How good is the jupiter 12

[lxmike]

Sorry if this has been asked before, how good is the jupiter 12, is it very contrasty

[malkmata]

J-12 on Canon P

[wolves3012]

Both my examples (Kiev, silver version and LTM, black version) I find to be sharp and contrasty. Don't really have anything else in that FL to compare them with but I've no complaints.

[lxmike]

Interesting, might buy one, great shots bytheway Malkmata

[wolves3012]

Originally Posted by lxmike

Interesting, might buy one, great shots bytheway Malkmata

What camera is it going to be used on? On some cameras it hits the shutter or fouls the light meter sensor (on some Bessas, I believe, it'll hit the shutter). It's fine on ALL the LTM FSUs though.

[Dave Wilkinson]

Originally Posted by lxmike

Sorry if this has been asked before, how good is the jupiter 12, is it very contrasty

no need to apologise - I don't think this has been raised before

[raytoei@gmail.com]

i think this is one of a real sleeper lens...the images i have seen are quite impressive.

[ray*j*gun]

Its so good when I got mine (Brian Sweeney tweeked) and saw the first roll it became my go to 35. I was BLOWN AWAY by the IQ of this tiny gem!!

[GWT]

Originally Posted by malkmata

J-12 on Canon P

Beautiful shots.

[Keith]

They can be a bit hit and miss IMO ... I have a contax mount one I use on my Kiev ll occasionally and it's quite soft. Russian lenses seem to be this way though I guess.

[gb hill]

If it hadn't been for the rear element hitting the shutter curtain on the Bessa R & blocking the meter I never would of bought a CV 35/2.5. I have a black version that I plan to shoot on the Zorki I have during May. I like the look I get from it.

[raytoei@gmail.com]

gb hill: interesting. i have mounted the black version on my R-D1 with no issues. "Shimmed" with a piece of aluminum foil.

[zupstermix]

In my opinion, you really get the value of your money with this somehow cheap lens.


M2-NEOPAN400AT400-Scan-120331-0011 by zupstermix, on Flickr


Catching 4 O'Clock by zupstermix, on Flickr

[shadowfox]

Originally Posted by malkmata

J-12 on Canon P

Wait, how did you manage to use the J-12 on a Canon P.
I remember trying that combination and couldn't get it to work.

I like the above shot, btw!

[yossarian123]

i've been pretty happy with mine, I had to file a LTM adapter so it didn't break my M5 metering arm. The version I have is very recent, it's really in mint condition. The other FSU lenses I've owned have felt like flimsy aluminum but my J12 is just perfect, focusing and aperture control are silky smooth.

I didn't think these needed to be shimmed - mine seems pretty sharp without it anyways.

[migtex]

Got a black Nikon S/contax Mount.
May be I got luck... I like it!







All on Nikon S with Tri-x.

[Robert Lai]

I had one, and I sold it. The pincushion distortion (visible in the edge of the red brick building in the pictures above) was too obvious. Also, the way the aperture is set makes it difficult to use any filters.

[eyesglassy]

I've been using a J-12 on my Bessa-L. Mine does block the meter, but it does not hit the shutter. It will only focus to about 15m. I don't ever turn the focus ring past that anyway. I love the lens so far, good contrast and DOF. It's fun and cheap!

[malkmata]

Thanks GWT, ShadowFox. My J-12 works well on the Canon P. When I first put it on the camera I had the back and shutter open to make sure that the rear of the glass cleared the camera's light buffer. It is a little close but there is enough clearance.

Great shots, Migtex. I specially like the second shot.

[reagan]

The Jupiter.12 is my *normal* lens with the Orion being my wide. (examples at my blog) These two are most used in my world. The Jupiter is hard to beat, bang-for-the-buck, and IMHO, every comrade in FSUdom should have one in his bag.

[rumbliegeos]

I had a black LTm example which I used on a Leica IIIf. The resolution was really excellent, and the contrast was very good. However, I got tired of the aperture setting system, and the lens was more flare-prone than more modern lenses. So, I sold it and bought a CV 35 2.5, which now seems almost too contrasty compared with the Jupiter.

[Crazy Fedya]

See for yourself. I like it very much.

[richardhkirkando]

Originally Posted by shadowfox

Wait, how did you manage to use the J-12 on a Canon P.
I remember trying that combination and couldn't get it to work.

I like the above shot, btw!

I have a Canon 7, but I think the baffles are similar to those on the P. The newer, black paint J-12s have a smaller rear element and should be more likely to fit.

And if we're sharing photos...


Scan-111218-0029.jpg by richardhkirkando, on Flickr


Scan-120325-0020.jpg by richardhkirkando, on Flickr

[soimless]

I have a black Jupiter-12 made by LZOS. One of the main reasons for me to get a FED 2 is to use this lens again when my FED 3 broke. It's nothing extortionary but, I like what it can do. I also tend to shoot it wide open in dark places with tri-x pushed in some way.

Might as well post some pictures.

[Thanimal]

First, I was unimpressed.
Then, I bought one.
Now, it's been growing on me, and I'm really starting to like it a lot.


img011.jpg by Thanimalia, on Flickr

Just keep the sun at your back and you'll be all right. Otherwise, be prepared for some haze:


img010.jpg by Thanimalia, on Flickr