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Any idea about this meyer primotar 85/3.5?
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PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2014 3:43 am    Post subject: Any idea about this meyer primotar 85/3.5? Reply with quote
Just spotted this rare old lens on ebay but the seller said it has no mount. Does that means there's no way it can be used on a modern DSLR? I noticed that another primoplan E 80/3.5 comes with the P6 mount, but not sure if this one applies. Can anybody help me with this? Thanks in advance:D

Link as follows:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Meyer-85-3-5-Primotar-1200652-/260986026622?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item3cc3faba7e

More pics from the seller:

http://kevincameras.com/gallery/v/classics_collectables/albuw30/hugo_meyer/1200652/


PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2014 4:22 am    Post subject: strange the links don't show correctly?? Reply with quote
Tried several times but failed anyway. Wondering how the links don't show as the preview does.


PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2014 4:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Seller says there is no mount then it has no mount. This is the one with p6 Click here to see on Ebay and you can adapt it to DSLR from Canon, Nikon and Sony etc..

I do not recommend buying from Kevincameras. Better wait for other better copy in P6 mount sell by a more reputable seller.


PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2014 6:03 am    Post subject: Re: strange the links don't show correctly?? Reply with quote
benyao wrote:
Tried several times but failed anyway. Wondering how the links don't show as the preview does.

It is the anti spam feature of the forum,you can now post links and images. Very Happy

Welcome to the forum I hope you stay and post up some images from your part of the world .


PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2014 8:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
calvin83 wrote:
Seller says there is no mount then it has no mount. This is the one with p6 Click here to see on Ebay and you can adapt it to DSLR from Canon, Nikon and Sony etc..

I do not recommend buying from Kevincameras. Better wait for other better copy in P6 mount sell by a more reputable seller.


Thanks for your advice and quick reply. I'm also keeping the primotar E on my watching list, but it seems to me that a P6 adaptor (to my FX) is a bit too long for me. Wonder if the lens comes with an M42 mount Confused


PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2014 8:45 am    Post subject: Re: strange the links don't show correctly?? Reply with quote
mo wrote:
benyao wrote:
Tried several times but failed anyway. Wondering how the links don't show as the preview does.

It is the anti spam feature of the forum,you can now post links and images. Very Happy

Welcome to the forum I hope you stay and post up some images from your part of the world .


Thanks for the explanation.


PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2014 9:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
benyao wrote:
calvin83 wrote:
Seller says there is no mount then it has no mount. This is the one with p6 Click here to see on Ebay and you can adapt it to DSLR from Canon, Nikon and Sony etc..

I do not recommend buying from Kevincameras. Better wait for other better copy in P6 mount sell by a more reputable seller.


Thanks for your advice and quick reply. I'm also keeping the primotar E on my watching list, but it seems to me that a P6 adaptor (to my FX) is a bit too long for me. Wonder if the lens comes with an M42 mount Confused

They exist in Exakta or M42(very rare). Regardless of the mount, the length of the lens plus adapter will always be more or less the same when adapted to you camera.


PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2014 10:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
benyao wrote:
calvin83 wrote:
Seller says there is no mount then it has no mount. This is the one with p6 Click here to see on Ebay and you can adapt it to DSLR from Canon, Nikon and Sony etc..

I do not recommend buying from Kevincameras. Better wait for other better copy in P6 mount sell by a more reputable seller.


Thanks for your advice and quick reply. I'm also keeping the primotar E on my watching list, but it seems to me that a P6 adaptor (to my FX) is a bit too long for me. Wonder if the lens comes with an M42 mount Confused


Welcome benyao! If you are looking for a nice, older, well-made 85mm, you should check out the Nikkor 85mm f/2 Ai-s version. You will spend less than $200 and get a super performing lens (in my opinion). Of course it all depends what you are looking for in the lens. The Nikkor has a typical Nikon color palette, bokeh, etc., but it is extremely sharp and very well made. I had one for a long time, traded up for the 85mm f/1.4, and then sold most of Nkon gear when I switched to Canon.

Remember also that the Primotar in P6 was designed for a medium format 6x6 cm camera, and will typically have a lower resolving power than a lens made for 35mm.


Best,

Paul


PostPosted: Sat May 17, 2014 3:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
The price looks way too high to me and I don't understand the mount issue. However, if has 15 blades which I like much better than the six mine has. The P6 will require a longer adapter, but this is a relatively short lens when compared to others of the same focal length.

The Primotar, in my experience, is very acceptable sharp and has an unusual bokeh. Mine has a glow around bright areas when shot wide open. I'm suspicious of my adapter, so I'm going to make a tubular baffle for it. The sharpness of the lens can get hidden in the glow, but in the right circumstances it can be quite sharp.


PostPosted: Sat May 17, 2014 3:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Sharpness is not the strength of chrome Meyer lenses but they are very good lenses for Oriental style photos.


PostPosted: Sat May 17, 2014 2:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
calvin83 wrote:
Sharpness is not the strength of chrome Meyer lenses but they are very good lenses for Oriental style photos.


Oriental style, oh yes. As for sharpness, I wouldn't herald it as a sharp lens, meaning that is it's greatest attribute, but I do find it acceptably sharp from wide open. If it were not for the glow around bright areas, it would appear sharper. My impression has been that it is soft, but then I've been surprised when I hit the focus well in the right lighting, so I believe the softness comes more from the glow and low contrast at wide open, creating a non-sharp perception. It will then change rapidly with any adjustment of aperture. This isn't much of a photo, but will show what I mean about very acceptable sharpness, yet also has the glow in some areas. Click for full size image.



PostPosted: Sat May 17, 2014 2:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yes. Many old manual lens have pretty good resolution at wide open but the low contrast makes them look not very sharp.


