Meyer Optik 58MM 1.9 - The best lens I have. Its incredible.

[vonBaloney]

That's the modern new $1200 version or a vintage lens?

[Lmcfarrin]

That's the modern new $1200 version or a vintage lens?

The vintage. From my research old and new are optically identical. I wanted the old. I've made manual focus my primary way of shooting just so I could acquire these optically BETTER vintage lenses. I just bout off ebay (Poland, waiting on delivery) a mint condition Meyer Optic Zebra Lydith 30MM for $135 including shipping. On my aps-c its equivalent of a 45mm and my m43 60mm. I'm currently hunting for vintage lenses that are in the $350 and below price range (Pentax, Voitlander, Zeiss, Nikkor, etc). The vintage lenses are so much better optically that when the subject is out if focus still looks better to me than a sharp focus of a modern lens. Even the noise is rendered differently.

[vonBaloney]

Yeah, love my Meyers but haven't tried the 58/1.9.

[Lmcfarrin]

Yeah, love my Meyers but haven't tried the 58/1.9.

I found the 58mm Meyer Optik while searching the net for the M42 Takumar 58mm 2.4. At some point I'll aggressively try to acquire the rare Takumar 58mm 2.4

[vonBaloney]

I found the 58mm Meyer Optik while searching the net for the M42 Takumar 58mm 2.4. At some point I'll aggressively try to acquire the rare Takumar 58mm 2.4

I've got a somewhat rare Takumar 58/2 which is pretty sweet, but I'd certainly pick up the Primoplan if I saw it at a good price. I've got actually got two Lydiths (the first one came with the rear element reversed and I saw a deal on a second one before I knew if I was gonna be able to fix it so ended up with two), it is a terrific lens.

[Lmcfarrin]

I've got a somewhat rare Takumar 58/2 which is pretty sweet, but I'd certainly pick up the Primoplan if I saw it at a good price. I've got actually got two Lydiths (the first one came with the rear element reversed and I saw a deal on a second one before I knew if I was gonna be able to fix it so ended up with two), it is a terrific lens.

I'm not an optics expert, but from what I've seen from the 58/1.9 I'm sold on Meyer Optiks lenses. The German engineers weren't playing around. I'll be getting the 100MM Orestor and some Pentacons (rebranded meyer optik lenses) too at some point.

[vonBaloney]

I'm not an optics expert, but from what I've seen from the 58/1.9 I'm sold on Meyer Optiks lenses. The German engineers weren't playing around. I'll be getting the 100MM Orestor and some Pentacons (rebranded meyer optik lenses) too at some point.

I also have the 135/2.8 and the 200/4. The 135 (mine is the Pentacon version) has a bit more CA/purple fringing than I've seen with the others, but still a nice lens. The 200/4 is one of my favorite lenses (I have the zebra Meyer) and also fringes a bit wide-open but is impressively sharp and has pleasing character. I like the vintage German lenses as they seem to have prioritized edge-to-edge sharpness over the maximal center sharpness at the expense of the edges (Japanese lenses have this tendency) and that suits my style. And the bokeh is either swirly or creamy depending on the lens (and focus point, background distance, etc). Many of the vintage Meyers are in the sweet spot of quality and affordability. Even the very common 50/1.8 is one of my favorite 50s...

[Lmcfarrin]

I also have the 135/2.8 and the 200/4. The 135 (mine is the Pentacon version) has a bit more CA/purple fringing than I've seen with the others, but still a nice lens. The 200/4 is one of my favorite lenses (I have the zebra Meyer) and also fringes a bit wide-open but is impressively sharp and has pleasing character. I like the vintage German lenses as they seem to have prioritized edge-to-edge sharpness over the maximal center sharpness at the expense of the edges (Japanese lenses have this tendency) and that suits my style. And the bokeh is either swirly or creamy depending on the lens (and focus point, background distance, etc). Many of the vintage Meyers are in the sweet spot of quality and affordability. Even the very common 50/1.8 is one of my favorite 50s...

... I'm in to become a collector of Meyer Optik lenses. Nice to know I have someone to refer regarding these lenses.