ZM Sonnar vs. Jupiter-3

[thafred]

now here´s the idea: Let´s compare those old Jupiters-3 lenses with the modern ZM Sonnar´s! I´d be very interested to see the diference in image quality from those lenses since they are of equal optical contruction.

you should post photos where you think the quality of the glass can be seen (even if only on the web)

also Zeiss Jena Sonnars are very welcome here off course 🙂

I start with my Jupiter-3 from 1951 (sorry if you allready know the images)
The Jupiter´s focus is spot on at 1.5 and I didn´t notice any focus shift until now (it should be there, shouldn´t it?)

I like the smooth tones and OOF rendition here! f1.5

stoped down it´s really sharp too! (sorry for the bigger pic but it shows the detail better) f8

OOF rendition again f2.0

flarte is there but it´s ok in most situations...also I like the front OOF 🙂 f1.5

I like the tones and smoothness here again. f1.5

fantastic tones IMHO (f1.5)

up close is also impressing (around f2.8)

 

[Samsam]

so nice bokeh, and great street photography work ( i checked your flickr gallery 😉 well i think the bokeh is quite similar. Do the third and fifth pics have a slightly "swirly" bokeh to it or do my eyes mislead me ? ^^

 

[thafred]

I think to that the background is swirly sometimes! all depends on light condition - distance..the swirliest of all lenses is my Summar! the whole background runs circles over the focused subject 😀

 

[Nando]

Great idea! I have a wonderful J3 "Brianov" and I always wanted to see a comparison with the new retro ZM Sonnar.

 

[kakinchan]

Very nice pics.

Do you use a hood on the J-3? What kind of hood? I found mine flare badly, in some unexpected circumstances.

 

[payasam]

Reassuring. I have still to really use my J-3.

 

[andy_v]

Zeiss Jena Sonnar at 1.5 (Contax IIa)

 

[andy_v]

...and black Valdai J-3(1988) at 1.5 (this one has a little focus shift)

 

[kshapero]

ZM Sonnar

At about f8, sharp as a tack

I think I centered on the dog. Bokeh just where I wanted at f4 or f5.6

Some nice shadows

 

[Marc-A.]

Hi Thafred,
Your J3 performs incredibly; beautiful pictures (I've already seen them on your Flickr), really beautiful. With this J3, you have no reason to buy a Sonnar ZM, though the Sonnar ZM seems really a great lens ... oh well, I don't want to take this path 🙄

 

[Samsam]

What is a Valdai J3 ? what a ****ing good glow , i want this lens 😀

 

[Peter_Jones]

Kshapero, wothout wishing to hijack the thread, is that your Triumph ?


Back to the thread, fantastic posts for both lenses 🙂 I particularly was fascinated by the Bokeh of Andy_V's ZJSonnar.

 

[xayraa33]

What is a Valdai J3 ? what a ****ing good glow , i want this lens 😀

Valdai is one of the four factories that made the Jupiter 3, usually the 1980s black ones with the arrow thru a circle symbol.

 

[andy_v]

Yes, xayraa33, exactly. I also have silver Zagorsk J3. It seems to be a little bit sharper wide open. Here is a picture at f4 (approx). BTW they both fit fine at my ZI via adapter🙂

 

[andy_v]

And one more bokeh example from zeiss jena sonnar (f 1.5) for Peter_Jones🙂 and others. I love this lens and I think I really need contax-to-m-adapter to make it more universal tool.

 

[xayraa33]

Yes, xayraa33, exactly. I also have silver Zagorsk J3. It seems to be a little bit sharper wide open. Here is a picture at f4 (approx). BTW they both fit fine at my ZI via adapter🙂

I have the J-3s from those two factories also and share the same opinion of them too.
I would like to try out a KMZ J-3 and a Belomo J-3 someday.

 

[thafred]

fernando, show us some pics of your Jupiter-3! 😀

kakinchan, regretably I have no hood or filter for it. sometimes it flares badly and with bright light sources veiling flare is a problem too...thats why the ZM would make sense, wouldn´t it ;-)

paysam, do that and show the pics here! perfect reason for giving it a spin

Andy_v, that Jena Sonnar is fantastic! really nice pictures..great lens, I screwed up the one time I could have had a perfect real Sonnar for 150 bucks.....well I was young and needed the money :-(
the Zagorsk J3 is very good too! wow, were having Sonnar fun! thanks for adding those lenses!

Wonderful Picures Akiva, the clarity and definition are really striking (esp the third one) thanks for adding them!
Hope more ZM owners will also show their pics! *wink wink*

Marc, thank you! haha, I dont want to take this path too! I have no money or need to get me a ZM Sonnar but I´d like to see what those lenses can do and how they compare 🙂

xayraa, mine is a KMZ Jupiter-3 I forgot to mention. what is a belomo J3? never heard of that!

 

[xayraa33]

xayraa, mine is a KMZ Jupiter-3 I forgot to mention. what is a belomo J3? never heard of that![/QUOTE]

the Belomo made J-3 has the symbol that looks like a squashed baseball or three lens elements.
they are usually silver and made from the mid 1950s to the mid 1960s.

 

[kshapero]

Kshapero, wothout wishing to hijack the thread, is that your Triumph ?


.

I wish. It just caught my eye.

 

[Nando]

Ok... There's nothing new though. I've been primarily using my Summitar the last two months. Please find it in your hearts to forgive me. In regards to the J3, I can't thank Brian enough for turning it into real gem.


f1.5


f2.8


f1.5 (very low light)


f1.5 (very low light - handheld at 1/8th or 1/16th - pure luck)


f8


f1.5

Ok, so which lens is winning? J3 or ZM? 😀