Meyer Optik - CLASSIC VINTAGE LENSES - From £30!

[@neilpiper9889]

When I was a Press Wedding and portrait photographer back in the 1960s I used 2 Yashica Mat cameras and a Practica Mtl with a 30mm 3.5 preset Lydith lens. The Lydith was useful for guests arriving at the Church. I pre focused on a pebble at about 12 feet with the shutter at 250th and the the aperture at f8. When the guests came, I didn't stop them but fired the shutter when they reached the pebble. A very natural look.

[@ajeromemahon7808]

I shot my first wedding on Saturday with auto focus and it's hard enough. I commend you for manual focus and your excellent prefocus method

[@zenography7923]

A useful technique - thanks for sharing!

[@Skipsul]

@@ajeromemahon7808 For those of us who grew up on manual, there were lots of tricks. Pre-focus, zone focus, “f8 and you’re great”, etc. You rarely shot wide open except for posed or very dark shots, or with wide angles. Modern autofocus is a marvel that both augments technique, and enables shots that were once simply too tough for most situations.

[@ajeromemahon7808]

@@Skipsulthank you! I should learn some of them, because I'd love to confidently use manual lenses for non critical wedding shots

[@Skipsul]

@@ajeromemahon7808 I've been having fun recently going through old 1940s, 50s, and 60s photography manuals in book stores - many can be found quite cheaply in used book shops. I grew up in the 80s, when 400ASA film was common and cheap and easily found everywhere from the grocery to a street kiosk, and 800 or higher was around in the camera shops. You could do a lot with that, but you still carried an on camera flash for indoors. Well, these older books talk about even 100ASA film being "very fast", so those folks talk not just about focusing, but even ways of instinctively bracing oneself to avoid shake, as well as other techniques. I'm learning a lot about how they did it all.

[@jendriktimm5566]

I believe the Domiplan is a Cooke Triplet which is a rather simple design. I got one. It is really fairly sharp. I also got a Pentacon 29mm which is the successor of the Meyer Orestegon. It is not as sharp as the Domiplan. But it is by far not as bad as its awful reputation.

[@barrycohen311]

Correct- Domiplan is a Cooke Triplet. A three element lens, designed and patented in 1893 by Dennis Taylor who was employed as chief engineer by T. Cooke & Sons of York.

[@zenography7923]

Thanks for the info!

[@jeghedderhenrik]

the triplet lenses are bokeh monsters, not bad indeed

[@srdjanbasaric517]

You are rigt,Practica was double cheaper with Domiplan than Pancolar.

[@jeghedderhenrik]

a comment to pentacon 29mm :agree, the pentacon wideangle version is a dissapointment, nothing interesting about that, and sharpness is only average..my pentacon version is a dust collector

[@sillk963]

I discovered your channel recently, and I feel obliged to mention how great your videos are - very relaxing and "to-the-point." Keep up the good work.

[@d30gaijin]

I am happy to see someone covering the Meyer Optik lenses. I have all three you covered and then some. They can be a bit quirky but excellent lenses none-the-less. If lenses have "signatures" then the Meyer Optik lenses definitely have their own. Something very enjoyable to exploit. Great video! Keep up our excellent work.

[@campbells0ups]

love the signature of the Meyer-Optik lenses. they bring a vintage vibe to images while also manipulating color in a way where its subtle, but beautiful. and they are standout lenses for bokeh. own the Oreston and the Primoplan 58

[@barrycohen311]

I have a Domiplan and the Oreston. Great lenses. Both have the Zebra type thing going on. I paid $10 for the Domiplan and $45 for the Oreston. About four or five years back. My Oreston is insane sharp, (Stopped down, as sharp as my modern Fuji lenses), but copy variations did exist back in those days. Presumably, I lucked out and got a good one.

[@zenography7923]

I found the Oreston no softer than many Western lenses of the time - it sounds like you've been lucky with yours!

[@johnnymarinarasauce]

Same here Barry. This summer a friend gifted me a few of his old lenses and the Oreston was by far the best of the lot and that included the Helios 44-2 also in that lot. Incredibly sharp. Just as sharp as my Pancolar. I own around 100 vintage lenses, many in the 50ish range and between the colours, sharpness and bokeh I put this easily in my top 10. I also own a pristine Pentecon 50mm f1.8 that is much softer and has far less contrast compared to the Oreston. Maybe the same on paper but not close in performance. Maybe sample variation coming into play, maybe not lol.

