New 85mm f1.5 announced

filmamigo · 02-13-2018, 01:37 PM

Happy to see a new third party lens announced with Pentax K mount.

Of course this lens is a bit of a specialty item, with nosebleed pricing.

Somnium II Presale

stevebrot · 02-13-2018, 01:43 PM

Originally posted by filmamigo

Happy to see a new third party lens announced with Pentax K mount.

Of course this lens is a bit of a specialty item, with nosebleed pricing.

Somnium II Presale

Manual focus
Full manual, clickless, aperture diaphragm
Over-priced per normal Meyer-Optik Goerlitz practice
This offer is actually for pre-orders on a v2 of their existing 85/1.5. The difference looks to be appearance and weight with the new version being ~100gm lighter.

Even at the discount price* one would think they would at least build this with a pre-set aperture mechanism.

Steve

* The same as the current price for the v1 Somnium 85mm

awscreo · 02-13-2018, 01:44 PM

I wonder if helios 40-2 would give similar images at a third of a price) but more lenses is always good

Doundounba · 02-13-2018, 01:45 PM

Wow, must be the first new lens also available for m42 in quite a while!

Kunzite · 02-13-2018, 01:47 PM - **2 Likes**

Yawn... must be the lens' name.
I'd rather save the money for the D FA* 85mm f/1.4.

**RobA_Oz** · 02-13-2018, 01:50 PM

I'd expect any new fully-manual lens to be available in K-mount, as well as every other current mount. The "swirly" bokeh in the portrait on their web-site would be enough to put me off buying it, even if I was interested at the advertised price. Waiting for the new Pentax 85 might be a better option.

**BigMackCam** · 02-13-2018, 01:54 PM

I love manual lenses... even those without preset apertures. And that does look like a lovely lens... but the price is eye-watering for what it is.

I don't know how true this is, but the Mk I version was rumoured by some people to be a re-worked Helios-40-2 (which would make sense given the bokeh swirl, which I love). I'm a big fan of that lens, but even at the price I paid for my new-in-box model, I felt it was at the limit of reasonable value for money. And that was a fraction of the Somnium II's asking price...

IgorZ · 02-13-2018, 02:08 PM

Wow, I was expecting a high price, but $2000? I guess if it is a small production run per unit price can be pretty high...

**pres589** · 02-13-2018, 02:57 PM

I think the exterior styling looks cool but a really good Helios 40-2 probably makes a lot more sense. That kind of money for a lens that doesn't have an A position on the aperture ring seems kind of extreme.

**clickclick** · 02-13-2018, 03:39 PM

I almost can handle the special pricing now, but the full retail is stiff to say the least. I'd have to go see what a vintage copy of the lens costs before biting though, and given the DFA*50, new full frame, DA* 11-18, my GAS and LBA has tapped out my future earnings pretty solidly at this point. Wish B&H sold stock - then I could at least pretend I was paying myself back....

6BQ5 · 02-13-2018, 03:42 PM

Originally posted by IgorZ

Wow, I was expecting a high price, but $2000? I guess if it is a small production run per unit price can be pretty high...

It's all the invisible and transparent gold and platinum plating that is covering the lens barrel...

Mistral75 · 02-13-2018, 03:58 PM - **1 Like**

The original Meyer-Optik Görlitz Somnium 85mm f/1.5 was a clone of the Helios 40-2. This Somnium II has a different, more modern casing to look less like its Russian counterpart and better justify the difference in price.

fsge · 02-13-2018, 05:21 PM

Happy to have the old but very good 85mm EX from Sigma, it avoids any expensive temptation ...

**Clinton** · 02-13-2018, 05:25 PM - **1 Like**

Not to mention the music on that video is preeeemo!

stevebrot · 02-13-2018, 05:34 PM

Originally posted by Mistral75

The original Meyer-Optik Görlitz Somnium 85mm f/1.5 was a clone of the Helios 40-2. This Somnium II has a different, more modern casing to look less like its Russian counterpart and better justify the difference in price.

I wondered about that. To be honest, I think I prefer my LZOS MC Jupiter-9 85/2 purchased new in 2008 for $130.

