Primotars

miran · Joined: 01 Aug 2012 Posts: 1364 Location: Slovenia

It looks like I inadvertently became a Primotar collector. Razz

The other day I bid on a 135/3.5 on a whim, having seen so many nice photos made with it in various places. I think I bid way too much because I won the damn thing. Surprised

Then a few days later I saw a 180/3.5 locally for very little money and said why not, I'll have that as well, thank you very much. Smile

As luck would have it, they both arrived on the same day! The 135 I knew beforehand was very glowy and quite soft but with a characteristic rendering which I liked from what I'd seen. There were no surprises, the lens is indeed very soft and glows a lot wide open, especially at longer distances (virtually useless) and struggles a bit in strong light (need deep hood it seems) but I like it. It will be good for certain purposes.

The 180mm on the other hand I knew little about. Google doesn't find that much but according to what it does find it's not supposed to be a very good lens. Most people who have had it, didn't rate it very highly. My initial experience though is quite the opposite. I was amazed with the quality. Sharp enough, good contrast, excellent bokeh. A little glow wide open but not too much, completely usable from wide open and at all distances. I'm using it on APS-C and the lens looks like it might have been originally designed for medium format so that certainly affects performance but in any case, from what I've seen so far, this is a very positive surprise.

My first test shots:

1. Meyer-Optik G�rlitz Primotar 135mm/3.5

NEX6_0002_4532 by Miran Amon, on Flickr

2. Meyer-Optik G�rlitz Primotar 180mm/3.5

NEX6_0002_4269 by Miran Amon, on Flickr

scsambrook · Expire: 2011-11-18

I enjoyed mine but sold it a while ago here on MFLenses. I found it was tricky to focus at full aperture on my Pentax K10 but much easier closed down one stop. I think it would have been easier wide open on a mirrorless camera

Results were really pleasing providing you weren't looking for 'biting sharp detail' at f3.5. My guess is that many (maybe most) of the adverse comments you've read come from people who've never used one and who irresponsibly re-cycle other people's equally unfounded observations.

The lens hood that come with it is very shallow and I used a much longer one which I convinced myself made a difference. The lens will also give pleasing results on an extension tube as the closest focus isn't really that close. Have fun with it !

newst · Joined: 21 Oct 2014 Posts: 617 Location: Troy, MI USA

Here is one a bit less common. ROBOT lens, Meyer Optik Gorlitz Primotar 3.5/30 on A6000.

miran · Joined: 01 Aug 2012 Posts: 1364 Location: Slovenia

Thanks. I guess I should do some research, make a list and start collecting. Razz

A few more shots with the 135:

1.

NEX6_0002_4533 by Miran Amon, on Flickr

2.

NEX6_0002_4538 by Miran Amon, on Flickr

3.

NEX6_0002_4542 by Miran Amon, on Flickr

4.

NEX6_0002_4547 by Miran Amon, on Flickr

5.

NEX6_0002_4548 by Miran Amon, on Flickr

And the lens itself. It's been well used but it's clean inside.

Meyer-Optik Görlitz Primotar 135mm/3.5 by Miran Amon, on Flickr

And the 180mm (minus the hood, which I had to remove to fit the lens onto my improvised set ant into the frame, it's that big):

Meyer-Optik Görlitz Primotar 180mm/3.5 by Miran Amon, on Flickr

Need to go out and make some pics with the 180 next. Smile

miran · Joined: 01 Aug 2012 Posts: 1364 Location: Slovenia

Another outing with Primotar 135mm/3.5. This time with a short extension ring (7mm) and following Marek's excellent advice for shooting butterflies. I don't specialize in butterflies though, I just like to make pretty pictures. Smile

1.

NEX6_0002_6448 by Miran Amon, on Flickr

2.

NEX6_0002_6456 by Miran Amon, on Flickr

3.

NEX6_0002_6468 by Miran Amon, on Flickr

4.

NEX6_0002_6492 by Miran Amon, on Flickr

5.

NEX6_0002_6500 by Miran Amon, on Flickr

6.

NEX6_0002_6510 by Miran Amon, on Flickr

7.

NEX6_0002_6517 by Miran Amon, on Flickr

8.

NEX6_0002_6518 by Miran Amon, on Flickr

9.

NEX6_0002_6536 by Miran Amon, on Flickr

10.

NEX6_0002_6542 by Miran Amon, on Flickr

11.

NEX6_0002_6548 by Miran Amon, on Flickr

12.

NEX6_0002_6549 by Miran Amon, on Flickr

13.

NEX6_0002_6557 by Miran Amon, on Flickr

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

they are great lenses, especially shorter ones 50mm and 80mm

Marek · Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2015 9:38 pm Post subject:

Looks like I established a new subgenre of photography. And already have a first swift learner Cool

Some of them are technically perfect (#4, #5), some of them really dreamy (#9, #10) and some of them I find to be really something (hard) to create (#10)

You really done well so far, definitely beyond my expectations

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

Very nice. I think that 135mm is plenty enough sharp. It can be tricky to focus at times, which may have impressed some as being soft, but when you nail the focus it is quite acceptable. And the overall rendering... I have 4.5/35; 3.5/80; and 3.5/135. Wouldn't mind a 180mm if price was good and lens silver.

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

This is the closest I've gotten to a Marek image, sans butterfly.

miran · Joined: 01 Aug 2012 Posts: 1364 Location: Slovenia

Thank you very much for your comments. Smile

woodrim: I got my 180 for 15€ so it can be found at a good price. Smile