Meyer-Optik Görlitz

Meyer-Optik Görlitz is a historic German optical brand originally established in 1896. For the Leica M-mount community, the brand represents the antithesis of the "clinical perfection" sought by modern Leica ASPH lenses. Instead, Meyer-Optik is synonymous with "Art Lenses"—optics designed specifically to produce extreme character, aberrations, and unique bokeh effects, most notably the famous "Soap Bubble Bokeh."

While the vintage company primarily produced lenses for Exakta and M42 mounts, the brand's modern revival (post-2014) has seen the release of these classic formulas in native Leica M-mount. However, prospective buyers must be aware of a critical technical limitation: most modern Meyer-Optik lenses in M-mount are not rangefinder coupled, requiring the use of Live View or zone focusing.

History

The history of Meyer-Optik is a turbulent saga of German excellence, Cold War mass production, corporate scandal, and eventual redemption.

The Golden Age & The GDR (1896 to 1990)

Founded by Hugo Meyer in Görlitz, the company was once the primary competitor to Carl Zeiss Jena. During the Cold War, it became part of the East German state conglomerate VEB Pentacon. In this era, Meyer lenses (like the Domiplan and Oreston) were mass-produced, often suffering from variable quality control. However, specific designs like the Trioplan remained cult favorites for their unique optical "flaws."

The "Net SE" Scandal (2014 to 2018)

In 2014, the brand was revived by a company called net SE via high-profile Kickstarter campaigns. They successfully brought the Trioplan 100mm back to the market. However, the company collapsed in 2018 amid scandal, with revelations that some of their "German" lenses were actually re-housed Chinese optics sold at premium prices [[2]].

The OPC Optics Redemption (2018 to Present)

In late 2018, the reputable German optical firm OPC Optics (based in Bad Kreuznach) acquired the brand assets. They completely overhauled the manufacturing process, ensuring that all new "Mk II" lenses are genuinely Made in Germany with improved mechanical tolerances. These are the versions currently sold in native M-mount [[1]].

Product Lines (M-Mount Native)

Modern Meyer-Optik lenses are designated as "II" (Mark II) versions. They feature high-quality anodized aluminum or titanium barrels.

The Trioplan Series (Soap Bubble Bokeh)

The brand's flagship line, based on the Cooke Triplet design (3 elements in 3 groups).

• Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 II: The most famous lens in the lineup. It is renowned for creating sharp-edged, glowing circles of light in out-of-focus areas ("Soap Bubbles") when shooting wide open against backlight.
• Trioplan 50mm f/2.8 II: A "normal" focal length version of the bubble effect. It is significantly more compact than the 100mm but retains the chaotic background rendering.
• Trioplan 35mm f/2.8 II: A moderate wide-angle that brings the triplet character to street photography focal lengths [[3]].

The Primoplan Series (Swirly/Creamy)

• Primoplan 75mm f/1.9 II: A classic portrait lens. Unlike the harsh bubbles of the Trioplan, the Primoplan offers a smooth, "melting" bokeh that swirls slightly at the edges, similar to the Helios 44 or Petzval style but with better sharpness.
• Primoplan 58mm f/1.9 II: A versatile standard lens that provides a unique "dreamy" glow wide open, often used for floral and macro photography [[4]].

The Lydith (Sharpness)

• Lydith 30mm f/3.5 II: Unlike the others, the Lydith is known for sharpness and contrast. It is a wide-angle lens with an extremely short minimum focus distance, making it excellent for dramatic close-ups.

Technical Specifications

Feature	Specification Details
Native Mount	Leica M-Mount (Bayonet)
Focus Coupling	Uncoupled (WARNING): Most modern Meyer M-lenses do not have a cam to move the rangefinder patch. They are designed for Live View (Visoflex/M240/M10/M11) or Zone Focus.
Build Materials	High-grade Anodized Aluminum (Black/Silver)
Aperture	Stepless (Silent) aperture rings with up to 15 blades for circular bokeh.
Filter Thread	52mm is the standard across almost the entire modern lineup.
Coatings	Modern Multi-coating (improves contrast compared to vintage versions).

Why Photographers Choose Meyer-Optik Görlitz

• The "Soap Bubble" Effect: There is simply no other lens that replicates the hard-edged bokeh bubbles of the Trioplan 100. For floral and macro photographers, this is a creative tool that defines their entire style.
• The "Anti-Digital" Look: In an era where lenses are corrected to be clinically perfect, Meyer lenses introduce artistic aberrations (glow, swirl, flare) that make digital files look more "organic" or film-like without post-processing.
• Mechanical Reliability (Post-2019): While vintage versions are often filled with dust or stiff grease, the new OPC Optics versions offer the same vintage optical formula but with silky smooth, modern mechanical focusing [[5]].

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Sources

• [1] Meyer Optik Görlitz (Official History): https://www.meyer-optik-goerlitz.com/en/history
• [2] PetaPixel (The Net SE Bankruptcy): https://petapixel.com/2018/10/11/meyer-optik-goerlitz-is-gone-the-firm-has-no-employees/
• [3] Phillip Reeve (Trioplan 100 Review): https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-meyer-optik-goerlitz-trioplan-100mm-f2-8-ii/
• [4] 35mmc (Primoplan 75mm Review): https://www.35mmc.com/10/06/2021/meyer-optik-gorlitz-primoplan-75mm-f-1-9-ii-review/
• [5] Silvergrain Classics (The Revival): https://silvergrainclassics.com/en/2021/12/meyer-optic-gorlitz-experience/