[@SweetJasamine]

Nice to see you back. I have the Lydith lens, bought purely on looks and because the name reminded me of the mythical Lilith (I know, each to his own!). It's currently on my Fuji X-T20 and I love it.

[@garymanning4578]

Oreston f1.8 is a classy bit of glass and is up there in sharpness with modern classic lenses. I had a Pentax after selling my Practica but found the Oreston sharper than the Takumar but didn’t have that Pentax colour rendition which made that special. Wonderful value compared to nearly any other fine standard lenses available on a par with Olympus.

[@zenography7923]

Certainly on a par with many Western lenses of the time, it is indeed a nice piece of kit - enjoy!

[@jimgraves4197]

Good to see you have come to enjoy Meyer-Optik Gorlitz lenses, I have the Lydith and Oreston, cheap and cheerful lenses for anyone who uses M42 mount cameras. The Domiplan is a Cooke Triplet type design that gives a unique dreamy bokeh wide open and is well worth a try before videographers buy them all up and get them rehoused for a fraction of the cost of an actual Cooke Triplet.

[@zenography7923]

They'd have to work pretty hard to buy them all up I think! Thanks for tuning in.

[@davidellinsworth22]

I have the Lydith and adapt it to both my Nikon Z6 and my Minolta SRT101. I found it to have Helios type swirly bokeh wide open (albeit not to the same extreme) and stopped down it is very sharp and has lovely 3D rendering

[@nevillewatkins4997]

I've got the Pentacon versions of those. You can't go wrong with any of them really.

[@zenography7923]

Indeed - very nice lenses! Thanks for tuning in.

[@charleslawrence7327]

What a terrifically interesting video, Nigel.

[@arcanics1971]

Nice to have you back. Sunday last week was a little empty without the usual dose of Zenography. All nice lenses. I have to agree that 2.8 is plenty. I have a few 1.8s and 1.4s and while I do love 'em, honestly 2.8 is plenty fast.

[@zenography7923]

Thanks, nice to be back. It's nice to play around with wider apertures for sure, and sometimes they're needed, but for the most part you're right, f2.8 is plenty fast enough!

[@ohjajohh]

Great video, I love my Oreston!

[@jaymichaels5187]

Yes, the Domiplan is a Cooke triplet, it can produce a good 3D effect sometimes like most Triplets. The biggest fault with that DDR made Domiplan is it seems to be made to a lower standard than the Zeiss Tessar as used by Pentacon, as the Domiplan suffers from its aperture leaves messing up very often.

[@zenography7923]

I've heard that can be a problem, luckily mine was fine! Thanks for looking in.

[@hulldoctor]

@@zenography7923 My copy came with non-functioning aperture blades. This lens is so simple that is was very easy to disassemble, clean the blades, and re-assemble. As I recall, it only has 5 blades, so the reassembly is about as easy as it can be. Compared to my CZJ Sonnars and Flektogons with their deeply recessed aperture mechanisms the Domiplan is a breeze.

[@misteragb7558]

I have a Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar, marked as "Aus Jena T" and it's by far the worst build quality I have ever seen in a lens, I own over 40 vintage lenses and 2 different versions of that Tessar Zeiss. Are the Aus Jena versions just made to a lower standard then?

[@jaymichaels5187]

@@misteragb7558 The Domiplan was made to a lousier standard than the DDR made Tessar that Pentacon used, in design and construction. I own 5 different DDR made Zeiss Tessars for my Prakticas and they are not badly made lenses when compared to the Domiplan. East Communist Bloc products tend to vary in quality depending on the batch made and the year and their constant simplification in design and the the replacement of superior materials with inferior ones. USSR made consumer products really suffered from this but so did products made in nations behind the iron curtain.

[@jonnybgoodsilver741]

the 100mm meyer 2.8 is also great and cheap , but you ll find it mostly on exa , its sharp as hell and gives nice bokeh on closeups

[@hulldoctor]

Hi, Nigel. The Domiplan uses a Cooke Triplet design, with just three lens elements, with a biconcave middle element. The 135mm CZJ Triotar uses the same type of lens design.

[@zenography7923]

Interesting, thanks for the info!

[@RazOfTheVoidMusic]

Hi Nigel! As a beginner amateur photographer, it would be great to get a video from you on tips on photography. I mean, composition, lighting, your process, what aperture do you recommend for which conditions and so on. I know this channel has mostly been about hardware so far but when you say stuff like "much blur is not needed in most cases" it would really help a beginner like me to have some examples. Thanks!

