a new range of german made lenses for 35mm

AgX · Sep 8, 2014

A german enterprise, already marketing german made photo accessories, have announced to revive the brand name "Meyer Optik" and to offer german made lenses under that brand.

The first to come are:

-) 80mm 1.8

-) 85mm 1.4

A german magazine reports that both will be available with Canon-EF, Nikon-F und M42 mount.
Both will be manual focus and will have NO automatic diaphragm.

presss release of the associated marketing company:
https://translate.google.de/translate?sl=de&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fde.globell.com%2FRueckkehr-von-Meyer-Optik-Goerlitz-Objektive-Made-in-Germany-mit-weltweiter-Premiere-auf-der-Photoki_detail_939_2227.html&edit-text=

site for those lenses:
http://www.meyer-optik-goerlitz.com/

Already existing industrial lenses in a new dress?

analoguey · Sep 8, 2014

One says ' circular bokeh' -petzval?

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Daire Quinlan · Sep 8, 2014

analoguey said:
One says ' circular bokeh' -petzval?

Nothing about the phrase 'circular bokeh' suggests a petzval. More likely they have a lot of aperture blades or they're curved or something, resulting in a near circular aperture.

RattyMouse · Sep 8, 2014

Pretty bizarre first set of lenses to offer.

count me not interested.

analoguey · Sep 8, 2014

Daire Quinlan said:
Nothing about the phrase 'circular bokeh' suggests a petzval. More likely they have a lot of aperture blades or they're curved or something, resulting in a near circular aperture.

I'd usually associate creamy/smooth bokeh with normal and good bokeh, I figure Circular was a bad translation perhaps (for spherical)

darkosaric · Sep 8, 2014

85mm f1.4 nikkor is still very expensive and attractive on used market. I think they have a chance. With M42 mount they are also targeting digital mirrorless cameras (with adapter).

trythis · Sep 8, 2014

I am looking for an 85mm for nikon right now, but cant afford the Nikkors. It would be nice if they come out at a reasonable price, but I wont hold my breath.

AgX · Sep 8, 2014

analoguey said:
I'd usually associate creamy/smooth bokeh with normal and good bokeh, I figure Circular was a bad translation perhaps (for spherical)

My translation of the original text: "real circular bokeh" or "perfectly circular bokeh"

I guess they refer to the shape of the diaphragm opening.

analoguey · Sep 8, 2014

Ah I see!

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benjiboy · Sep 8, 2014

There are so many first class used marque lenses on the market by the big five manufacturers at reasonable prices that have automatic diaphragms, I think these lenses have laid an egg before they start.

AgX · Sep 8, 2014

Though within the 80-100mm/large-aperture range choices are few. And probably nothing cheap (in contrast to 50mm).

BrianShaw · Sep 8, 2014

That's what I was thinking, Ben.

AgX · Sep 8, 2014

AgX said:
Already existing industrial lenses in a new dress?

So far I did not find a lens that fits.

Daire Quinlan · Sep 8, 2014

AgX said:
Though within the 80-100mm/large-aperture range choices are few. And probably nothing cheap (in contrast to 50mm).

There's the Samyang 85mm f/1.4, which is reasonably well regarded I think (though I've never used one myself) and has appropriate mounts for all the big brands.
It's not as though reviving the brand is anything more than window dressing to give them a little more legitimacy.

benjiboy · Sep 8, 2014

BrianShaw said:
That's what I was thinking, Ben.

The prices of 999 Euros($1293 USD) and 849 Euros ($1099 USD) for the 1.4 and 1.8 respectively aint cheap either.

darkosaric · Sep 8, 2014

benjiboy said:
The prices of 999 Euros($1293 USD) and 849 Euros ($1099 USD) for the 1.4 and 1.8 respectively aint cheap either.

Direct competition AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G on bhphotovideo is 1600$, on German Amazon 1449 (1876$).
Also in consideration is full metal lens over cheap "plastic fantastic" feel of modern nikkors. And those G lenses will not work on many nikon bodies.

