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01/27/2016 06:45

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quote:
Originally posted by Brian

I advise people to stay away from the Valdai lenses, unless you are good at taking them apart. The Valdai lenses have great optics, but the build quality of the barrel and focus mount were all over the place. I've gone through Ten of them to get a really good one. Parted several out to move the optics to a ZOMZ barrel. The good one that I have required about ten hours to get working properly. The actual focus was off by 2m at 5m, the distance scale did not agree with the RF, and the helical could not drive the RF to infinity. The cure: polish down the mount, screw the helical in deeper, then re-index the focus ring. After that- reset the shim. On the Valdai lens: it was full of metal filings from the taps for the set screws. A 1975 ZOMZ "new old stock"- required a full CLA including a big change to the shim. Many of these original J-3's are in "like new condition" because not one could use them when they were new.

I should have the new J-3+ today.



Hi Brian,

how do you think about Jupiter-3 from ZOMZ Zagorsk?

01/27/2016 07:13

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My observations: the first J-3's from ZOMZ came out in 1956- my earliest is 5600256; some deviations in performance in the 1956 and 1957 lenses; some of the best J-3's that I've shot with are from 1958 through 1964. Most ZOMZ lenses are very good, one of the best J-3's that I own is the 1975. I prefer the lenses with separate optical fixtures for the rear triplet as you can get some adjustment to the focal length. Around 1963 the design shifted to the one piece barrel- not possible to fine-tune the focal length.





I like the long-throw focus of the J-3, makes focus more precise and easier to follow a moving subject.

1975 ZOMZ J-3, wide-open on the M9.

With reference to the modern Cosina/Voigtlander LTM 50mm F1.5 Nokton, I picked up a Black one which is heavier made than the chrome lens. Got it at a good price, $300 in EX+ condition. Used it at the memorial walk at the Marine Museum on the M Monochrom, and all of the pictures taken with the lens at a slight down angle were out of focus. I disassembled the lens and found the middle elements were loose in the barrel, even though the retaining ring was tightened flat with the surrounding metal. The ring uses Slots for a spanner. Turns out someone must have had the spanner set too wide when tightening the ring and it stopped when the spanner head hit the surrounding metal ridge. I used a pin type spanner and the ring screws in well beyond the surrounding metal ridge. This lens had never been opened before, left the factory this way. No wonder I got it at a great price. It's much better now!

01/27/2016 07:38

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since I have shots from my KMZ and ZOMZ Jupiter-3's up,



1984 Vadlai Jupiter-3 50/1.5, wide-open on the M9.



It is on the M9 a lot. You can see my "red Dot" for the aperture index, needed to make a new one after re-seating the helical in the mount.

Also: I am happy the new lens is chrome and not black paint, as i use Digital cameras. I've had black paint flake off and get on the sensors with some older lenses.

01/27/2016 08:46

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Yes, the fact is that we can have bad surprises when buying used lenses. Nearly the third of my LTM Zeiss or Jup lenses had to go to a specialist for various reasons... In most cases, it was a question of compatibility with my Leica and Fed bodies. I always have a Jup 9/Sonnar which is not perfect, except at 1,5m...

About Valdaï lenses, I had an excellent Jup 3, very sharp, re-sold because of its black colour. By your comments, I should have kept it!

Jacques.

01/27/2016 10:31

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quote:
Originally posted by Brian

My observations: the first J-3's from ZOMZ came out in 1956- my earliest is 5600256; some deviations in performance in the 1956 and 1957 lenses; some of the best J-3's that I've shot with are from 1958 through 1964. Most ZOMZ lenses are very good, one of the best J-3's that I own is the 1975. I prefer the lenses with separate optical fixtures for the rear triplet as you can get some adjustment to the focal length. Around 1963 the design shifted to the one piece barrel- not possible to fine-tune the focal length.
I like the long-throw focus of the J-3, makes focus more precise and easier to follow a moving subject.


Thanks Brian,
the Jupiter-3 is 7 lenses in 3 groups, J-8 is 6 in 3. Jupiter-3 should be better, but how do you think of both of them at aperature 2.0?

01/27/2016 12:03

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A J-8 on F/2,0 is pretty soft. Comparing on F/4 an I-61 and J-8 the I-61 has a tick more sharpness. On my M7 I have a Summicron F/2. A good F/1,5 lens would be nice which could be a Zeiss, Cosina Voigtlander or this J-3+. However FOR ME a C.V. Black F/1,5 -M or this J-3+ with LTM adapter is the same price. Eur. 600 -/-VAT. So I am interested to follow these comparing tests of it. Extra using the J-3+ on my Zorki's-6, FED-3. In coating the possibilities in the 90's were much easier and better then before this era. So here could be the first improvement, hence a better contrast and/or resolution. I am not scanning but printing my 35mm negatives on 40x50cm photo format in split grade. Looking at my I-61, I-50, J-8, J-9 and J-12 it is possible. However they have all been in professional service. Further my M7 can be equipped with some compact Leica lenses, 21mm/28mm Elmarit the 50mm Summicron and a 75mm Summarit and a SWH-15mm-M.

