Cleaning Jupiter 8 lens

Hi! Recieved my Kiev 4 today. Camera as described in auction,

but "clean/clear" lens was NOT. Full of fungus!

I am going to attempt to clean it, I expect that some or most of the

fungus may be in between the cemented elements.

Can anyone tell me before I beat this thing to pieces how the front

element bezel comes off? I assume that the front ring simply

unscrews...thanks! Mark

Hello Mark,

 

dissambled a Jupiter 8 is very simple, but goes on not first step with the front ring.But forget the dissampled for a lens include fungus between the lens cemented, this lens are destroyed. A jupiter 8 in like new condition have a low price. I think return the Jupiter to the Seller,and changed in like new one Jupiter 8, or in a sharper Helios 108- 1:1,8/53mm for KIEV rangefinder.That's your right claim before beat this lausy lens.

 

peter

Peter is probably right in his advice. If you did not get what was advertised, you certainly are entitled to a refund. On the other hand, you have little to lose whatever you do given the amazingly low prices for the fine Jupiter lenses. It might be worth taking the thing apart just to learn about how it works.<br>    I've been feeling guilty about neglecting my Kiev IIa and the Jupiter 8 it came with, so I took it out for a spin today. I think the 8 is not quite a sharp as the 12, possibly because the coating is not so fine and it tends to flare. However, I think it has some very nice qualities nevertheless.<br><br><center><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/2707201-lg.jpg"><br>Diner</center>

BTW, Matt Denton has <a href="http://homepage.mac.com/mattdenton/photo/cameras/zorki_4.html">a page of info</a> which includes taking the front off a Jupiter 8. His is for a Zorki with a LTM mount, but it looks to me like the construction of the lens is otherwise the same as the Contax mount. I haven't found a more thorough description yet, but maybe someone here who has disassembled one will provide the details.

Well, I spent the past two hours searching for info on the Jupiter 8, and experienced the same frustration I imagine you did. I was pleased to come across <a href="http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/%7Ehd9f-segs/russian-lc-lens.htm">this page with lens diagrams for all the Jupiters</a> and a few others. It may be that few people undertake disassembly of the Jupiter 8 because it is rather complicated compared to many of the other old designs. It could be that the closest you will get is <a href="http://host.fptoday.com/melek/zeiss/repair/sonnar-clean.html">Mike Elek's page on taking apart the Sonnar</a>. Although the Jupiter 8 is always described as an exact copy, that is clearly not the case as Mike's first illustration shows the front retainer screwing out. Perhaps the innards are more alike. I think a total disassembly is a project I would not feel up to taking on, but I might talk myself into following Matt Denton's instructions on applying some moly grease to make the aperture ring setting a little more stable.

hello Mark, really cleaning a J.8 is a fun activity and if you are technical, it should lead to great results. First of all, don't bother with the cemented part, those are usually clean, dust or moister doesn't go there. It is mainly the front or the rear elements that gather dust and fungus etc.

Is the Jupiter 8 in LTM not a different design than the Contax mount Zeiss Sonnar to accommodate the focusing mechanism? Contax mount 50mm lenses don't have any focusing built in.

 

My J-8M is different from the Sonnar in that it has click stops for the aperture. Its a little bit dirty internally and the aperture ring is a little sloppy so I may try to service it one of these days. Since you have a Kiev 4, I assume that you also have a J8M lens? (you didn't say!) I don't have a Sonnar 50/2 to compare against, only a 50/1.5.

It seems reasonable that there would be some differences between the LTM and Contax mounts. I was only looking at the front end which appeared similar. As Denton shows, there are three set screws that are first loosened to allow the aperture ring to screw down to reveal two more set screws which allow the front of the lens to come off. Mike Elek's page on the Sonnar shows that it has a more conventional retainer ring up front with slots for a lens spanner. I don't plan on doing any of this any time soon because my J-8 looks fine, but it would be nice to know the details for future reference.

Hi All! Thanks for the responses for the jup 8 repair. I did like you refered me to Matt Denton's site. Took a little bit of reading and imagination, but the lens came apart and back together very easily! My lens cleaned up slightly, but the spot in the center I belive is the remnants of fungus that ate into the coating and is etched in it. Also, the cement has started to separate in one of the elements. SO this lens is basically a learning tool. Also, I did contact the seller and is willing to replace the lens free of charge...Can't beat that, hopefully next one will be better, what do you expect for a 36 year old 30.00 camera? Thanks again! Mark