Originally posted by ScooterMaxi Jim
...The biggest concern is the source. Very dependable option is RuGift.com - that's where I got mine...
Jim,
Glad you had a good purchase experience, mine (two) were less fine. Delivery took about six weeks for both my Zen and my Jupiter-9. My first Zenitar was badly defective and had to be returned. Rugift sent a replacement from Russia and it took another 8 weeks. I finally got the lens I ordered in early May at the end of July. I had to pay the postage to send the defective lens back to Russia.
My Jupiter-9 was received loose without caps in a box with only crumpled newspaper as padding. The case and caps were also in the box. Why the lens was not in the case is anyone's guess.
I don't know if Kremlin Optics or any of the other gray market vendors is better, though I don't plan on dealing with rugift again.
Steve