Jupiter-3 Plus, from Lomography/Zenit

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I was excited to see this lens in production, but told myself that I would not get one. I lie to myself all the time, this lie lasted less than one day. I placed the order, the lens was Fed-Ex'd to me overnight. I suspect they wanted some feedback! The lens had a 10-day return policy, and has a two-year warranty.

j3plus_test by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Ran outside - the lens came just after the Blizzard...

Fence Post Test by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

I've adjusted over 200 Jupiter-3's for Leica mount, and have corrected many, many problems in them. I've ground down mounts to get the helical to drive the RF to infinity, repositioned optics, used polishing sheets made for fiber-optic connectors to get rid of grinding in the focus mechanism.

This Jupiter-3+ was perfect. Smooth focus, no back-lash, no slop, no play. I've changed guide pins in the focus rails to correct problems, know where things go wrong. This is the first J-3 that I've used that I did not need to do something to make it work better. And the instructions tell you not to take it apart.

Wide-Open,

Manassas Battlefield J3+ by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

At F4,

Manassas Battlefield J3+ by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Wide-open on the M9, I Emailed them that the lens would not be coming back.

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Wide-Open,

Manassas Battlefield J3+ by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

at F4,

Manassas Battlefield J3+ by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

I took this lens, a 1936 5cm F1.5 Sonnar converted to Leica mount, and a Carl Zeiss 50/1.5 in Amedeo Contax-M-Mount adapter to Manassas Battlefield today.

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F1.5, then F4 again.

Manassas Battlefield J3+ by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Manassas Battlefield J3+ by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Like most Sonnars, this lens is dual-personality. Wild wide-open, tames down and picks up contrast at F4.

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Focus is perfect across range from 0.7m to infinity on my M9, which has been used to calibrate many J-3's for other M9's and M240's.

Manassas Battlefield J3+ by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Manassas Battlefield J3+ by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

This means the focal length is built to the Leica standard. Nothing for me to do on these!

The original J-3's are built to the Zeiss standard, a nominal 0.8mm longer than the Leica standard. The old J-3 spec shows a +/-1% tolerance in focal length, explaining why some do better than others on a Leica. Change the shim, sometimes change spacing between the front/rear group- a J-3 can be made to work well on a Leica. Mine do.

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Last weekend was warmer and Sunny, great day for the Playground.

Wide-open,

Warm February Day by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Warm February Day by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

And at F4.

Warm February Day by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

I've been taking pictures of Nikki swinging at this playground since she was an Infant.

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At The Udvar Hazy Air and Space Museum-

Wide-Open,

L1017163 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

The modern coatings made a big difference with regard to flare. I also took along the Nikkor-SC 5cm F1.4 and Canon 50/1.5, both Sonnar formula lenses in Leica thread mount. I have several Nikkor 5cm F1.4's in S-Mount, 1 in original Leica mount. The latter is an early one. One of the S-Mount lenses is from the May 1950 batch, the first- made 1 year later than my Nikkor-SC 5cm F1.5.

L1017279 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

[Erik Lund]

Very nice review!
It's not everyday a lens arrives like this one,,,
The look and feel is still vintage despite the coatings

How would you describe the differences to Nikon S 5cm 1.4 S C - I would say the corners in your images look quite sharply defined in the new Jupiter,,,

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I "just happened" to take the Nikkor-SC 5cm F1.4 and Canon along that day-

L1017195 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

The biggest difference was flare with the Nikkor.

Even more than the 50/1.5 Canon (Sonnar formula).

Canon 50/1.5 at Udvar Hazy by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

More here:

Nikkor 5cm F1.4,

https://www.flickr.com/photos/90768661@N02/albums/72157662273286573

Jupiter-3+

https://www.flickr.com/photos/90768661@N02/albums/72157664542340266

Canon:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/90768661@N02/albums/72157663901247339

I've shot this J-3+ next to a LOT of Sonnar formula lenses.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/90768661@N02/albums

Except the Tanar 5cm F1.5... I do not have one of those, only have the Tanar 5cm F2...

[Erik Lund]

Well apart form a bit brighter exposure not a big difference, the flare is,,, well,,, colorful

Thanks!

Nice varied set of images that show the different characteristics well!

What is this called, brand and type, It looks like an infinity checker in pocket size,,,

RIMG0689 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

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The device- came with a Canon Body cap on it, is a TTL viewer for 39mm Thread mount lenses. I also use it for Nikon S-Mount and Contax RF mount devices. I suspect it is a repair technician's Tool from the 1950s. Nice crinkle paint job, found it for $15 on Ebay on a "I have no clue as to what this is, judge by the pictures" auction. I Have a Nikon "Previewer" for F-Mount lenses that is something of the same purpose: the latter looks like a long rear lens cap with a viewscreen built into it, bought at the same time as my F-Mount 2.1cm F4 Nikkor-O "Mirror-up" lens.

[Erik Lund]

Thanks! Lucky to happen to find such a rare piece

I used to have a Nikon F-Mount 'Lens Scope Converter'

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I should mention- getting a reputation for repairing CZJ Sonnar and Jupiter-3 lenses has given me a look at over 250 of them. The one on the viewer is a Post-War transition lens, I've probably examined a dozen or more. I suspect these were made when the factory was in "shambles". On the particular Sonnar shown: the middle triplet looks like it was mounted in the barrel with the Balsam still hot, and the barrel was used to center the elements in the triplet! Balsam had oozed out of the edges, and the triplet was thoroughly cemented in place. I had to clean the rear surface of it coming through the back. The lens came out beautifully in the end, owner was quite happy and I learned a new trick that was used to make lenses in less than optimal conditions.

The grease was like glue on this lens,

RIMG0684 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

RIMG0686 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Had to take the helical out of the mount before unscrewing the optics module. I've seen them jammed in so tight that the guide pins will break before the barrel unscrews. BAD!

Much better now-

RIMG0687 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

The new J3Plus is made of Brass- very good build quality, much better than the Wartime Sonnars in design and implementation of the focus mount.

[Erik Lund]

I have newer seen anything that badly put together! Wow,,,

Very nicely cleaned!