Jupiter 8 lens opinions? [Archive] - Rangefinderforum.com

MarkoKovacevic

10-15-2008, 18:44

I got a zorki 4 with this lens from a photographer that uses leica m6s now. The camera is in great condition, the focusing is spot on, and the only problem is that shutter speeds under 1/60 partly black out the frame. Anyways, is this camera a good starter RF camera? My main camera is a Nikon F5 with the 28mm lens.
What do you guys think of the jupiter-8 lens? Can you guys show me some photos taken with this lens, especially portraits?

steverett

10-15-2008, 19:11

I quite like this lens, especially for portraits. It was my main lens for a while. I don't have many portraits taken with it, but here is an example (apologies for the bad scan quality):

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/101/297849375_1a313c47a5.jpg

non-portrait, but at full aperture:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/129/328859633_503c8e410d.jpg

MarkoKovacevic

10-15-2008, 19:13

It looks very nice! I just need to buy a strap for it [the strap i had on it went to the F5 when it came]
I'll need to start guessing exposure again!

hks3sgte

10-15-2008, 20:00

I love my 8. Here's a shot with my Zorki 3-C and Jupiter 8:

expired Kodak:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3014/2885843893_2fb6fe15c8_b.jpg

shot wide open.

oscroft

10-15-2008, 23:16

I have some photos taken with a J-8 here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/oscroft/sets/72157607075172678/). Sorry no portraits, and it's a Kiev-mount version, but it is a J-8.

blazejs

10-16-2008, 00:36

That's one of my favorites lenses. Here are some samples: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blazejs/tags/jupiter8/

Roger Hicks

10-16-2008, 01:02

That's one of my favorites lenses. Here are some samples: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blazejs/tags/jupiter8/

I especially like your black-and-whites; a very nice use of the Jupiter's qualities. I see you're in Pzscyna (which I always have extreme difficulty spelling) -- a delightful place which I commend as a shooting destination to all RFF members. I stopped there for a night, earlier this year, on a motorcycle tour, and stayed 3 days...

Cheers,

Roger

NathanJD

10-16-2008, 01:17

All of the photos in my gallery HERE (http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/member.php?uid=24101&protype=1) have been taken with a Bessa R2A and Jupiter 8 - it's a pretty good 'all round' starter lens, and for the money who can complain?

As for the Zorki 4, my 4K is a lovely solid feeling camera and I’m very fond of it but at the end of the day it's all about your projected outlay. To dip your toe in the water the FSU cameras are a great cheap, non-(too)-committal way of giving the whole rangefinder thing a whirl, but be warned - it's addictive!

Roger Hicks

10-16-2008, 01:38

All of the photos in my gallery have been taken with a Bessa R2A and Jupiter 8 - it's a pretty good 'all round' starter lens, and for the money who can complain?

Still more nice stuff! Congratulations. I'm almost regretting giving away my last Jupiter-8 -- but only almost, as I still have too many 50mm lenses (Canon f/1.2, Zeiss f/1.5, Voigtländer f/1.5, Leica f/2.5, Voigtländer f/2.5, Leitz f/3.5). The Voigtländers are gonna go...

Cheers,

Roger

NathanJD

10-16-2008, 02:15

bolas

10-16-2008, 02:59

Same here - all of them in this gallery (http://www.flickr.com/photos/27604426@N08/sets/72157607107075538/) have been taken with a Jupiter 8 :)

MarkoKovacevic

10-16-2008, 12:38

Thanks guys! When I shot some street photos [not like candids, but actual photos of streets] I was surprised that there was out of focus areas in the photos. Guess I've been using my 28/35mm lenses a bit too much.

Roger Hicks

10-16-2008, 12:50

Thanks for the appreciation Roger :) I actually chose the J8 over the Industar-26 to take abroad with me and I feel I made the right choice – although I feel both lenses would have performed well the J8 won out due to it’s more robust and compact design as well as the rave reviews it gets for what it is here at RFF.

You're welcome! It was sincere. But then, I'm a sucker for Greece. If I could speak Greek, I might live there instead of France.