Daire Quinlan · Sep 8, 2014

darkosaric said:
Direct competition AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G on bhphotovideo is 1600$, on German Amazon 1449€ (1876$).
Also in consideration is full metal lens over cheap "plastic fantastic" feel of modern nikkors. And those G lenses will not work on many nikon bodies.

Direct competition as I see it is more something like this http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/859124-REG/Samyang_SY85M_C_85mm_f_1_4_Aspherical_Lens.html
Off brand manual focus 85mm f/1.4, $269 or a little over €200

darkosaric · Sep 8, 2014

Daire Quinlan said:
Direct competition as I see it is more something like this http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/859124-REG/Samyang_SY85M_C_85mm_f_1_4_Aspherical_Lens.html
Off brand manual focus 85mm f/1.4, $269 or a little over 200

That is a very good price .
I think they want to get more in a "zeiss full metal niche" market. We will see how it will go. Not once more expensive was sold better than cheaper and equally good or better product (Iphone vs android being one example).

MDR · Sep 8, 2014

Danke für die Info/Thank you for the info. I am astonished about the lack of auto-diaphragm other than that they sound very interesting. I also admit that I always had a soft spot for pre war Meyer lenses they were/are vastly underrated if they have the same feel and look as the old ones I might just buy one.

Daire Quinlan · Sep 8, 2014

darkosaric said:
That is a very good price .
I think they want to get more in a "zeiss full metal niche" market. We will see how it will go. Not once more expensive was sold better than cheaper and equally good or better product (Iphone vs android being one example).

you might be right, in which case comparing them to THIS http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1077281-REG/zeiss_2040_292_otus_apo_planar_85mm.html makes them look like a positive bargain :-D

ntenny · Sep 8, 2014

I think the Cosina Voigtlaender offerings show that there is a market for good-quality third-party lenses, but IIRC they weren't able to sell enough in Pentax mount to justify the production (I don't remember if that was K or M42). Unless this new entrant can find a way to make a profit in a *very* limited niche market, I bet they'll find they need to narrow down to Canon and Nikon. Also, the lack of auto-diaphragm is bizarre and seems like a deal-killer for many, many buyers, especially given the prices.

Those lens names are suspicious. "Somnium" and "Figmentum"? How certain are we that this isn't some sort of joke that got loose into the wild?

-NT

Ken Nadvornick · Sep 8, 2014

ntenny said:
Those lens names are suspicious. "Somnium" and "Figmentum"? How certain are we that this isn't some sort of joke that got loose into the wild?

Also noticed that...

Ken

AgX · Sep 8, 2014

You are right. Though I'm into languages and wording, with tracing thosde lenses I did not put any interest on these names.

I better should have.

-) somnium = dream, but also = pipe dream

-) figmentum (is even a term used in English) = image , but also = fantasy

BrianShaw · Sep 8, 2014

When is April Fools Day in Germany?

cmacd123 · Sep 8, 2014

The world of Licened trademerks gets even more wild.

My first two SLR cameras had real EAST german Meyer Optik lenses. My exa I had something like a Manual diaphragm 50mm f2.8 and My Pracktica had a DOMIPLAN 50mm auto lens. come to thing of it my First 35mm camera, a berette also had a meyer lens.

I recall at the time the brand was seen at least here as inexpensive and built mainly to generate hard currency for the Government in east berlin. That legacy will perhaps have to be overcome if they want to use the brand to mean anything.

The lenses will have to have some high redeeming qualities and impeccable German Provence, (ie not just assembled from Chinese parts) to get much notice.

Mind you if they are GOOD, the Micro four thirds and possibly the movie folks may be interested. (that is the market the Multi-thousand Zeiss Lenses are actually intended for and probably only come in Canon mount for the EOS cine system.)

a new range of german made lenses for 35mm

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