PostPosted: Sat May 17, 2014 3:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I just realized this post is about the 85mm. Mine is the 80mm, which explains the differences I saw. Yes, the 85mm is much more rare.


PostPosted: Sun May 18, 2014 1:44 pm    Post subject: Thanks for all the feedback Reply with quote
Thanks a lot for everyone's feedback in just a couple of days--very helpful indeed:D When I first laid my eyes on the Meyer it was its bokeh power that won me over (presumably thanks to its 12-14 blades), rather than its sharpness (which isn't bad at all). After looking at the Primotar E 85mm, Primotar 80mm, and Telefogar 90mm, I'm almost certain to give up on them all for the mount issues and lack of compatibility on my XE-1. I might turn to what I'm first interested--the Orestor 100/2.8 (zebra), which, except being a bit longer, has the strengths of all the rest, and it's M42 adptable! Can any of you suggest a reasonable price range I should be looking at? Thanks again:D


PostPosted: Tue May 20, 2014 8:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
calvin83 wrote:
Seller says there is no mount then it has no mount. This is the one with p6 Click here to see on Ebay and you can adapt it to DSLR from Canon, Nikon and Sony etc..

I do not recommend buying from Kevincameras. Better wait for other better copy in P6 mount sell by a more reputable seller.

The only problem I can see from Kevincameras is price. He tends to have rare desireable lenses and in top condition but prices them very high.


PostPosted: Tue May 20, 2014 1:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
hifisapi wrote:
calvin83 wrote:
Seller says there is no mount then it has no mount. This is the one with p6 Click here to see on Ebay and you can adapt it to DSLR from Canon, Nikon and Sony etc..

I do not recommend buying from Kevincameras. Better wait for other better copy in P6 mount sell by a more reputable seller.

The only problem I can see from Kevincameras is price. He tends to have rare desireable lenses and in top condition but prices them very high.

I do not think it will be appropriate to label this lens with mount removedClick here to see on Ebay as Used(see the condition definition below). It cannot be fully operational and functions as intended without some works done. Of course, you can have different view than mine. Member Lightshow may also able to tell you why this is not a seller to be recommend.

Quote:
An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended. This item may be a floor model or store return that has been used. See the seller's listing for full details and description of any imperfections.


PostPosted: Wed May 21, 2014 2:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
calvin83 wrote:
Sharpness is not the strength of chrome Meyer lenses but they are very good lenses for Oriental style photos.


Interesting that you mentioned "oriental style", and I'd like to know how you'd describe the characteristics of such style, in terms of the color rendering, sharpness, bokeh performance, etc. How would you compare this style to "western style" (or whatever term you'd coin)? Perhaps easier for illustration with a few shots you have? Thanks a lot:D


PostPosted: Wed May 21, 2014 2:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
woodrim wrote:
The price looks way too high to me and I don't understand the mount issue. However, if has 15 blades which I like much better than the six mine has. The P6 will require a longer adapter, but this is a relatively short lens when compared to others of the same focal length.

The Primotar, in my experience, is very acceptable sharp and has an unusual bokeh. Mine has a glow around bright areas when shot wide open. I'm suspicious of my adapter, so I'm going to make a tubular baffle for it. The sharpness of the lens can get hidden in the glow, but in the right circumstances it can be quite sharp.


Hi Woodrim,

Just wondering if you find a 15-blade version performs better than a 6-blade one. I'm looking at an Orestor 100/2.8 these days instead, and curious why the later Pentacon version made it into 6-blade (cost-down, I suppose), which must have been (IMHO) a detriment to Meyer's long reputed near-circle bokeh.


PostPosted: Wed May 21, 2014 3:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
benyao wrote:
woodrim wrote:
The price looks way too high to me and I don't understand the mount issue. However, if has 15 blades which I like much better than the six mine has. The P6 will require a longer adapter, but this is a relatively short lens when compared to others of the same focal length.

The Primotar, in my experience, is very acceptable sharp and has an unusual bokeh. Mine has a glow around bright areas when shot wide open. I'm suspicious of my adapter, so I'm going to make a tubular baffle for it. The sharpness of the lens can get hidden in the glow, but in the right circumstances it can be quite sharp.


Hi Woodrim,

Just wondering if you find a 15-blade version performs better than a 6-blade one. I'm looking at an Orestor 100/2.8 these days instead, and curious why the later Pentacon version made it into 6-blade (cost-down, I suppose), which must have been (IMHO) a detriment to Meyer's long reputed near-circle bokeh.


Hello benyao. First, read here for the origin of the Oriental Style discussion, which Attila coined. It picks up at a convenient point from another post from which it was separated into this one: http://forum.mflenses.com/shooting-style-by-geographic-region-t64657.html

Lens performance is not impacted by diaphragm except for the shape of the specular highlights (bokeh circles). I do not like seeing the shape of the iris in my photos unless it's round. For me, it's that simple. I hadn't realized that the 85mm had the multi-blades - or I should say that I was surprised to find that my 80mm didn't.

The Orestors, whether old or new seem to have great optics. The change to six blades was probably connected to the change to auto-aperture. I purchased a Late, but still Zebra Meyer Orestor 2.8/100 and again was bummed to find the six blades, but it was my fault for not paying enough attention. The lens has wonderful performance optically, but the build quality is somewhat less than the earlier preset lenses. Attila had warned of this and I have experienced it shortly after starting to use the lens. The funky stop down lever on the lens doesn't work very well and the blades do not retract willingly. Finally, it seems they will not fully retract even with encouragement. I'll get it fixed and lubed properly because it is such a good lens otherwise. Wide open performance is stunning. I will be looking for an older version.
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