Jupiter-11 (Sonnar 135 clone) - any opinions?

Hello everyone,

I had a Sonnar 135 f4 a few years ago and it was an excellent lens (I like the 135mm focal length.) Looking at the bay, Sonnars are a bit out of my budget right now (some are close to $300.) Does anyone have experience with the Jupiter-11? I've seen some samples on Flickr and they look nice, but I'd like to hear first-hand user opinions, if possible. Are there risks in terms of focus possibly being out of alignment (à la the Jupiter-9 or Jupiter-3?) I am looking for one in Contax/KIEV mount, to use on a Contax II.

Thanks in advance

If you get a good one, it's like a coated version of the Sonnar. Lenses in Kiev mount seem to be far more reliable than the LTM versions, I have a J-12, J-8, H-103, and a J-9 and every one is a winner. I especially like the J-12 and J-9. Look for one made pre-1970.

Very good lens, w/ a spotty reputation for quality control. Mine imaged nicely, but it had been over greased w/ the usual gray grease, and put back together w/ the lens markings ending up on the bottom. It had arrived in the usual brown paper " box" that was wrapped w/ twine. Sending it back overseas would have been not fun.

I had bought it w/ a Nikon mount (which miraculously worked fine), and was using it along w/ a Leica R lens and an adapter on an N8008s, so it was only used in stop down AE mode. You got to see your DOF instantly when the view got darker or lighter,so F stop numbers on the top weren't really needed.

The over greased helical threads I just lived with. It was slower to focus due to the over damping, but tolerable. The R 90 Elmarit that I had was better but they were both very good, and of course the J-11s cost a lot less money.

Thanks for the information! It sounds like a winner then.

The Sonnar 135 I once owned had an ugly front element, but shot very well. However I think this Triotar 85mm wins the Blue Ribbon for nightmare-inducing condition. And only $543!

My J11 in Kiev is ok but the grease needs replacing.

IloveTLRs said:

Hello everyone,

I had a Sonnar 135 f4 a few years ago and it was an excellent lens (I like the 135mm focal length.) Looking at the bay, Sonnars are a bit out of my budget right now (some are close to $300.) Does anyone have experience with the Jupiter-11? I've seen some samples on Flickr and they look nice, but I'd like to hear first-hand user opinions, if possible. Are there risks in terms of focus possibly being out of alignment (à la the Jupiter-9 or Jupiter-3?) I am looking for one in Contax/KIEV mount, to use on a Contax II.

Thanks in advance

Click to expand...

You might want to look at the Nikkor Q-C 135/3.5 in Contax configuration - there will be a 'C' on the focusing ring. A very nice lens and sometimes goes pretty reasonably, you can get a nice user for say $125 give or take.