Robert
"De enige beperking in je fotografie ben je zelf"
http://gallery.fotohuisrovo.nl/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotohuisrovo/

01/27/2016 13:43

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I just sold a Jupiter-8 (black) that I modified for 0.65m RF coupled focus. It's a fine lens, but a really good J-3: is sharper at F2 than the J-8. The J-3 is the premium lens, the mechanics of the mount are better. I have another J-8 coming in, made in 1957- year I was born.

The Jupiter-3+ just arrived, I did some quick tests. The build quality is superb, compares with my Nikkor 5cm f1.5. The focus is PERFECT across range on my M9. It's sharp, I will do a direct compare with the KMZ's: but it's really good. They hit it right. People pay $300 for a good adapter for Contax RF mount to Leica mount. This is a double-helical design with great glass.



I uploaded full-res to FLICKR. This is spot-on, good through infinity.



Wide-Open, snow is overexposed. Field-flatness is very well controlled on this lens.

Focus on eyes, then framed.




All wide-open.

01/27/2016 13:59

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Brass is used, and the lens is heavier in hand- like the Nikkor 5cm F1.5. The focus is very smooth, nice long throw. The coatings are improved. I'll be shooting more tests with the lens, and do some side-by-side comparisons with the Classic Sonnars and J-3's.

We're digging out of the Blizzard here- this weekend should be much nicer. I'll get a shot with the Sun in the frame, one of my favorite tests for Flare. I already have a Schneider MC filter and 40.5mm vented shade on it. The SN on mine is 200. I like that!

01/27/2016 16:40

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Sorry, a bit late on this post; all that is going fast.
I understand that you had to service your lenses in use, Robert. In fact, I have done the same, except for my 2/5cm Sonnar wartime which is perfect. These old Zeiss and early Jup lenses are really among the best, if they are correctly regulated.

It can be a real problem if the body is changed, a Leica vs a Fed, with the same Sonnar 1,5/5cm wide open, for example... And worse with a 2/8,5cm. So, a two range lenses, regulated for Fed and Leica, could be necessary.

As for the rest, I wait impatiently for your comparisons, Brian. Just a detail: what is the weight of this Jup + ?

Amitiés. Jacques.

01/27/2016 17:58

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The actual weight is not in the instruction manual! They do advise you not to take the lens apart... I'm surprised it does not read "Brian, do not take this one apart"...

I took the lens off the M9, making the camera very sad. Holding the J-3+ in one hand and my early Nikkor 5cm F1.4 LTM lens (heavy brass construction) in the other- they are "about" the same weight. When I do the write-up will try to find a scale. As stated- overall build quality is very, very good. This lens is in the class of the Canon 50/1.5 and Nikkor 5cm F1.4 and F1.5. I paid much more for my Nikkor-SC 5cm F1.5. The SN on my 5cm F1.5 Nikkor makes it at the 189th made, the J-3+ is number 200- and I ordered on the 2nd day that it was announced. I held out 1 day...

01/27/2016 18:16

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Yes, it can be a problem to use it both on Leica (M7) and a Z-6/FED-3. Then you need two J-3+ lenses ......

Yes my FSU cameras and lenses are almost all been in professional service, FEDKA or a guy in Holland repairing FSU RF and lenses extremely good for relative small money. My most expensive lens so far is a Black J-9 for $90,00. Most camera's and lenses I am getting directly from family or photo friends in Ukraine. So the most expensive part is to send them over (or I take them with me when I am in Ukraine myself).
Because due to the war with Russia life is pretty hard and difficult in that country so at the moment for a few $ people are willing to sell them more quickly. But even hardly unused they are sticked in the Green Sovjet grease and you always have to give them a CLA.

Robert
"De enige beperking in je fotografie ben je zelf"
http://gallery.fotohuisrovo.nl/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotohuisrovo/

01/27/2016 19:12

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I calibrated a Zorki 3M to take a Nikkor 5cm F2. The RF Cam on the Nikon is very thick so the Finger RF follower of the Zorki makes good contact. The Nikkor lens focuses to 18", and the finger style follower keeps contact with the cam at closer range than the wheel style of the Leica. The J-3+ would work with it.

01/28/2016 15:22

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Thanks Brian.
Your photos show that the lens is well calibrated for a Leica M9, which was not necessarily the case for the wartime Sonnars, nor for the regular postwar Jup 3, of course!Clown
And on your second photo, the swirling bokeh of the Sonnar formula lenses is perfectly recognizable.

I am eager now to see a comparison with other lenses.
Thanks again.

Jacques.

01/28/2016 16:02

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I forgot to mention: walking around in the Cold- focus remained buttery smooth.

Another fence post, at F1.5.

Jupiter-3+ Test, Wide-Open by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

And at F4:

Jupiter-3+ Test, F4 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Too bad it is not Springtime, one of the neighbors has beautiful Cherry Trees in the front yard. 0.7m with a Sonnar formula lens is special. I modified one KMZ J-3 to focus to ~0.75m or so. That will be the one to compare with this one.
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