly slow f/5.6 maximum aperture. Not sure about prices on this one, though I can't believe they'd be less than the O-16.

 

[payasam]

My 50/1.5 Jupiter 3 is good. I also have a decent Jupiter 12 -- 35/2.8 -- but that lens has a protruding rear element which may give trouble on an R-D1. To my knowledge, there are no wide and fast FSU lenses.

 

[darkkavenger]

Without any hesitation, get a 50/1.5 Jupiter-3. 🙂

 

[jbrough]

Thanks for all the info guys - there seem to be some nice Jupiter 3 50/1.5 lenses on eBay. One more question - do you know if they will rangefinder couple with my RD1?

Cheers,

Jonathan.

 

[payasam]

Jonathan, any LTM lens with a R/F cam will couple with your camera.

 

[RML]

IMO the Jupiter-8 is one lens that should be in your collection, whether or not you use the R-D1. 🙂

 

[ZorkiKat]

Jbrough,

I use FSU LTM lenses 99% of the time with my R-D1s. Jupiter-3, Jupiter-8, and even Jupiter-12. The last, a 35mm with a rather stubby fat end WILL fit without any problem. In fact it's the lens which is most used on my RD-1s.

A caveat here- just because the lens LTM and RF coupled does not mean that that it's going to focus correctly on the RD-1s. Some lenses like the J-3 may have focusing issues. Particularly those which had been made or repaired badly.

I have no focusing issues with the J-3 I got at all. Nor with the J-8. Others have not been so lucky. Or even the Industar -61 (all variations). Even some collapsible Industars (like the postwar Industar-10 made for FED-2) does great with the RD-1s. However, be careful about collapsing these lenses whilst on the camera. The barrel's end may hit the shutter blades, though even this has not been a problem with my camera at all.


For samples of J-3, J-12, and other FSU lenses on the RD-1, see this album:

http://pusangputi.multiply.com/photos/album/24/Shallow_Bokeh_with_100_old_lenses