Where buy a TESTED russian lens?

[M like Leica M6]

FSU lenses and cameras have a mixed reputation, regarding quality control, this is not new.

I want to buy a f2.0 or f2.8 85mm LTM lens or similar, but prices for Nikon/Canon/Leitz lenses are often incompatible with my budget.

But are there trustworthy dealers that really, really test lenses and only sell those lenses that are really sharp and reliable?

[dazedgonebye]

I don't know of any dealers that test their lenses.

The best place to buy a "tested," or at least known good lens, is right here. You have to be patient though.
I have a that I bought here and it's a winner.

[ferider]

Forget about the J-9 on your Leica. Unless you are very, very lucky here and get a lens that was readjusted to Leica standards (not possible with most) by Kim or Brian, most won't work at close focus.

People will tell you there are trusted sellers like Fedka, but also Yuri only collimates to infinity and not the full focal range.

I recommend to try to look for a cheaper Nikkor 85/2 (around 200-300) instead, or a Canon 85/{2,1.9} that sometimes comes up for US 150 or so.

Roland.

[januaryman]

I have a J9 I use on my Bessa R and my Canon P and it is a fine thing that works perfectly at close range. If you want a good one, I'd try going to Fedka.com, or on ebay, alex-photo.

I'm not saying ferider is wrong, there can be problems, but I have 2 Jupiters and three Industars, and not one has any problem other than being tight to focus or set apertures. You can get an excellent FSU lens for a pittance. The odds are with you, I think.

Oh, and they sometimes show up in the classifieds here, as well!~

[OldNick]

An alternative route is to look for a Steinheil Culminar 85mm f/2.8 lens in LTM mount. They can be found for $100 US or less if you look around.

Jim N.

[ferider]

I guess it depends on your expectations. You will often hear that the J-9 is soft wide open and sharp at f4 and up. In my experience a well collimated 85/2 Sonnar is actually quite sharp wide open, and I believe much of the "softness" can be attributed to mis-focus.

I myself tried 4 until I ended up with a 1950 ZK 85/2 that actually works. I spent more money and head-ache trying different J-9s, than on my black Nikkor 85/2, that is also a Sonnar variant with similar signature. Dante Stella, if I remember right, tried 12 (!) and they all misfocused.

If you do want to try anyways, I recommend to buy either from here, or a lens as old as possible (early 50s), and prefer one that has actually been used (ignore rough focus, cleaning marks, etc).

Best,

Roland.

[payasam]

Yuri of www.fedka.com is easy to deal with. Perhaps you could agree on terms beforehand.

[giovatony]

I just can`t see how anyone is going to go thru the trouble of testing a lens prior to selling it especially the Soviet sellers.
Unless the lens has been personally used by the seller it will remain an unknown until you try it on your camera. Then you can ask for a refund if it isn`t up to your expectations and the best ones to deal with are known forum members .
A seller such as Fedka would be my next avenue because he will replace or refund .
Alex -photo has also replaced a bad lens for me.
John

[M like Leica M6]

I just can`t see how anyone is going to go thru the trouble of testing a lens prior to selling it especially the Soviet sellers.
Unless the lens has been personally used by the seller it will remain an unknown until you try it on your camera. Then you can ask for a refund if it isn`t up to your expectations and the best ones to deal with are known forum members .
A seller such as Fedka would be my next avenue because he will replace or refund .
Alex -photo has also replaced a bad lens for me.
John

Well... and I just can't see how I would be going thru the trouble of purchasing and then testing several lenses...

Please, forget my question, I will look for a nice Elmar or similar lens, the are quite cheap and I will save much time and trouble.

[MartinP]

You could look for a second-hand (or even new) CV lens, or keep looking for an older Leica 90/f4. There is no need to spend thousands . . .

[lkgroup]

M like Leica M6,

If you are interested I have a nice Canon Serenar 85mm F/2 Silver for Sale $150 plus shipping.

The lens is in excellent shape and comes with caps and in a leather case. A really nice lens, well built but I have a 90mm CV and this one is extra.

Let me know id you are interested at all. I could send a picture if you want, send an e-mail address.

Thanks

Leo

[giovatony]

Well... and I just can't see how I would be going thru the trouble of purchasing and then testing several lenses...

Please, forget my question, I will look for a nice Elmar or similar lens, the are quite cheap and I will save much time and trouble.

I can understand how you feel but testing a lensthoroughly takes more time than it could be worth and a roll of film to be shot and developed .(for the Soviet seller)

Even new lenses can be outside the margin of acceptable specs for some folks but it`s far more likely to happen with Russian lenses and cameras for obvious reasons.
I`ve have had 2 bad Helios 103 lenses out of 3 already but surprised not to ever get a bad Jupiter 8 or Industar 26.
But of course I`m talking inexpensive 50mm lenses here and not other FL`s.
However the facts remains that other folks who want and need various lenses do manage to get good ones for the most part even if they don`t get it right the first try. I would have to think the effort is worth it so don`t give up so easily.
John

[oscroft]

It's just not economically viable for dealers to properly test such cheap lenses. Just think how much several hours of a professional's time is going to add to the price of the lens - and you'd be paying for the hours spent testing the bad ones too.

I got my J-9 by simply buying a couple on eBay. I got two very cheaply; one was bad and I gave it away for spares, and the other is very good - and in all it cost me far far less than a dealer could sell one for if he tested them all first.

On the subject of collimation, I think that varies from sample to sample too, and with variation in the accuracy of the collimation to the FSU standard there are bound to be some that are collimated more closely to Leica standard than others.

[dee]

it's pot luck - i have lenses with FSu cameras , some of which are fine , others mediocre , a rw awfull - and one solitary FED collapsible superb on my M 8 !

Can't say that I would take a chance on buying lenses without wanting the camera since buying 2 each of J 8 / I 50 / I 61 which are fair but not brilliant .

[Bill58]

Get a hand-picked one from Yuri, CLA'd, and collimated and you'll be fine. Just tell him what you want. He's fine, accomodating fellow.

[Nokton48]

I've also done well with Yuri regarding my J-9. It focuses perfectly close-up on my M2. Roland-- I used a cigarette lighter and metal ruler on my back deck :D as well as testing it similarly to the way Tom A checks his lenses on my kitchen table. It passes AOK, but it's also possible to mis-focus any lens :bang: If it's an important shot, I click, re-focus, click, refocus, click. One at least should be sharp.

[ferider]

Roland-- I used a cigarette lighter and metal ruler on my back deck :D

:D

Maybe I'm just destined to use Nikkors instead :)

[Michiel Fokkema]

Hi,
it took me tree samples to get a good one.
And when it got too serious shooting wide open I bought a summicron after all.
So, I guess my black j9 is for sale.
some portraits with lens almost wide open can be seen here:
http://michielfokkema.wordpress.com/picture-a-week-2007/week-41-benelug-meeting-with-hoppy/
Scroll down a bit.


cheers,

Michiel Fokkema