Cheap Leica lenses

[mcgrattan]

I think the 50/50 claim re: 'good' Soviet lenses is overblown. My own experience is more like 9 out of 10 have been good to very good, at least.

I did some test shots with two Jupiter-8s and one I-61 on a Leica body, shot wide-open, at closest focus distance. I shot the curved label on a bottle of water, and all focused where I expected, and were sharp in that plane of focus. This is with a J8:

although you can get some quite wild bokeh with the J8 wide-open:

 

[Karl K]

1)There's a rumor going around(for years) that Leitz picked the best optics for the DR since they consider that lens their hallmark.

The version of that rumor which I heard is as follows: Leitz selected 50mm lenses for the DR that were as close as possible to exactly 50mm in focal length to match up to the exact field of view at close ranges outlined when using the DR attachment.
Each Leica 50mm Summicron head has the exact focal length scratched on the side of the lens block. My DR Summicron is marked 49,9. That means that the actual focal length on my lens is 49.9mm. I have another 50 'cron (non-DR) that is marked 49,5.

 

[photoncatcher]

Another vote for the FSU lenses. For that matter, a vote for the FSU cameras. I shoot both a Fed 2, and two Zorkis (a 4, and a 4K). I love the cameras, and I love the glass. I have a couple og Jupiter, and a couple of Industars. Both quite sharp, and contrasty. I was also lucky enough to find the Orion 15 28mm for a pretty decent price. It is a bit slow at f 6, but Ihave gotten some stellar results with this very rare lens. I recently found 2 of them on "the bay", and I wish I had the extra $$ to invest in them.