Bridgeman Loc: Missouri

Does anyone use or know anything about the Jupiter lenses from the old Soviet Union circa 1960's? Especially the Jupiter-9. Also, any info on the Zorki-4 Camera? I am considering buying, and would like some feedback. Thanks!!

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

I had that lens quite some time ago, got it new in the sealed box at a swap meet, and was not impressed. The rangefinder was out of adjustment. I was told that was common and the cost to have it calibrated was more than it was worth. I did try it on my Alpa and the image quality wasn't too bad, though no comparison with my 90 f/3.5 Voigtländer.
As for Zorki cameras, I can only offer an opinion. Russian quality control in that era was nothing to brag about, and I personally would not buy anything that was mass produced then. If you can find one that has been used properly, it may be fun to play with, but given their age I would be particularly concerned about the reliability of the shutter. Certainly there are better options for serious use.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

I had one for about a year and a half, that I adapted to my EM1. Sold it late last year as I wasn't really using it anymore since getting the 75mm f1.8.

What specific questions did you have about it.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

If you can get it for next to nothing...go for it but as was said...it's a crapshoot on whether you get a dog or not.

For myself, the only rangefinder that I can stand to look through is a Leica. The rest are irritating and dim.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

I think I paid $50 for my version

marki3rd Loc: Columbus, Indiana

I can't speak to the Zorki-4 Range Finder Camera since I do not have one. I do however have a Jupiter 9 2/85 with Pentax M42 Mount, and I love it. I bought mine from a Russian seller who represented it as looking new and unused, and after receiving it and inspecting it closely, I think the sellers new theory was accurate. It is in absolutely beautiful condition cosmetically, optically and mechanically. I think I got lucky there.

I use it mainly for portrait work on my Canon 18Mp 550D with a Canon EOS to Pentax M42 Mount Adapter, but I also use it with any one of several Pentax Spotmatics that I have. Note that all M42 lenses focus from close up to infinity distances on Canon DSLR Cameras with the inexpensive Mount Adapters. I do not have knowledge about any other brand of Camera use with adapters and one would have to do their own research on that.

I really like this lenses optical performance with my Canon. It produces a very slightly soft image which is very pleasing with portraits. If you can get one in the fine condition of the one I have and use it the way I do, you will be very satisfied. If you only want to use it on a Russian Range Finder Camera then you have to add the risk of obtaining a camera with issues, including the range finder problem mentioned by another here.

Good Luck!
Mark

Bridgeman Loc: Missouri

Thanks for the reply!!!!
I am not necessarily interested in using the camera. I have both Pentax and Canon film cameras , with a few lenses for each, should I decide to shoot film again. I am a hobby photographer and thought the Jupiter-9 85mm / f2 15 blade would be fun to experiment with on my Canon 1Ds. The reviews that I have read say that it is a good portrait lens, giving a slight soft look, and sharp focus stepped down. Also said to have nice Bokeh. The reviews also listed a few cons that I can live with. Also with the set is a Jupiter-8 50mm / f2 9 blades, original cases for camera and lenses, and the turret viewfinder. The lenses have the older Leica m39 screw mount. Everything looks to be in excellent near mint condition. Selling price for all is $90. Any further comments from you would be appreciated. THANKS

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

$90 would be good for both...

Bridgeman Loc: Missouri

Thanks for the reply!!
I am more interested in the Jupiter-9 and Jupiter-8 lenses that come with the camera. Please read my return reply to RWR for more info. The reviews sound like these would be interesting lenses to play with, but I wonder if they are worth the price. Any further comments will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!

JPL

I do not have the Jupiter 9, but that is a lens I plan to get one day. I have the Jupiter 8 and lot of other old russian lenses. Some of them I like a lot and even use them sometimes :wink: They are not to compare with modern lenses, but when I say that I do not mean it in a negative way. Many of those lenses will give you very nice images or lovely images. But if the only thing you use to determine if a lens is good or bad is sharpness, none of those lenses will be very good. But if you want to get a nice looking picture you may love some of those lenses. Of course it depends on your taste for pictures. My old russian lenses I only use on my Sony A7r. If you use a camera with focus magnifying and focus peaking you will get the best results possible from those lenses. Canikon do not have any cameras that really are suitable for manual focus lenses. So if you plan on using Jupiter lenses on your Canon it will be lot of work to get good results so probably you will get tired of that combo and blame it on the lens. It is on the other hand very easy to use them on f.x. the Sony A7r and many other mirrorless cameras, making it much more enjoyable to use them.

The camera you get in this package is just to put on a shelf, you may be able to use it and get nice shots with it, but it is not for any serious or not serious use anymore. Having a camera like this is just like having a birthday, you enjoy it for a day or so and then you do not think more about it.

I recommend you forget about using those lenses on your Canon 1ds and buy a mirrorless Sony or Fuji or Oly or Pentax crop sensor or full frame cameras with focus magnifier and focus peaking to use for those lenses. I just bought a Sony A5000 yesterday to use with old Industar lens and extension rings with m39 mount for special purpose close up photography in addition to the kit lens for "normal" photography. (I bought this for a friend who needs tools for close up photography but he does not have a clue what to use)

(Download)

Bridgeman Loc: Missouri

Thanks for the reply!
I am more interested in the lenses that come with the camera. Please see my reply to RWR for more info. I was looking on eBay for a decent, but inexpensive, older 85mm lens, and the Jupiter-9 caught my attention. Any further comments will be appreciated. THANKS!!!!

JPL

I think you can put your trust in the online reviews about the Jupiter 9. My experience is that online reviews about the russian lenses I have bought have been very accurate. I have never found them misguiding.

Another thing you could do is to search for Jupiter 9 at flickr.com. Then you will get lot of pics taken with that lens and you can see for yourself if you like them or not.

Bridgeman Loc: Missouri

Thanks for the reply, Mark!
Just what I wanted to hear about the lens. Please see my reply back to RWR for more info. I intend to use both lenses primarily on my Canon 1Ds. I checked, and I can get a Leica m39 to Canon EF adapter from Photodiox. Do you know if there is any benifit of the m42 over the M39 mount, other than having the additional adapter. I do have a couple of Pentax cameras, but am not sure I will use these lenses on them. If so, i think I can get an adapter for that.
Any further comments will be appreciated. THANKS!!! Don

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

I had a threaded ring to go from the zeint 39 mount to m42. I then used M42 to m4/3 mount.

http://www.miniinthebox.com/42mm-39mm-m42-to-m39-lens-mount-adapter-for-leica-zenit_p369471.html?currency=USD&litb_from=paid_adwords_shopping&litb_from=&adword_mt=&adword_ct=73208704722&adword_kw=&adword_pos=1o1&adword_pl=&adword_net=g&adword_tar=&adw_src_id=4196617767_313071522_22450980162_pla-157327125162&gclid=COX_6LPwxcoCFQGTaQodHhUCjw

I also purchased a Zeint 39 to m4/3, but the registration flange was way too short...so it was was waste of $5

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

might want to read up on this...

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9056