Jupiter-9 earliest what you have

[Attila]

I looking for earliest Jupiter-9 what can I buy, what is your earliest one ? Before 1960 only interest to me.

[fotomachi]

It's not so easy to find early J9 on ebay... I have a 1958 KMZ for M39 and a 1959 LZOS for Kiev/Contax. Most of the J9s that I see (M39 and Kiev) are from the late 1950s or early 1960s. According to SovietCams, production of the J9 in Kiev/Contax mount was already started in the late 1940s, but early models are quite rare.

[aspen]

I agree with fotomachi. I see 1957, or 58, but mostly early 60's.

[Phenix jc]

- 1958 Arsenal (Kiev)
(SovietCams) http://sovietcams.com/index.php?-1898658725

[Attila]

I bought locally an awful scratched ones from 1955, Kiev mount earliest what I seen.

[iangreenhalgh1]

[RTI]

I've got a 1955 J9, though I don't think I'll sell it anytime soon

[mdarnton]

Are you looking for Kiev or LTM mount?

[Attila]

KIEV, I have already in LTM.

[woodrim]

Attila: I am soon to receive a Jupiter 9 from a RF Contax camera. I am not very familiar with the different models, but realize I will need to reserve this lens for when I buy a NEX (soon I hope). I'm thinking it may be an early model, can you tell? Sorry for poor pictures...

[iangreenhalgh1]

Impossible to put a date on it from those pics. It is identical to my 1963 one but the exact same one was produced for a fair spread of time both before and after mine.

[std]

I have one too from 61. Not the greatest lens at first sight - flares too much and suffers from internal reflections. Currently the metal parts are soaking in paint solvent, after i clean it and repaint the glass in black will see if it got better.

[woodrim]

Ian: According to this website: http://sovietcams.com/index.php?-1898658725 you have the last year of the LZOS PT7540. And according to that site, yours will have a 100M marking on the distance scale, correct? This one I will be getting does not have the 100M marking, so is from the earlier range of that PT7540 version. But a small chance still remains that this could be even an earlier model, but I won't know until I see the front markings.

[woodrim]

When was the earliest that the red letter designation first appeared?

[iangreenhalgh1]

I will have to dig mine out and have a look.

On the red P, I think it appeared right away as soon as lens production began after ww2 as even the earliest BK and ZK lenses have it, those are from 48-49 before they decided to call them J-12 and J-8. I have a 52 J-12 that has the P and a 55 J-8 that has it too.

Some sample shots from my version of the J-9 to whet your appetite, classical Sonnar rendering and plenty sharp even wide open:






Those are with Efke 50 in my 57 Kiev-II, I absolutely adore this combo, a joy to use. I've bought an adapter to use my Kiev lenses on my NEX, but sadly it's done nothing but rain since I got it, so I only tried it pointing out the back door at the rain:



That was wide open, gotta love that creamy Sonnar bokeh

[woodrim]

As it turns out, the version I'm getting is the PT7540, produced 1958-1963. Mine is N6101967 with the red symbol (n/P) made by LZOS. Not at all rare. Seems to have a blue coating. I'll be finally buying a NEX soon, so will also be able to use this lens at some point.

Attila: Do you have any opinion of how this one will perform relative to others? Any particular characteristics unique to this version?

[Attila]

[woodrim]

Thanks, I look forward to maybe having a sharp one. It seems the earliest was 1948 and anything in the range of 1948-1950 extremely rare. PT7520 from 1951-1960 still in limited numbers, so maybe better quality. My version from PT7540 1958-1963 model from a much more common style which seems to have overlapped in dates with PT7520. This lens of mine was used on a Contax rangefinder.

[Attila]

I think LTM and Contax RF lenses are same I have both in multiply copies all are excellent. Hopefully you able to use it soon and show samples.

[iangreenhalgh1]

This is mine, LZOS made, 1963 export version, I got it dirt cheap because of a slight discolouration around the edges of the front element, makes sod all difference to the IQ though, it's very sharp and has the classical Sonnar rendering with creamy smooth transitions from in to out of focus and smooth as a baby's bum bokeh:





Film series with my J9:

http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic,p,1232279.html#1232279

[Attila]

Pretty combo Ian really.

[iangreenhalgh1]

Yes, I love it, the 1978 J-11 has gone, replaced it with a 1957 one that has superb IQ, thanks to the very kind help of a friend

The 1957 J-8 and 1963 J12 are also great copies, I have a black 1967 J12 I must try soon, I expect I'll sell it unless it's better than the earlier silver one.

[woodrim]

Here is a picture of the rear of the lens I'm getting. I'm not familiar with Contax mount, so looking to confirm.


And is this the correct adapter for NEX? http://www.ebay.com/itm/120800187404

Thanks much.

[iangreenhalgh1]

I took mine out today and forgot the NEX was set to ISO 1600 but never mind, the results were still okay.

First two at f8, second two at f4, no sharpening just a slight tweak of brightness.

#1

100% crop:

#2

#3

#4

[themoleman342]