As for the Jupiter versus the Industar-26, having tried both, I'd say there's no contest. The Industar is merely not-very-good; not bad, just unremarkable. But the Jupiter has, as the French say, 'the faults of its qualities'.

Cheers,

Roger

Ron (Netherlands)

10-16-2008, 12:52

I have a bunch of these J-8s but all off them are beaten in sharpness by the Industar 61 L/D...and mind you, the Industar has click stop aperture!

januaryman

10-16-2008, 13:09

The Industar 26-M is light, rugged and my version is easier to focus than the Jupiter. The Jupiter is black and the chrome I26 just looks classier and the sharpness on mine is terrific. As good as my 61L/D, I think. I like it. It a nice little lens and I'll bet more rugged than the J8.

blazejs

10-17-2008, 02:05

I especially like your black-and-whites; a very nice use of the Jupiter's qualities. I see you're in Pzscyna (which I always have extreme difficulty spelling) -- a delightful place which I commend as a shooting destination to all RFF members. I stopped there for a night, earlier this year, on a motorcycle tour, and stayed 3 days...

Oh, thank you very much:-) I'm glad you've enjoyed our little town:-) It's spelling Pshtcheena (Polish y sounds quite like Finnish y).

Regards
Blazej

Dave Wilkinson

10-17-2008, 07:59

What do you guys think of the jupiter-8 lens? Can you guys show me some photos taken with this lens, especially portraits?

Not the sharpest in my bag,- but I really like the rendition, especially colours. :) Dave.

Dave Wilkinson

10-17-2008, 08:11

Three more from last week in Malta, - shot to finish a roll of cheapo print film that was in the M2, the rest of my shots are on Velvia 100, and still at the lab.
Cheers, Dave.

Roger Hicks

10-17-2008, 08:41

Hey, you guys are cheating. Pszczyna, Rhodes and Malta -- all three make it a lot easier to take good pictures (and you've succeeded).

Dave: how did you like Malta?

Cheers,

R.

Dave Wilkinson

10-17-2008, 10:25

Hey, you guys are cheating. Pszczyna, Rhodes and Malta -- all three make it a lot easier to take good pictures (and you've succeeded).

Dave: how did you like Malta?

Cheers,

R. Yes, Malta was great....as I was lead to believe, but one week was not enough....dashing about like the proverbial blue ar#*d fly!, maybe two weeks in the spring!. I did miss the 'character studies' that I like to seek in the back streets of Turkey, though.
(sorry for highjacking the thread a little....blame Roger! ;) )
Cheers, Dave.

Ming The Merciless

10-17-2008, 10:43

I have used Zeiss C/Y mount lenses for most of my photographic life and they are superb lenses. However, I got a Bessa R with a Jupiter 8 lens from Ebay over a year ago and have been more than delighted with this lens. I simply love it.

Alain 91

11-10-2008, 13:07

Hi,

Three pictures taken with my Kiev4a and Jupiter 8M

http://www.superpixel.fr/img341reduite.jpg

http://www.superpixel.fr/img342reduite.jpg

http://www.superpixel.fr/img347reduite.jpg

http://www.superpixel.fr/Kiev4a.jpg

A+

MarkoKovacevic

11-10-2008, 13:10

Whats the difference between the 8 and 8M?

Carlsen Highway

11-10-2008, 13:28

Marko, I have an 8M with my Contax, and as far as I know, no difference except that the 8M has the convenient click stops on the aperture ring.

xayraa33

11-10-2008, 13:39

Whats the difference between the 8 and 8M?

My Kiev J- 8 has the aperture scale engraved only once, but my younger Kiev J-8M has two engraving 180 deg apart.
for an aperture scale engraving that rotates with the lens, the J-8M wins for convenience and ease of use.

Alain 91

11-10-2008, 14:08

M = Modified Kiev Arsenal factory has integrated some improvements with the 8M but the optical quality is similar between the J-8 and J-8M

brachal

11-10-2008, 14:09

Whats the difference between the 8 and 8M?

In addition to what others have noted above, I think the design of the 8m was simplified by combining two of the lens elements into a single element.