[@zenography7923]

Thanks for the suggestion. I've probably neglected beginners a little but bear with me, I'll try to correct that. Thanks for tuning in!

[@erichbrunner6157]

I really like your video. I own all three lenses that you reviewed here. In the USA you won't find a Lydith for anywhere near 30 Pounds. Other than that, review was spot on as usual. Thank you.

[@zenography7923]

Prices do vary from country to country I'm afraid, and I think perhaps not many came to the usa in the first place? Glad you're enjoying the videos.

[@bcostin]

I have both the zebra-stripe Oreston and a nearly identical early Pentacon variant. I took the Oreston on vacation with me recently for some flower photography. When shooting at wider apertures in bright sunlight you can get a lovely background glow. Technically it's veiling flare, I suppose, but it's consistent and even across the frame in a way that gives predictable results.

[@zenography7923]

Thank goodness for optical flaws! Thanks for looking in.

[@crazygeorgelincoln]

Aperture blades on domiplan type 2.8 can get intermittently a bit slow in response to the auto button , I have 3 of them , put them all in the to service pile, when I got to them they all worked , maybe the fear fixed them!

[@zenography7923]

Sounds like they gave themselves a stern talking to in that service pile!

[@karenbford]

Great video! I have the Oreston 50mm 1.8. I agree it is a little soft wide open, but does have nice blur.most of the time. I will check out the other two.

[@zenography7923]

Worth checking out, especially as they're so cheap!

[@alexblaze8878]

As always, well done video Nigel!

[@zenography7923]

Thanks Alex, glad you enjoyed it!

[@petersnow389]

Sometimes there is confusion between the Meyer Optik 29mm and 30mm lenses. The 29 is the Orestegon, and is a 7 element optic, usually with a fully automatic diaphragm, and the 30, is the Lydith, which is a 5 element optic, with a pre set diaphragm, both were available in M42, and Exakta mounts. They were both simply rebranded 'Pentacon' in later years, and the model names were dropped. Sometimes, one will come across the 29mm, rebranded 'Carl Zeiss Jena', no doubt to suit certain markets, and/or to make the lens more saleable, but it is simply the old Meyer Optic design, with a new suit of clothes.

[@zenography7923]

It seems I've fallen victim to that confusion - thanks for the correction Peter. I hope all's well with you and yours!

[@milkyway6080]

I was just going to say something about this 29mm. I've got the Pentacon 30mm (same as Lydith), do you agree with all those who say that is a way better lens than the 29mm (I'm talking about optical design and rendering on a good copy, without considering the decentering glass elements on many 29mm's)?

[@jeghedderhenrik]

i got a serie of pentacon versions, 50 2.8 pancake, 28 mm 2.8 and 50 1.8, the last mentioned both in m42 and aĺl of the mentioned in prakticar version.. my general experience with prakticar mount versions are, that the build qualiity and precions are superior to m42.. so i keep prakticar versions and sold the m42 mounted

[@TheManFrayBentos]

The Domiplans suffered a lot from copy variation - many people seem to have been unlucky with one, but the one I have is absolutely fine. It's an older one with the zebra finish.

[@zenography7923]

I've heard reports of large copy variations in the fsu lenses, but honestly I haven't experienced it myself. Maybe I've been lucky?

[@skazhenyj]

@@zenography7923 Actually it's a not a quality control issue, since most of those lenses were fine when new. The issue is with improper "CLA". There are three screws on the back of the lens, and they are used for calibration of the rear element. They should never be played with, because it's extremely hard to center the lens without proper tools and knowledge. Each screw must be left in exactly the same position, which of course is practically impossible even if you're aware of this. People usually aren't anyway, so they just put the screws back without care. That's why so many of these lenses perform terribly, the most important glass element is not in its proper position. Of course, this lens isn't very sharp anyway, but this makes a huge difference. As for the min. focusing distance, I adapt all my M42 lenses via helicoid (slim M42 adapter + 25-55mm helicoid, which effectively means you get almost 30mm extension as a maximum value, but also infinity capability intact). This lens actually performs better at those close distances (for small flower shots for example) than within its standard range, since field curvature it has doesn't matter that much.

[@rock3times]

I love the triplet Trioplan 50mm F2.9..It is better than the Domiplan optically IMHO but hard to adapt the Altix mount. There are rarer M42 and Exakta mount as well. Although it is not a Triplet, the 58mmF1.9 Primoplan is much nicer than the 50mm albeit more expensive option IMHO.

