Meyer-Optik Görlitz Primoplan 58mm/1.9 M42

[BurstMox]

Hi everybody

Some time ago, I bought this lens, screwed on KW Praktica. So, today was time to test it on 5D (infinity not possible yet).

First of all, here is the lens :

#1

#2



I don't know which version is it, but I saw other M42 Primoplan looking a bit different (like this one : http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360411148765 ). Maybe it's earlier or later version, I dunno. There is no "made in germany" on mine.


Nevertheless, here are some sample, without PP exepted slight exposure correction. 3,4,5 are wide open (looks like it's vignetting a bit) :


#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

[kds315*]

A very early one by its serial number, uncoated I woudl guess. A nice lens rendering is quite unique.

[BurstMox]

I think it's coated (blue). But I love the rendering.
SN : 1132006, but I dunno their SN system.

[kds315*]

Made 1951 in a batch of 600 lenses. Coated, you're correct.

[DR.JUAN]

Old meyer lens, lovely.

If you need or like it style, very nice to use.

[BurstMox]

[darkstah]

[TrueLoveOne]

Nice lens! I really like the picture of the dog! Great swirly bokeh!

[Attila]

Congrats! Probably fetch high price if you not willing to keep it sell it, I had a pre-war went above 900 USD.

[woodrim]

I have been lusting for this lens, but prices have been very high.

[BurstMox]

I don't think I will sell such lens, I love it. Also, I'm not used to sell my lenses, I don't have merchant spirit. The only lenses I sold were some Helios 44-2 (that I bought for test) and Jupiter-12, that was not usable on digital cam.
I bought this Primoplan for 140 euros mounted on an early KW Pratkica (first version) from 1951 (that I will certainly sell, I'm not camera fan, only lens).

[darkstah]

[inombrable]

[calvin83]

I bought mine for less than $60 together with other lenses. You will find one finally with a bit of luck and patience.

[woodrim]

[Attila]

most common post war lens price go around 200 USD.

[Mos6502]

No offense meant to lovers of this lens, but I've never really understood the attraction to them, even as a meyer fan.
I get that the rendering is interesting, but it's not interesting in a beautiful way such as with the Biotar or some other contemporary designs. I'd think the best reason for having one is to have an oddball lens for your old Praktica or Exakta.

[woodrim]

As they say about beauty being in the eye of the beholder, that is how I see it. For me, and although I am not a proponent of always using full open aperture, this lens is one where I'd probably only use it wide open or very near that. AND only for certain pictures where the subject or background is conducive to the effects I'm seeking. I'm not crazy about the bokeh of the dog shot, but I do like the first duck bokeh. This lens will provide many failed images with a few every now and then that hit the mark. Very much a specialty lens and not an all purpose lens in my mind. I have no need for another lens in that focal length unless it does something unique, and this one does.

[Attila]

[Mos6502]

Fujinon 2.2/55 - M42 by praktinafan, on Flickr


Primoplan 1:1,9/58 by alf sigaro, on Flickr

Interesting.

I've always thought there was a slight family resemblance when used wide open. Somebody should do a head to head comparison.

[woodrim]

Seem more different than similar.

[Mos6502]

[std]

Indeed the samples of this fuji lens are different from the Primoplan rendering.
The highlight feel more harsh and missing the smoothness of the Primoplan.
It's a completely different lens in terms of picture rendering.

[iangreenhalgh1]

I owned an X-Fujinon 2.2/55, as std says, renders nothing like the Primoplan or Biotar. I always thought the 2.2/55 was a tessar as it renders like one, with the same type of busy bokeh.

[kds315*]

It's a very unique lens the Primoplan...







... very impressionistic.