Meritar - Domiplan comparison

[scsambrook]

There was a recent query about how the 50mm Meritar and Domiplan lenses compare - here are a few to show how they behave in some particular circumstances. Dull day with heavy cloud, camera on tripod. All pictures jpegs from Lumix G1, nothing done to them apart from cropping and resizing.

The Meritar is the later M42 version with the five-bladed iris, the Domiplan is an Exakta fitting one and has a six-bladed iris. First set of pictures taken at their closest focus distance of 2.5 feet / 0.75 meters. The second set was taken on a 10mm extension tube with the lens set a 0.75 meters. The Meritar stops improving after f5.6 and the Domiplan shows very little change. Neither is exactly in the "major league" for out and out performance at wide apertures but I think both do commendably well for close up and moderate macro pictures where edge and corners aren't important. And they're still cheap to buy.

Click on pictures for better viewing.
1: The 0.75m 'target'

2: at full aperture



3: at f5.6


And to see if a more complex lens really is better than a triplet at f2.8 - Nikkor HC 50/2 of similar vintage.


Close-ups at full aperture

[papasito]

Thank you, very much

Very informative and instructive job.

It shows very clearly the character of each lens, and has the reference of a third six elements nikkor.

Of both triplets I prefer the colder rendering and sharpness of the domiplan.

I think that it can fight with the average tessar type lenses.

[jamaeolus]

[papasito]

[scsambrook]

Indeed, you need to chose the subject to emphasise or minimise the characteristics of these lenses ! It will be interesting to see how much 'better' a Tessar is.

I didn't use the Nikkor on an extension tube because I don't have any Nikon tubes But I did take a shot at full aperture with my Canon FD 50/3.5 Macro - once again, chosing the subject carefully lets the simple lenses make a good showing in comparison.