meyer optic gorlitz primoplan 58mm f1.9 versions

[edwliang]

hi anyone knows how many versions of primoplan 58 1.9 and what type of glass they use for each version?

i have never seen such articles in english describing the versions or history of primoplan 58mm as detailed as many articles in chinese.

for the chinese articles i have read, they said there were 11 versions of primoplan 58mm. And the serial nr. from 6 digits to '112xxxx' (7 digits) use very high quality rare glass (in chinese articles, they called 'Hugo Glass'). From serial nr. 113xxxx on there is 'Optic' marked on the lens and since then they have been using cheap glass instead.

i just want to make sure if these articles are telling the truth? because i have never read similar information in english.

i have a primoplan on hand, s/n 117xxxx, and the seller told me this version also uses 'Hugo Glass', which means very rare glass. anyone knows if this is correct?

[calvin83]

Yours is the postwar 'mini version' made in the early 1950s. It is very unlikely they use the glass from the pre-war time.

[scsambrook]

Although I am certainly not knowledgeable about the Primoplan, I would suggest you should not let yourself be influenced by talk of "cheap" glass.

Optical glass - as we all know very well - comes in many varieties some of which, even before WWII, had complex fomulae and were very difficult to make. Wastage was sometimes high and the costs considerable. Remember that the cost of the glass for even one element is multiplied in the process of costing the entire manufacturing and marketing process. Optical glass makers have continually tried to achieve similar results with simpler formulae and/or production methods, so that achieving "cheaper glass" may actually be a mark of superior design and manufacturing technology.

The Primoplan was made in what became East Germany after WWII and - with all due respect to calvin33 - it is possible that the Schott glassworks might have used the original pre-1939 materials. Wthout access to factory records, which in any case may no longer exist, it is difficult to know for certain when, or if, changes were made.

[calvin83]

I have seen from many sellers(especially those from the the former Soviet Union and China) saying they are selling a lens made from the glass/materiel from pre-war stocks. This include but not limit the the Jupiter 3/8/9, the post-war Meyer Trioplan/Primoplan and CZJ Sonnar 50/85. Without access to factory records, I would say only the first(few) post-war batches are likely using the old materials.

In your case, you copy does not belong to the first(few) batches.

P.S. There are many than 11 versions if you count every little change as one version(see here http://ifeeling.net/?p=621).

[edwliang]

[calvin83]

History:
http://www.meyer-optik-goerlitz.com/history/
http://photobutmore.de/exakta/meyer/ (German)

A book on lens serial:
http://forum.mflenses.com/zeiss-and-meyer-books-with-serial-numbers-t32888.html

[tb_a]

That's more or less all:

http://home.arcor.de/cpqrst3/index.html

http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Meyer

Unfortunately most of the information is in German only. Maybe you can try to translate German pages into English by web services:

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meyer-Optik

The last part and evidence of Meyer Optik disappeared apprx. 1991 as it was not possible to relaunch that company with success after the end of the GDR regime.

Obviously the new produced Meyer lenses are a prodoct of an Dutch company which bought the brand name sometimes around 2014. That seems to be a different story and it's not clear to me where and how those new lenses are produced. Actually it's a software and marketing company.

[edwliang]

thank you all. it seems it is not easy to know when exactly Meyer Primoplan stopped using 'special glass'.

[edwliang]

anyone actually did some comparison b/w the pre-war and post-war version's glass?

here's my primoplan

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[valjo]

[calvin83]

Forget about the glass thing. We judge the lens by its performance, not by when its glass produced or who made the glass.

[sajualex1]

I got a primoplan in exakta mount and the serial starting from 111xxxx, Is this one a prewar version or post war? Any inputs?

[calvin83]

with V => post war

[sajualex1]

Thanks, I was thinking that this lens has old serial number, so might be a prewar version or may be produced at the time of war.

[Marek]

I did compare prewar/postwar Primoplan 75 lenses. Prewar - sharp, more "normal", not coated, postwar - unsharp but lightweight, extremely soft, coated, provides soap bubble bokeh.

Collector-wise, the value of prewars raises significantly, whereas early vs. late postwar doesnt really much matter.

The main differences, excluding value, is (prewar): heavy brass design, Hugo Meyer label, cm instead of mm, 6-letters s/n, no red V, often better optical performance and generally cooler soon-to-be-antique look. No M42 screw unless crafted, just bayonets, or very rare M39 Leica.

[sajualex1]

Thank you Marek for the details. appreciate..

[brendan]

I know I am resurrecting an old thread here...