It’s one of the more popular vintage lenses: the Meyer-Optik Görlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8. It’s famous for its soap bubble bokeh. You either love the effect, or you hate it. I decided to buy one and used it on a Canon EOS R5. I want to tell you about my findings.
Using vintage lenses on modern mirrorless cameras is nothing new. There is a large fanbase for the effects you can achieve when using these lenses. A few lenses stand out and can be considered famous. The first is the Helios 44 58mm f/2, well known for its swirly bokeh. The second is the Meyer-Optik Görlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 with its soap bubble bokeh.
The popularity of the latter resulted in ridiculous prices, ranging from $300 to $500, or even higher, depending on its condition. Many wonder if this lens is worth the price. I managed to get my hands on one that set me back $250, which seems reasonable. Fortunately, it turned out to be in great condition. Definitely not mint, but very usable with clean and clear glass inside.
A Bit of History
The Meyer-Optik company was founded in 1896 in Görlitz, Germany. Optician Hugo Meyer, together with Heinrich Schätze, became known as a lens manufacturer in the first 20 years. Starting in 1952, the well-known Trioplan triplets were produced. The last Trioplan 2.8/100mm was manufactured in 1964. After some investigation, I believe mine was built somewhere between 1954 and 1958.
When Meyer-Optik was integrated into the VEB Pentacon company in 1971, the brand disappeared. However, at the end of 2018, the company OPC Europe acquired the rights to Meyer-Optik and its lens designs. Today, Meyer-Optik Görlitz has redesigned the old lenses, including the Trioplan.
Things to Consider When Buying Vintage Lenses
Buying a vintage lens is risky in some ways, especially when buying online, since you’re not able to see the condition it’s in. The lens body can be damaged, the rotation mechanism of the aperture ring and focus ring can be stuck, and there is a risk of mold and dust between the lenses inside. In the worst case, the lenses are shifted out of position, making it impossible to focus properly.
It’s also important to consider the lens mount. There are different mounts, like M42 and M39. Some lenses are built for rangefinder cameras that have a different flange distance compared to DSLRs and mirrorless cameras.
Most vintage lenses can be adapted to modern cameras. An M42 mount is easy to use on a DSLR; you just need a converter ring because the flange distance is identical. If you’re using a mirrorless camera, an adapter for DSLR lenses is needed to account for the different flange distances.
Adapters are widely available, ranging from cheap to expensive. I’m not saying to buy an expensive one, but be careful with the cheaper ones. Choose a metal one with a polished metal mount, and make sure there is no play when connected to the camera.
The vintage lens won’t have electrical contacts, obviously. Make sure to activate the option to release the shutter without a lens attached. Otherwise, it won’t work. The aperture will close, resulting in a darkened viewfinder when using the lens on a DSLR. With a mirrorless camera and exposure simulation activated, this will be corrected. You will be stuck with manual focus, though.
Using the Meyer-Optik Görlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8
Mounting the Meyer-Optik Görlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 on a Canon EOS R5 is straightforward. I have an M42 adapter that fits the Canon EF-mount. Next, the EF-EOS-RF adapter makes it possible to mount the lens onto an EOS R camera. As mentioned, the camera is set to be able to shoot without a lens attached.
Using a mirrorless camera with the Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 has many benefits over using a DSLR. First, the exposure simulation keeps the viewfinder bright, even when stopped down. Second, the focus assist is a big help. Although the distance scale is no longer visible, focus peaking is still active, though difficult to use with this lens at f/2.8.
The minimum focus distance is 1.2 meters, which limits the possibilities when photographing flowers and insects. It’s not a macro lens. That’s why I bought a set of silver-colored vintage Edixa Reflex M42 extension tubes as well.
I tried the lens once with a flower and highlights in the back to get an idea of the soap bubble effect, but I used it extensively on some damselflies and a tree frog. I used the 6mm and 13.5mm extension rings, resulting in a less pronounced soap bubble in my case. But I was able to get much closer and achieve a larger magnification.
Using the Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 is fun, and the effort required to get the subject sharp reminds me of when I used my first Practika camera. The Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 also fits well onto that one. While using the lens on my EOS R5, I discovered that I was more focused on photography because I had to put in extra effort to capture a photo.
My First Impressions
Using a vintage lens affects image quality. It’s less sharp compared to modern lenses, and lens defects are present. Post-processing is needed to make the colors more vibrant, for this lens at least. The lens seems susceptible to lens flare, though I didn’t notice this in my first attempts. Perhaps if I remove the lens hood, flare will occur more easily.
The soap bubble effect is produced by the 15-blade aperture. For the tree frog, the circumstances weren’t perfect for that typical soap bubble bokeh to be visible. The extension rings enlarge the soap bubbles as well, reducing the visibility of the effect. The damselflies were in a more suitable situation.
I did notice some blooming effect of the highlights surrounding the damselflies. This is due to the strong backlight and is probably typical for this lens. If the backlight is less extreme, this effect is less pronounced or not present at all.
The first thing to notice is the busy appearance of the background, which is typical for this lens and the reason many people dislike the results. Although I haven’t seen the soap bubble effect in full force—except for one photo of the flower in my garden—I’m curious to see how it turns out in the long run.
I plan to use the lens for flowers and some portraits. Perhaps there are other situations that are perfect for the soap bubble effect. I need to experiment more and get familiar with the lens and its results.
A Cheaper Alternative
It seems the new Meyer-Optik Görlitz has released a modern version of the old Trioplan lens: the Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 II. It has an improved optical design and lens coating, and the minimum focus distance is reduced to 0.9 meters. This lens is available in almost every lens mount. Unfortunately, it sells for no less than 999 euros.
If you’re looking for a cheaper modern alternative, TTArtisan offers a soap bubble lens that resembles the Trioplan’s design. You can choose from an M mount or the old-fashioned M42 mount. The best thing about it is the price. It sells for just $155, which is a good deal. Perhaps even better than an old vintage one.
However, these modern lenses take away the special feeling of fitting a 70+ year-old lens onto a modern camera. It has a unique charm that newer lenses probably won’t offer. But it’s great to have the option if you don’t want to spend too much on old vintage lenses, and still want the typical soap bubble bokeh.
What do you think about using vintage lenses? Let me know in the comments below.
