I have the J3,8 and 12. The 3 and 8 are both superb lenses with just thr right amount of softness and vintage feel. The J12 has a very vintage glow to it, as this example shows. I would say the 12 is a speciality lense for those times when you want that vintage glow, while the J3 and 8 can be used as everyday lenses.
all of them have low to moderate contrast.
PS. These lenses are all very modern looking when you stop down to 5.6 or so. the 'vintageness' are only present wideopen.
J12
All taken wide open on a cloudy day with Fuji Reala and developed at a good pro lab. So i think character is definitely an attribute of the lens and not film or camera.
Post 1947 lenses from KMZ Fed-Zorki were clones of the Zeiss lenses (Induster -22 = Tessar 50mm f3.5 etc.) The Zeiss factory was located in the Soviet-controlled zone of East Germany. Predating that they were Leitz copies and you will definitely encounter lens-to-film register issues.
I have an early Collapsible 5cm f2 Nikkor in LTM and a late Rigid 5cm f2 in LTM. The Bokeh is smoother than the F1.4 Nikkor, but somehow does not seem quite as sharp. I keep the Rigid on a Leica CL.
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