CONTAX RF Lenses / Jupiter

[Marc Contaxtonikon]

Took a stroll through Wiesbaden yesterday to try out my vintage CONTAX RF mount Jupiter lenses 4.0/135 und 2.8/35. This is a first sample pic with the 4.0/135
I find the picture quality surprisingly good considering the fact that this is a lens designeds by Zeiss in the 1930's, manufactured in a soviet factory and has been lying at the back of a shelf for decades.

Feedback is always welcome...

 

The handling of the lenses is obviously not on paar with the more recent CY Zeiss lenses, which I use for anything else.

 

For some reason, I have not managed to obtain comparable picture quality out of the Jupiter 2.8/35 yet

[addicted2light]

You should try getting the 50/2, the 50/1.5 and the 85/2.

 

Especially their Russian / Jupiter version is fairly cheap, and the results are gorgeous. I still regret selling the 50/2 and the Kiev 4m it was mounted on, the color rendering (on film, obviously) was magical.

 

The 50/1.5 has a narrow sharp central area fully open or (for even better bokeh) at f/2, and you'll need f/11 for even sharpness across a full frame sensor. If your're shooting a "portrait" (of people, of a flower, a tree, stuff, basically if you have a strong subject) it is phenomenal.

 

The 85/2 has, again IMO, with the exception of a couple of large format Symmar lenses made to cover 5x7", one of the smoothest and nicest bokeh I've ever seen.

 

Vastly different from modern Zeiss or Contax glass, but IMO horses for courses.

[nomad]

I second all of that. 

 

And it's clear that the 35mm will not perform as well. Anything made for rangefinder under 50mm is problematic on digital. If you want Russian style wide, get a Mir 37mm made for SLR.

 

BTW, most of these old Russians need some re-lubricating for a good focusing experience.

[addicted2light]

BTW, most of these old Russians need some re-lubricating for a good focusing experience.

 

 

...with the exception of the 85/2. The pretty tight focus ring in this case depends not just from old lubricant, but from the (quite complex) double helicoid focusing mechanism.

 

As for the 35/2.8, if you don't have already seen this, a guy tested it against the Sony Zeiss 35/2.8 on an A7:

 

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/55286163

 

And I've seen a few months ago (sorry, I can't find the link anymore, but probably it was on the mflenses forum) another test in which the Jupiter fared much better - remember, vintage glass and especially Russian glass has a ton of sample variation. 

 

The only thing that I don't like of these lenses is the lack of click stops, but then again I'm not a videographer, otherwise I'd probably count this as a feature!

[nomad]

Yes, the focusing of a Jupiter 85/2 will never feel perfect, it's aluminum on aluminum – far from ideal. One of the best pairings is aluminum on brass, like the older Minoltas.

 

But re-lubricantion makes them at least usable and the optics can be quite nice. I kept one that's nearly as old as myself, and not for nostalgia – it was simply better than the newer ones. An it has those incredible 15 blades for aperture.

[addicted2light]

BTW, did you see this?

 

https://www.fotoworkshop-bw.de/85mm-vergleich/

 

It's a side-to-side comparison of Jupiter 85/2, Leica M Summicron 90/2, Voigtlander 75/1.8 and Nikon 85/1.4.

 

The Jupiter comes out even better than I could have thought!

[IamJF]

Looks great!

[WeaselX100]

Sorry, maybe stupid question, but which adapter do you use? I only found this horrible expensive KIPON adapter for about 2xx€ on eBay for old Contax RF lenses...

I own one for my Fujis, but I think it is not very well build for the money... is there a better alternative?

[Marc Contaxtonikon]

=> Weasel X100

I bought mine on Ebay. 

As I am not really using the two lenses I have (2.8/35 and the 135), I am considering selling the bunch along with a Kiev RF body... still sitting on the fence though.

If someone made me an offer, I might make the jump.

this by the way is a shot I made yesterday with the 35mm:

 

I kind of like that - but infinity focus is still a concern...

[Marc Contaxtonikon]

Sorry, maybe stupid question, but which adapter do you use? I only found this horrible expensive KIPON adapter for about 2xx€ on eBay for old Contax RF lenses...

I own one for my Fujis, but I think it is not very well build for the money... is there a better alternative?

It's an adapter I bought in an auction in Ebay. Since I really don't use the Jupiter lenses all that much after all, I could be talked into selling the lot (35mm, 135mm, adapter plus KIEV body and 50mm lens which isn't compatible with the adapter) if you are interested.

[Marc Contaxtonikon]

Just in case anybody is interested

http://www.ebay.de/itm/111972025731?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Jupiter-12-35mm-Weitwinkelobjektiv-/111972036203?hash=item1a120dae6b:g:grwAAOSwgn5XE5-w

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Nikon-S-CONTAX-RF-Adapter-fur-Sony-E-Mount-/111972074421?hash=item1a120e43b5:g:BnQAAOSw2GlXE6tS

[WeaselX100]

Just in case anybody is interested

http://www.ebay.de/itm/111972025731?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Jupiter-12-35mm-Weitwinkelobjektiv-/111972036203?hash=item1a120dae6b:g:grwAAOSwgn5XE5-w

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Nikon-S-CONTAX-RF-Adapter-fur-Sony-E-Mount-/111972074421?hash=item1a120e43b5:g:BnQAAOSw2GlXE6tS

 

sorry, was away for a while.

 

I have the Nikon S adapter with mit Fuji too, Nikon S was about 200 micrometer longer distance, thus no infinitiy focus with Contax RF lenses and no helicoid for the old 50mm Sonnar lenses... I had to rework it at a mechanics shop. My Jupiter Copy of the Sonnar 85/2 does not focus at infinity, neither at the Nikon S nor at the Kipon adapter...so I am cautious with Jupiters anyway.

[Golem]

Peeps seem to find and buy old Contax RF lenses

and have no clue about the ridiculous mechanism

that was the Contax lens mounting and focusing

system. In it's own way, the system itself was like

an adapter system with mechanisms moving in a

mechanically disadvantageous manner. Zeiss was

an advanced optical design company but toadally

clueless about mechanisms. Not only were their

lens mounts insane, also their shutters were quite

unreliable, rangefinders just miserable, etc etc. It's

no mystery that Leica flourished while Zeiss Ikon

folded. There are other factors, such as the Iron

Curtain, but Zeiss Ikon was digging their own grave

long before that and the Russians just threw a final  

few shovels of dirt onto the coffin. 

  

If you want the benefit of Carl Zeiss optics without

the curse of Zeiss Ikon "device craft", go for their

later, usually Japanese built, products.

[nomad]

AFAIK the Contax G series is Japanese built.

And the 45mm like the 90mm are jewels on the A7R II with the Techart adapter.

 

And digging their grave? Both Leica and Zeiss are alive and regularly kicking a…es.