Zeiss Sonnar-C and Jupiter-3

[retrocam]

Hi,

Just sharing some sample shots I took. I thought you might be interested to see the shots taken with the Jupiter-3 and Sonnar-C side by side....Apologies if this bores you to death. 😱

#1 Jupiter 3 with Yellow Filter. Foma 200.
#2 Sonnar-C without filter. On the same roll as #1 but taken on a different day.
#3 Sonnar-C with yellow filter. On the same roll as #1.

All the rest were taken with the ZM Sonnar-C using TMAX 100.

I think all the shots were taken at f/4. I USM'd them in photoshop at the same levels.

What else can I say...I love both lenses! 😀

 

[back alley]

very nice, i quite like pics 1 & 5 especially.

what are your thoughts on the zm 50 especially compared to other non sonnar 50's?

joe

 

[jano]

Cool beans 🙂 I used foma 200 to test out my new sonnar as well! What do you develop it in?

I would #3 a lot if the flower itself were sharper than the glass, but it works nice 🙂

Oh, oh.. try shooting wide open, it's just great.

 

[thafred]

Awesome!
which version of the Jupiter-3 is this? (whats the year of manufacture?)

All pics look good and I have to admit that I just love the sonnar signature. (the reason why I have purchased a J3 1986 for me but the austrian toll is trolling around just because it´s from russia 😡 I´m allready waiting 2,5 weeks now for it!!)

Could you shoot the same scene with both lenses and post it here, would be interesting since with this test shots both lenses look very similar (or do I just want them to?! 🙄 )

 

[Nachkebia]

I loved the third shot

 

[rover]

Very nice. I currently have a lot of information printed regarding the 50 Summilux in my bag. I can't afford an Asph Lux, but in the spring I was thinking maybe a prior. I will keep watching as these ZM shots come in, I really like these.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

retrocam,

thanks for the test ... I have to admit, I am really impressed with the Jupiter-3.

did you have to go through many samples to find a good J-3, or did you luck out on the first one?

cheers

 

[leafy]

Thanks for sharing these. I love these pictures, they have a very gentle yet defined look in them.

 

[thawkins]

I just ordered a Jupiter 3 from Fedka.com to use on my Zorki camera. I have been told this is a great lens. Can't wait to get mine.

Tom

 

[retrocam]

Thanks. I'm glad you guys liked the results. 🙂

I think the Sonnar has a distinct signature...and I share the same opinion with Leafy - the look is "gentle yet defined". To me the tones are subtle but not lacking; the tones don't shout contrast but the look is not flat. I couldn't say that the look is dated either.


The ZM Sonnar-C and Leica 50 Lux-Asph project different looks and IMHO you are not supposed to compare them. (At least that's what I told myself when I bought the Sonnar-C 😀 - I got mine from Poplash, btw) To me, the Lux look is bright and luminous no matter how low the light levels are....sounds weird (or cheesy maybe?) but that's how I think of the Lux pictures below.

@ Jano: The Foma 200 was developed by the lab - they used D76. The TMAX 100 was developed using TMAX developer. I had someone teach me film development and had him develop those. When I get some shots in, I'll try to develop them on my own. I have the Foma 100 and TMAX developer....or perhaps try the Fomadon? 😀

@ Tom: I got the Jupiter-3 from Fedka. I used it right off the bat. No problems - good glass and smooth focusing. I probably got lucky. I didn't go through several Jupiter-3's. 😀

@ Thafred: I don't know about the vintage of my chrome LTM Jupiter-3. The serial number on the lens is N750504. Can you (or anybody) tell me? To me, the look or signature of ZM Sonnar-C and the Jupiter-3 are quite similar. I guess one's for business casual outings and the other is for rugged casual. Hehehe 😎

@Thawkins: You won't regret the purchase! 😀

Some more pictures:
#1 Jupiter-3 wide open. NPH 400. I was using Zorkikat's (Jay's) J-3 - that how I learned about how good the J-3 is.
#2 Jupiter-3 with yellow filter at f/8. Foma 200. I love this pic!
#3 Summilux-Asph wide open. Kodak UC 400. My brother-in-law and niece. A little camera shake going on...😛
#4 Summilux-Asph at f/2-f/4. Kodak UC 400. My hubby. Lighting was only from the video game and a dim ceiling bulb.

 

[thafred]

I guess one's for business casual outings and the other is for rugged casual

hehe, cool indeed! A Sonnar for every situation 🙂

The year of manufacture is easy to determine with russian lenses. the first two digits of the serial number indicate the year of production. so your´s is from 1975!

Very nice pictures btw, I like #2 very much and #4 of your "hubby" is awesome!! (Lux Asph aint bad either eh? 😉 )

 

[Nachkebia]

Second image has amazing quality, it looks like old image with modern quality! I love it!

 

[leica M2 fan]

I can see why you love photo #2, it is awesome, a really,really good shot !

 

[brachal]

@ Tom: I got the Jupiter-3 from Fedka. I used it right off the bat. No problems - good glass and smooth focusing. I probably got lucky. I didn't go through several Jupiter-3's. 😀

@ Thafred: I don't know about the vintage of my chrome LTM Jupiter-3. The serial number on the lens is N750504. Can you (or anybody) tell me? To me, the look or signature of ZM Sonnar-C and the Jupiter-3 are quite similar. I guess one's for business casual outings and the other is for rugged casual. Hehehe 😎

Yuri at fedka has everything checked before he sells. I've never had a lens from him that wasn't as advertised.

Jupiters can be dated by the serial number -- the first two digits indicate the year of manufacture so yours is from 1975. There may be exceptions to that rule, but I'm not aware of them. The jupiter 3 is my favorite 50.🙂