j8 - can you describe the "Sonnar signature"?

[spiderfrank]

Hi guys, I have a Jupiter-8 from 1957, and I found I like very much that lens. It's sharp, but this is not the point, it gives me images with a great "character", very... how can I say..."muscular"?... "strong"? I really have some difficult to describe why I like it, but statistically, I found I usually like the photos I take with it, more than the ones I take with other lenses.
Here you are much more expert than me on old lenses, and perhaps you can help me to understand what is this "quid" ...

Franco

[40oz]

I don't know that it has a concrete description. The way things look out of focus is really nice. And the ability of the lens to paint a sharp, detailed image on the film in a manner that isn't harsh or "technical." I don't know how to say it. Things are sharp and pleasing in a way that I don't see from other lenses.

I've looked at a lot of pictures, and there is something about lens design that influences the image. And something about the way lens designers make compromises and optimizations that can flavor the final shot in a way that is difficult to put your finger on.

I like most of the lenses I own. But I have some that rarely do anything for me. It's not the subject or the shot itself, it's the way it shows up on film. My J-8 and J-3 are easily my two favorites.

[Krosya]

maybe you could post some examples?

[LeicaTom]

I don`t have or use a J8, I shoot the Japanese versions of the Sonnar formula which have the "look" Canon f1.5/50 and "Tokyo" #5005 Nikkor f1.4/50 and I`ve always called the OOF backgrounds, creamy or dreamy.....at least that`s what the models think when they see examples of the photos ;)

Tom

[nzeeman]

i dont know what it is - but in my opinion sonnars capture textures good. whatever material you shoot - you will get good reproduction of its texture. so photos look exactly like you saw them. other lenses are usually much sharper so they make more unrealistic look...

[yanidel]

Last night I took my new acquired J-8 together with the M8 around Paris.
I bought it €30 to a fellow french ebayer and I am lucky to say that I got a perfect sample both in focusing and sharpness. I was impressed by the results, it is indeed very sharp and performance wide open is very good. Got some flare now and then (even with a hood), but much less than the J-3 wide open.
I had taken a few day shots last weekend, and I found color rendering to be beautiful.
As 50mm is not a focal I use a lot (65mm on M8), this is a perfect value for money lens, if you get a good sample of course.

[payasam]

I've barely begun to use my J-3, but I think I shall like what it does. Two open-aperture pictures I liked are in my gallery, but the performance of the lens at medium apertures has also been excellent.

[Paul T.]

I was sorting out some photos the other weekend... a few, perhaps, from my Leica lenses, quite a lot from the Hexar AF, and one roll from the Kiev 2 and early J3.

The J3 shots were notably better-looking than the others - clear, perhaps with something of a vintage look, but excellent, detailed mid-tones. Both exterior and interior shots looked lovely, they were mostly of my son making cakes with his granny, and helping grandpa in the allotment, snap shots really but somehow classic.

THe same was true of one roll I remember from my cheap Kiev 4 and 70s Jupiter 8M.

I'm about to clear out a load of camera gear, and don't have to lose my M3 and Summicron, but I realise now that if I had to, it wouldn't particularly bother me...

[bolas]

I also really like this J-8 lenses. There is something special in them. Now i am trying newly bought J-12 (35mm) Few photos made with my J-8 in this summer/autumn - mostly on "living history" events:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3191/2901645599_164c27fe99_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3108/2902488080_55a5026da6_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3242/2902481652_574be91726_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3003/2901644595_bd1c0394e5_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3075/2827473131_583baa47bf_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3271/2827472921_60c4eb43df_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3224/2827471693_46233063b7_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3231/2828305756_58ff7808b8_o.jpg

[Sam N]

bolas, those photos are excellent. I especially like the one from behind the gun and the second-to-last one.

As for the J8, I love the look the lens delicers. Unfortunately, I find myself not using it so much because of the lack of click stops and the slight yellowish look.

[mh2000]

nice photos! guess I'll have to give mine another test drive...

[raid]

I have a J-8 which I hardly ever use due to preferring other Sonnar 50mm lenses such as the old pre-war Zeiss 5cm 2.0. I have compared the J-8 to other 5omm lenses in some lens tests, and it did very well there. For its cost, it is a super bargain lens.

[spiderfrank]

Thank you all for your comments: I found I'm not the only people to like J8 but don't know why... Perhaps it's that it's sharp but not harsh, with a good OOF and a nice way to represent textures, or perhaps the fact that a lot of famous photos were taken with sonnar-type lenses, and so the look is somehow familiar... Who knows? ;-)

[Sanders McNew]

I've asked this question about "Sonnar
signatures" and have never gotten back
an answer that satisfies. That said, I
shoot the 135/4 Sonnar mounted on my
Tele Rolleiflex all the time, wide-open,
and I love the results it gives me.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3201/2920062199_4491c3a2f4.jpg

[raid]

I also love what I get back from my Tele Rolleiflex. The Sonnar does a great job giving "creamy sharpness".

[blazejs]

Bols, these pictures are excellent! As if all were taken 60 years ago. Great use of classic camera!

[spiderfrank]

Bolas, the spirit of Capa lives in your body !!!! :D

[bolas]

Bolas, the spirit of Capa lives in your body !!!! :D

:D:D:D In fact that's why i bought Kiev - i was so impressed by the Capa's photos so i wanted to try it with similar camera. Contax was too expensive, so i just bought Kiev. It's almost the same ;)

I was bored with stylizing digital photos to make them looking like original pre-war or wartime photos. Effects were so poor, finaly i decided to try with classic camera - and here are the effects.

Here is my set - Living History Pics ... made with this Kiev:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27604426@N08/sets/72157607107075538/show/

Few samples - all from september/october 2008:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3084/2827472723_a7753f2de4_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3045/2827471307_c16c46a10e_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/2827470255_da6cca85f2_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3191/2828306040_f400bcc439_o.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3125/2828302052_587859cdc0_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3062/2865742025_e50b4fa6d4_o.jpg

[spiderfrank]

Bolas, everytime i take my Kiev II I cannot avoid to think it's like the Capa's Contax, and that some of the most beautiful photos I've ever seen were made with a camera like that !

Anyway, you must be proud that after I gave the link to your site at a "digital" friend of mine, he was so hooked that... Bought a Jupiter-8 !!! :eek:
Yes, the lens and an almost not-working Zorki-4, waiting to find a used Bessa ... :rolleyes:

Ciao
Franco

[ianbelinchon]

:D:D:D In fact that's why i bought Kiev - i was so impressed by the Capa's photos so i wanted to try it with similar camera. Contax was too expensive, so i just bought Kiev. It's almost the same ;)

I was bored with stylizing digital photos to make them looking like original pre-war or wartime photos. Effects were so poor, finaly i decided to try with classic camera - and here are the effects.

Here is my set - Living History Pics ... made with this Kiev:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27604426@N08/sets/72157607107075538/show/


Bolas, what film did you use?
I love them!

[bolas]

It was Ilford Pan 400 ...

[direwolf101]

Bolas, your Living History set on Flickr is excellent!

[bolas]

Thanks ;)
Funny that it was my first contact with Kiev and first 3 films ;)

[dll927]

Someone once said, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder".