Jupiter Jupiter 8 50mm 2

I have a small army of Jupiter-8s. This one is in Contax rangefinder mount. The interesting thing about Contax RF lenses is that if they use the internal mount, they lack a focus helicoid. It's a chunk of metal and glass that can't focus without the adapter. It's a pretty chunk, though.

Due to the unique nature of the Contax rangefinder mount, handling, and how smooth the focus is, depends on the adapter you're using. One thing to note is that I had removed the hard stop at the 0.9m minimum focus distance on mine, so some of the shots were taken closer than the manufacturer of the lens intended.

This copy feels sharp, especially in the center. The corners never get outstanding, even when stopping down. In the f2 to f4 range you get that distinct, slightly busy Sonnar-type bokeh you either love or hate.

I mainly used it in that range.

Contrast isn't great, but that adds to the particular look this lens has going for it. The colors are lovely. They felt like pastels. If you have conflicting colors, you can get a really nice blend and contrast of shades. Awesome to use for situations with mixed lighting and limited light.

It flares easily, veiling your photo with a thin... veil. (Creative writing at its best here, folks.)

If you don't have an adapter, or don't plan on making one, don't get this lens. The M39 version can really save you a lot of hassle. That said, I loved using this lens and found that most images taken with it didn't need much in post-production. They were close to what I usually look for in my photos.

Time and time again I took a shot and was stunned that it turned out exactly as I wanted it.