My 50mm f1.5 Jupiter lens just arrived from Russia. I paid about $70 for it, and it is a mid 1970's black lens. The build quality is better than I expected, with silk smooth focus and no play in the barrel. I am also surprised at how small and light weight a 1.5 50mm lens could be, about the size of the compact 50 Summicron with tab version. This weekend I am going to give it a go and will anyone interested in this econo fast lens know what I think of it.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), October 19, 2001

Answers

sounds good...post a pic if u get a chance..

-- grant (g4lamos@yahoo.com), October 19, 2001.

Don't be surprised if it is good - I use my 50 mm f2 Jupiter lens (silver, made '68) quite often (as I don't have a Leica equivalent) and was always pleased. Please let me know about your opinion since I would also be interested in buying one -

Kai

-- Kai Blanke (Kai.Blanke@iname.com), October 19, 2001.

I am curious as to your opinion. I have a black one from the early 80's. It was very stiff when I received it(prob wasn't used for a while)but after a time it also has a smooth focus. My results so far; between 1.5-2.0 the contrast is very flat the sharpness although not terrible is pretty soft.Between 2.0-2.8 the constrast and sharpness improves somewhat. Beyond 2.8 the lens is excellent and in a lot of ways the photos have the look of a ridgid Summicron, the out of focus areas are nice and there appears to be a certain glow,although overall probably a slight step down. In my version at least I would equate it to a good 2.8 lens(Like a recent Elmar 50/2.8) that gives good results wide open (2.8)and if you really needed the speed of 1.5 you have it.

-- Gerry Widen (gwiden@alliancepartners.org), October 19, 2001.

Andrew:

Please post pictures taken with the lens. I am interested. :-)

-- Muhammad Chishty (applemac97@aol.com), October 19, 2001.

For all who are interested: Here is a picture taken with the Jupiter-8 (50/2):

taken at an aperture somewhere between 4 and 5.6 and a speed of 1/250 on HP4.

-- Kai Blanke (Kai.Blanke@iname.com), October 19, 2001.

Oops, somehow the link disappeared. Sorry. Here is the source (though not the link - how does it work to create a real link in here ?):

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=391991

Kai

-- Kai Blanke (Kai.Blanke@iname.com), October 19, 2001.

Not that you can tell anything from a flatbed scan on a computer screen but here is an example with the Jupiter-3. The 4X6 print has pretty good shadow detail. HERE

-- Gerry Widen (gwiden@alliancepartners.org), October 19, 2001.

Took a few shots at the schoolyard of my Son's grade school today with the Jupiter 3. It handles very nicely on the CLE--what a compact camera & fast lens package. I'll try and post a few over the weekend. Yes, it is definately lower contrast than the Summicron, which is what I wanted. Bokeh looks nice, similar to the 50 Sonnar it copied. There is more of that "vintage" look to the images, and again that is what I was after, so the lens is a keeper. My 40.5mm hood and filters from the CLE's 40mm lens screw right on. Seems like the focus and my rangefinder are in sync, as even the f1.5 stuff close up is focused decently.(not all back focused or front focused) What actually is in focus appears to have decent sharpness at 1.5. Its a stretch for the CLE to have to focus a 1.5 lens at 1 meter,however and I didn't nail the focus on every shot. I am going to shoot some more this weekend with the M3, and will try and post several examples in a few days, so check back if you are interested. By the way, the seller on ebay I got this from is called "WWW.russian suveniers.com" and I have had the best luck dealing with him-first class outfit. Here's a lens he's got on ebay now. http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1286043414 A few other Russian sellers have sent me marginal stuff and even junk. E-mail me if you want names.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), October 19, 2001.