[@rpgbb]

It could be a nice project if you could visit the former East Germany lens factories locations. Maybe find some old workers. For sure there are no many left like WW2 veterans. Maybe it’s beyond this channel scope but it could be a nice project. Maybe have some documentaries production company to sponsor you? I would love to do the same for my Mamiya, find out where it was made but acceding Japan is a harder task than acceding East Germany 🙃 Love the channel! Hope you had a good Summer 🥳

[@zenography7923]

That would be a fascinating subject - I'd love to make that documentary!

[@gpjennett9819]

30mm on APS-C is a bit more than 45mm full frame equivalent. - 45mm on full frame, such as Minolta, turned out to be very popular with street photography. True "normal" perspective on full frame comes from a 48mm lens, not the 50mm we've been told. 50mm is just a tiny bit long. The 45mm lenses were popular because they are just a tiny bit wide of normal perspective without being noticeable as a wide angle lens. The Lydith 30mm on an APS-C mirrorless camera makes a great street lens with a bit of the vintage look.

[@redsphoto6708]

Lovely video as always! I don't have any of these 3 but my Meyer 100mm f/2.8 Orestor is one of my favorite vintage lenses. Adore that little thing If you like 30mms, I can definitely recommend the smc Pentax 30mm f/2.8. It's more pricey than the one here but if you can get your hands on one I think you'd love the nice colors it makes

[@zenography7923]

I'll look out for one, thanks for the tip!

[@Durio_zibethinus]

Looks like a nice lenses, I don't know if SEA region has it on the market. I love how the colour rendered at 15:05, it splash nostalgia on the first sight! Oh, right. I have something to ask, Nigel. I found that some old mirrorless cannot peaking or magnifying while recording video. The only one I know is just Canon eos m3. Do you know about another affordable mirrorless with this capability? Thanks!

[@alexanderpowerman7825]

Благодарю Вас! Я всегда получаю удовольствие, когда смотрю Ваши выпуски. Я сам имею в своей коллекции объектив Pentacon 50 mm/f1.8. Это действительно очень приятный, пластичный объектив.

[@user-bs6rv4kc8x]

Добрый день. Недавно поснимал на Pentacon auto 1,8/50 (не mc версия) , на цифре и на пленке. Не скажу, что он в чем-то проигрывает моим нескоким версиям знаменитого Pancolar 1,8/50. По резкости на 1,8 где-то отказался даже лучше.

[@alexanderpowerman7825]

@@user-bs6rv4kc8x наверное, удачный экземпляр попался. Панколары обычно порезче. Немножко.

[@user-bs6rv4kc8x]

@@alexanderpowerman7825 Да, думаю, что экземпляр такой. Купил Зенит-е с этим Pentacon. Видно, что использовали по полной, как говорится "и в хвост и в гриву". Диафрагма только в ручном режиме работает. Но оптика в отличном состоянии.

[@alexanderpowerman7825]

@@user-bs6rv4kc8x Эти объективы можно ремонтировать. Разбираете, моете, смазываете и будет как новый.

[@Analogbrain]

A great video, Nigel! I haven't tried the Domiplan, I know it's a triplet, and that it has it's fans. The Pentacon 50mm 1.8 is probably about us much bang for buck you can get in any lens, and an excellent choice as a start up vintage lens. The Lydith is among my favourite wides, and it's such a lovely combination with my Sony a7 R. Another wide to look for is the Canon FL 35mm 2.5, big and heavy, but what a lens! Meyer Optik Görlitz also made very nice tele lenses, with a bunch of apperture blades.

[@zenography7923]

Hey Kalle, I'll look out for that Canon, thanks for the tip!

[@blackbelt4488]

I’ve been intrigued by your series videos on classic German and Russian lenses. I’ve been a Nikon F2 shooter for 50 years and am now ready to embark in acquiring and shooting some of these lenses. Any tips on adapters I should be aware of? Which one would you suggest I start with that will cover the broadest range? Some old dogs are eager to learn new tricks. Thanks

[@theoldunsshot1005]

That was good to watch! For some time I have avoided the Domiplan because I was swayed by opinions on lens forums - not sharp in corners, not sharp wide open etc. etc. I think now there is no good reason for my reluctance to try it. The only lens I have tried recently that disappointed was the CZJ 29mm. I have two copies and there is something definitely wrong with them wide open and I have heard they are susceptible to the front elements being "un-centred" or "de-centred" (I can't remember exactly the term used), so maybe it is time to try some maintenance. Nice videos!

