Will a Jupiter 12 fit on all Feds ?

holgaguy

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I know the Jupiter 12 will not work correct on some of the CV Bessas and some of the newer Leicas. Do to the rear element going in too far into the body. But what about the FSU RFs Will they all work?
I plan on using a Jupiter 12 on both a Fed 2 and a Fed 5
Thanks
holgaguy
 
Jupiter 12

Jupiter 12

My Jupiter 12 fits easily on my Fed-2. I don't know about the Fed-5. The lens makes excellent images, I think.
 
I have both a Fed 2 & a 5 and have used my J-12 on both with no problem what so ever. It's a good lens. You will like it.
 
Oddly enough, I've been unable to mount my J12 usefully to either my fed2 or my zorki6.
The rangefinder lever has to be pushed upwards slightly before I can screw the lens in. Once the lens is in, it rubs against the underside of the rangefinder lever with so much friction that I am unable to focus the lens without accidentaly unscrewing it.
I've found at least one other person with a similar problem. I'm considering taking a dremel with a buffing attachment to the rangefinder arm to see if I can smooth things out.
 
i think that only with fed 2 you have to be careful, because behind rangefinder flever inside camera there is one piece of metal which come very close to edge of rear element of j12. i think for the first time you should try to put a fed to b and watch from behind does j12 mounts safely. i didnt have problems but on my fed 2 distance from that metal is less than 1mm.
 
I had to push up, slightly, the R/F cam follower on my Zorki 1C. Works perfectly. Reason suggests that the J-12 will fit all FSU bodies with an LTM mount, since it is the only FSU 35 mm lens in that mount.
 
Oddly enough, I've been unable to mount my J12 usefully to either my fed2 or my zorki6.
The rangefinder lever has to be pushed upwards slightly before I can screw the lens in. Once the lens is in, it rubs against the underside of the rangefinder lever with so much friction that I am unable to focus the lens without accidentaly unscrewing it.
I've found at least one other person with a similar problem. I'm considering taking a dremel with a buffing attachment to the rangefinder arm to see if I can smooth things out.
This has been discussed in previous threads. Seems to be a common problem with the FED 2 (including both of mine). Bend the rf sensor arm upwards a tiny amount till it clears. Take the back off the body to ensure things are as they should be.
 
My J-12 fits fine on my FED1, two FED2s, FED3B, Zorki 3M and Zorki 6.

But I did have the problem of the side of the barrel fouling on the edge of the RF cam follower arm on one of the FED2s - but as suggested, bending it out a little solved the problem (though you may need to recalibrate the RF afterwards - I was lucky that mine was still OK)
 
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I pushed it up a bit, till it mounted, but not enough apparently for it to clear the arm with no problems.
I'd hate to have to adjust the rangefinder again.
 
I have no idea why you would have to adjust RF after pushing the RF arm upwards... It just doesn't seem logical to me.

Bending the arm up changes the radius of the point where it touches the lens about 0.001mm...

So if you really move it ONLY UP, it shouldn't hurt the RF alignment.
 
i just can fit the j12 on fed 1
my problem with fed 2, fed 3a and fed 4a:
when i mount my jupiter-12 (focus to 1m), the lens screw ok, but i just can focus to aprox. 3 or 4m... and i note / feel a collision and i have to stop. ...
 
tomaas:

try to keep the shutter open on "B" setting and then mount the lens and watch the back of the lens as you try to focus farther.

Some FEDs have a piece of metal as a limiter of movement of RF arm. Unfortunately on some cameras this piece is too long and can hit and scratch the large rear element of the J-12. I had to take this piece out of my FED-3b and file some 2-3 mm off of it. Then painted black and put it back. Not a big problem, but it requires the removal of top plate.
 
Some FEDs have a piece of metal as a limiter of movement of RF arm. Unfortunately on some cameras this piece is too long and can hit and scratch the large rear element of the J-12..

My experience: the J12 does not fit my FED-2 (and there were some scratches on the paint just above the rear lens - not on the glass!). No problem, I use the Fed-2 with a fine J-8 and it is OK for me. The J-12 fits well my FED-5.
Interestingly, my Zorky-6 was CLAed by Oleg, including RF adjustment for an Industar 61 L/D. Works fine, but when I put the J12 instead the Industar, the Zorki-6 rangefinder is clearly misadjusted, OTOH the same Industar works fine both in the Zorki-6 and in the FED-5. I still have no explanation for it, but as I still have choices, I can live with it.
But I will check what happens with the camera in "B"
Regards
Joao
 
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