Steve

02-13-2018, 01:37 PM	#1
filmamigo Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 797	New 85mm f1.5 announced Happy to see a new third party lens announced with Pentax K mount. Of course this lens is a bit of a specialty item, with nosebleed pricing. Somnium II Presale

02-13-2018, 01:43 PM	#2
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by filmamigo Happy to see a new third party lens announced with Pentax K mount. Of course this lens is a bit of a specialty item, with nosebleed pricing. Somnium II Presale Manual focus Full manual, clickless, aperture diaphragm Over-priced per normal Meyer-Optik Goerlitz practice This offer is actually for pre-orders on a v2 of their existing 85/1.5. The difference looks to be appearance and weight with the new version being ~100gm lighter. Even at the discount price* one would think they would at least build this with a pre-set aperture mechanism. Steve * The same as the current price for the v1 Somnium 85mm Last edited by stevebrot; 02-13-2018 at 01:53 PM.

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02-13-2018, 01:44 PM	#3
awscreo Veteran Member Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,722	I wonder if helios 40-2 would give similar images at a third of a price) but more lenses is always good

02-13-2018, 01:45 PM	#4
Doundounba Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Montréal QC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,351	Wow, must be the first new lens also available for m42 in quite a while!

02-13-2018, 01:47 PM - 2 Likes	#5
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	Yawn... must be the lens' name. I'd rather save the money for the D FA* 85mm f/1.4.

02-13-2018, 01:50 PM	#6
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,197	I'd expect any new fully-manual lens to be available in K-mount, as well as every other current mount. The "swirly" bokeh in the portrait on their web-site would be enough to put me off buying it, even if I was interested at the advertised price. Waiting for the new Pentax 85 might be a better option.

02-13-2018, 01:54 PM	#7
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,670	I love manual lenses... even those without preset apertures. And that does look like a lovely lens... but the price is eye-watering for what it is. I don't know how true this is, but the Mk I version was rumoured by some people to be a re-worked Helios-40-2 (which would make sense given the bokeh swirl, which I love). I'm a big fan of that lens, but even at the price I paid for my new-in-box model, I felt it was at the limit of reasonable value for money. And that was a fraction of the Somnium II's asking price...

02-13-2018, 02:08 PM	#8
IgorZ Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Ottawa Posts: 1,735	Wow, I was expecting a high price, but $2000? I guess if it is a small production run per unit price can be pretty high...

02-13-2018, 02:57 PM	#9
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,529	I think the exterior styling looks cool but a really good Helios 40-2 probably makes a lot more sense. That kind of money for a lens that doesn't have an A position on the aperture ring seems kind of extreme.

02-13-2018, 03:39 PM	#10
clickclick Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2016 Location: East Coast Posts: 2,903	I almost can handle the special pricing now, but the full retail is stiff to say the least. I'd have to go see what a vintage copy of the lens costs before biting though, and given the DFA50, new full frame, DA 11-18, my GAS and LBA has tapped out my future earnings pretty solidly at this point. Wish B&H sold stock - then I could at least pretend I was paying myself back....

02-13-2018, 03:42 PM	#11
6BQ5 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Nevada, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,348	Originally posted by IgorZ Wow, I was expecting a high price, but $2000? I guess if it is a small production run per unit price can be pretty high... It's all the invisible and transparent gold and platinum plating that is covering the lens barrel...

02-13-2018, 03:58 PM - 1 Like	#12
Mistral75 Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Paris, France Posts: 7,527	The original Meyer-Optik Görlitz Somnium 85mm f/1.5 was a clone of the Helios 40-2. This Somnium II has a different, more modern casing to look less like its Russian counterpart and better justify the difference in price.

02-13-2018, 05:21 PM	#13
fsge Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Genf Posts: 1,138	Happy to have the old but very good 85mm EX from Sigma, it avoids any expensive temptation ...

02-13-2018, 05:25 PM - 1 Like	#14
Clinton Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,910	Not to mention the music on that video is preeeemo!

02-13-2018, 05:34 PM	#15
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Mistral75 The original Meyer-Optik Görlitz Somnium 85mm f/1.5 was a clone of the Helios 40-2. This Somnium II has a different, more modern casing to look less like its Russian counterpart and better justify the difference in price. I wondered about that. To be honest, I think I prefer my LZOS MC Jupiter-9 85/2 purchased new in 2008 for $130. Steve