[@zenography7923]

Glad you're enjoying the videos. The Domiplan does have a certain character that many find quite special - certainly worth trying at these prices!

[@pastedtomato]

Regardless the Exakta mount lenses, it's really easy to convert one to M42 using only a M39-M42 ring adapter, it's usually not (easily) reversible tho.

[@zenography7923]

Thanks for the info!

[@petersnow389]

I should also have added, in my previous comment, that the 29mm lens was offered, in later years, rebranded again, under the 'Prakticar' name, with the Praktica 'PB' bayonet mount, to suit the Praktica 'B' series, electronic cameras.

[@zenography7923]

Thanks for the info Peter, much appreciated!

[@petersnow389]

@@zenography7923 No problem at all Nigel, and thank you for the good wishes, I am afraid that my memory is failing me. The 'Prakticar' 'B' series 29mm lenses, were also yet again occasionally rebranded, and sold under the 'Carl Zeiss Jena' banner. I have such an example in my collection. However, under all the different liveries, it was just the venerable old Meyer Optik Gorlitz design.

[@tee_m]

"Accidentally" picked up a Meyer 135mm f2.8 think it's called the orestor bundled with a helios44-2 and a Pentacon lens- it wasn't even pictured in the bundled listing on eBay. What a super lens, definitely looking for more and that 30mm looks great. Cheers!

[@zenography7923]

Thanks Tom, glad you enjoyed it. That Orestor sounds nice - I'll look out for one!

[@ArminHirmer]

noooo noooo, not more lenses :D but hey they are quite intriguing when you find them for a good price. thanks for showing, as they are not so common and "famous"

[@zenography7923]

Can one ever have too many lenses? But - point taken, I'll try to vary the output. Thanks for looking in!

[@thurthevintagelens]

do you keep a log of all the vintage lenses you review?

[@diegopendinorodriguez4829]

What adapter do you use on EOS R?

[@Waqas_Q_]

Can you recommend a reliable store that sells vintage lenses in the UK?

[@sclogse1]

I get a bit confused when you say a lens close up is point 75cm, and then later it's referred to as 75 cm. I tried to find a pic on ebay...nope.

[@sidekickbob7227]

He clearly ment .75meters, but said centimeters. The next sentence he confirmed it by saying it wasn't very close focusing... (about twice of what could be expected)

[@zenography7923]

My apologies - 75cm or 0.75 meters is the correct distance!

[@bagzhansadvakassov1093]

Is there a way to mount this on fuji film?

[@adrianelsner4936]

Oreston to faktycznie perełka. Budowa podobna do Biotara od Zeisa ale moim zdaniem lepszy. Oprócz niego mam też Domiplana, który jest takim typowym tripletem bez szału ale poprawny. Pozdrawiam z Polski.

[@johnsmith-vz3vr]

Meyer Optik Lydith 29mm f3.5 this lens is 30mm f3.5,

[@sclogse1]

Your comment isn't clear.

[@johnsmith-vz3vr]

@@sclogse1 mądrej głowie, dość po słowie

[@perin99]

I have the Domiplan and Oreston. I really like the Oreston and think that they are slightly better than the multicoated, Pentacon version. I used my Domiplan once and found it to be horrible - the worst lens I own. My copy has got to be a bad one as I cannot imagine anyone liking that thing.

[@rpgbb]

The scary part is that all this technology and craftsmanship are being lost

[@zenography7923]

Well, yes and no. The lenses still exist and aren't going anywhere soon, and most, I would imagine, could still be produced today without too much difficulty. Mass produced high technology does change very quickly, as any owner of a Ford model T, a vinyl record player - or indeed a five year old computer - will tell you!

[@d30gaijin]

I would also like to add that the Domiplan has a rather poor reputation in terms of quality of build. It's difficult to find one with a properly working aperture. I have two of them, both appear to be in excellent condition but suffer apertures that will not close down all the way consistently. Very frustrating. I like the Domiplan for its three element build, very much like the much more expensive 50mm f/2.9 Trioplan. But the Trioplan is much better built. I fear I will have to spring for the Trioplan to get a decent working 50mm f/2.9. (BTW, I am referring to the M42 versions, I have no idea if the same problem afflicts the Exact mount version).