Re: [Leica] Continuing misadventures with inexpensive LTM lenses

[Dennis Painter <dennis@hale-pohaku.com>]

William Gower wrote:

> When I first tested out my cheap-o Jupiter-3, I found that it was HORRIBLY
> out of focus when used at f1,5 to 2,8 and up close. It wasn't a bad lens
> from 2,8 and upwards, where sharpness and contrast improved considerably,
> but at f1,5 to 2 it was sharp as a marshmallow.
>
> I was sitting at my desk (procrastinating) and decided to to tear the
> Jupiter apart -it was a dog anyway, so no great loss if I mucked things up
> royally. Idle hands are the devils hands (as my grandmother would say).
>
> Well, I tore it apart, decided to clean it and re-assemble. Not before, I
> decided that it would look better black. So I found a can of spray enamel
> and painted it. Then I put it back together. I figured I had just made
> myself a nice black loupe.
>
> Much to my surprise, when I decided to informally test it, that it was
> actually better. Surprisingly usable, even wide open. Again, no where near
> my 50/2 Summicron, but fun nonetheless. You get lucky sometimes.

likely it was either never together 'right' or someone else had taken it apart
and not got it back right

Dennis