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Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.

Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.
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E. Ludwig Meritar 2.9/50 M42 Mount
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Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:30 pm
Post subject: E. Ludwig Meritar 2.9/50 M42 Mount
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Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:30 pm
Post subject: E. Ludwig Meritar 2.9/50 M42 Mount
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Well it arrived today attached to the Praktica Nova. I wasn't expecting much after hearing bad press, but it is much sharper than expected. Saturates quite well and not bad bokeh. I did a quick test, shooting 1st wide open and then stopping down to F5.6.

Just a few uninteresting shots in the garden to try the lens lens.......

Mild sharpening and slight contrast boost which I've set as a default, otherwise, untouched.

#1
F2.9


F5.6


#2
F2.9


F5.6


#3
F2.9


F5.6



Full size pics at: http://www.ms-imaging.co.uk/gallery/8939297_EHJ8p#593653842_uqZaj

Last edited by martinsmith99 on Sat Jul 18, 2009 8:04 am; edited 1 time in total


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Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 6:05 pm
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Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 6:05 pm
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Here's a pic of the lens on my Canon 40D (taken on my phone so sorry for the quality).




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Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 6:09 pm
Post subject: Meritar
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Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 6:09 pm
Post subject: Meritar
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Well, I'd say for a simple triplet those aren't at all bad - "cheap at twice the price" in fact. And the OoFA's quite nice too. One to keep, I think.


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Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 10:50 pm
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Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 10:50 pm
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Congrats for the lens.
I like my triplet Trioplan 2.9/50 very much.
Stopped down it is really impressive.


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Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:25 am
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Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:25 am
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I like my Meritar as well. I've almost got infinity, but only stopped down. Oh, well, I'll keep plugging away until all my Exaktas behave themselves on my Nikon.

I have mainly triplets and find that they each have their merits. Certainly the Meritar is forgiving and friendly. Anthropomorphic lenses.

Very Happy


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Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 8:35 am
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Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 8:35 am
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Although it's not a perfect lens, it does look good so I tend to screw it on when I want to impress mates Laughing


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Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 12:32 pm
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Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 12:32 pm
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Shrek wrote:
Although it's not a perfect lens, it does look good so I tend to screw it on when I want to impress mates Laughing

Do you use it for pics and do you have samples?

If it stays dry I'm going to take mine out in a bit to give it a better test.


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Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 5:22 pm
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Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 5:22 pm
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More from the Meritar....

All pics have levels tweaked and mild sharpening. It isn't a high contrast lens so does need a little help. I've ordered a hood for it so that may help. Exposure is usually 1/3 or 2/3 of a stop under. I shot these with +1/3 EV and all seemed good.

Comparison of Apertures:

F2.9


F8


F16


Some other shots....

F5.6 (not as sharp as maybe I hoped as the bull kept trying to lick me and the camera)


F11


F5.6 (with 20mm extension tube)


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Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 5:41 pm
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Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 5:41 pm
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You got great results, sharpness is not everything I like your samples pretty much!


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Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 5:49 pm
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Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 5:49 pm
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Thanks Attila. I'm actually impressed by the sharpness as I was expecting it to be soft. It's acceptably sharp even wide open.

And it looks so cool on my camera! Laughing


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Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 6:01 pm
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Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 6:01 pm
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Yes! cool looking indeed and sharp enough for any purposes.


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Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 1:01 pm
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Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 1:01 pm
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I had a few portraits to do for a friend's daughter on Friday and used my usual Sigma AF zoom, but at the end I switched to the Meritar for a few headshots. I think these look ok. This was at f5.6 and illuminated by a single light with an umbrella.



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Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 1:05 pm
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Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 1:05 pm
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That was my experience also, more sharp than expected, a very lightweight lens to carry around.
BTW, your samples look really nice, the window with the handle shows a very nice bokeh.

Regards,

Jes.


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Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 7:35 pm
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Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 7:35 pm
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Jesito wrote:
That was my experience also, more sharp than expected, a very lightweight lens to carry around.
BTW, your samples look really nice, the window with the handle shows a very nice bokeh.

Regards,

Jes.

Thanks Jes - Yes the bokeh is a little different than my other lenses. It is uasable wide open although it does sharpen up nicely when stopped down to F5.6 and better at F8.

With the risk of over-egging the pudding, here are a few more I took today. I took this lens, a Helios 44-2 and 2 AF lenses, but the 2 MF lenses seemed to get most use.

Anyway, the samples were shot at F8 apart from the railings which was shot wide open.

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5


Thanks for looking
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