Originally posted by Mistral75 whereas Helios-40 (1957; same lens as Helios-40-2 but with M39 mount instead of M42) derives from Carl Zeiss Biotar 75mm f/1.5 (1938).
Ummmm...no. The Helios-40 was developed by the Soviets to photograph oscilloscope displays and was a post-WWII design. Contrary to prevailing opinion, few FSU lenses have a direct Zeiss heritage.
As for the NEW! Meyer-Optik lenses, I don't understand the disappointment. Any lenses developed under that name are Meyer in name only in much the same way as the MIJ CZJ lenses are Zeiss in name only. Meyer-Optik was absorbed into VEB Pentacon in the late 1960s and Pentacon was liquidated and dissolved in the early 1990s. The Meyer entity attempted a revival at that time that failed. The Pentacon brands were acquired by Jos. Schneider Group and continue today in name only with production in Asia.
Translation? The historic Meyer production ended over 40 years ago and the traceable product lineage almost 25 years ago.
The current lenses labeled Meyer-Optic Görlitz are being developed by a company called Globell Germany, owned by net SE. net SE, as near as I can tell is a software publisher that sells, among other things, cheap photo imaging software (
http://www.netag.de/). The Meyer brand's Web site is a single page only and the "Made in Germany" claim is not backed by any manufacturing facilities since the products exist as prototypes only.
Translation? These lenses exist as a few prototypes and are Meyer in name only. As products they don't really exist, except maybe as a means to generate interest from investors.
The prototypes may be repainted Mitakon or KMZ, but what that means is anyone's guess.
Steve