Skip to main content

Meyer Optik to resurrect Primoplan 58mm f/1.9 ‘wonder bokeh’ lens


As of late, a trend has arisen that favors the revival of old, classic lenses for modern-day DSLRs. One of the most recent lenses to get a redesign was Meyer Optik’s Trioplan ‘soap bubble bokeh’ lens, which was first announced last year. Now, Meyer Optik is back at it again with a redesign of its Primoplan ‘wonder bokeh’ 58mm f/1.9 lens.

80 years after Meyer Optik engineer Paul Schaefter created the optical formula for the lens, Meyer Optik is bringing it back for a new generation of cameras and photographers.

e14936c258c9a5af1cfe3b5af9bb9c76_original
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Much like its Trioplan sibling, the defining feature of the Primoplan is its ability to create multiple bokeh effects, all within a single lens design destined for Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony E, Fuji X, Micro Four Thirds, M42, Pentax K, and Leica M mounts.

Recommended Videos

Meyer Optik describes the bokeh of the Primoplan 58mm f/1.9 as a ‘dreamlike diffluence of hazy bubbles in the bokeh, discreetly swirling around the center of the image.’ Below are a few photos of the lens and its bokeh in action:

b51658b263133416ceb774fa9a02b5a8_original
© Raffaele Horstmann Image used with permission by copyright holder
36b172df5eed7076f4f3592e57c5b789_original
© Benedikt Hartmann Image used with permission by copyright holder
a4907280e3800ad43535fe0dd68e382c_original
© Firat Bagdu Image used with permission by copyright holder
5325045a9751695ed0a863609825ba3c_original
© Tamara Skudies Image used with permission by copyright holder

It features an aperture range of f/1.9–22, a 12-blade aperture diaphragm, and is made up of five elements in four groups. Its filter size is 37mm and it comes in at roughly 200g.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Prototypes have already been developed, but mass production is yet to begin, pending the success of the Kickstarter. Already though, the Kickstarter campaign has amassed almost 10 times the original $50,000 funding goal, ensuring production should begin (short of a catastrophic failure).

Meyer Optik says the first units should start shipping around February or March 2017. Currently, a $600 pledge will get you the lens, but there are only a few spots left. Once they’re taken, the lowest price will be $650. Still, that’ll be a great deal less than the $1,500 it’s expected to retail for down the road.

Considering the success of previous Kickstarter campaigns by Meyer Optik, it is unlikely that the product will fail to come to fruition. But, as always with crowdfunding, it’s still a possibility.

For more information, head on over to the campaign.

Gannon Burgett
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Don’t miss the chance to get this 128GB SD card for less than $100
The Lexar 128GB Professional 2000x UHS-II SDXC Memory Card on a white background.

Your new purchase from camera deals will need storage for photos and videos, but you can't buy just any SD card that you see online. It's highly recommended that you invest in a high-quality storage device like the Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II SDXC Memory Card, which you can currently get from B&H Photo Video with a $75 discount on its 128GB version that brings its price down from $170 originally to a more affordable $95. You may want to buy multiples of this SD card while it's available for less than $100, but you'll have to hurry because we're not sure how much time is remaining on this bargain.

Why you should buy the Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II SDXC Memory Card
More devices are using microSD cards for expanded storage, but according to our guide on finding the right memory card for your digital camera, most DSLR cameras and mirrorless cameras are still using SD cards like the Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II SDXC Memory Card. Lexar is one of the brands that we wouldn't hesitate to recommend to photographers, and this SD card's read speed of 300 MB/s and write speed of 260 MB/s will enable quick transfers and smooth shooting. Additionally, as an UHS-II card, you won't have a problem with advanced functions such as continuous shutter bursts, rapid shooting, and raw and JPEG captures.

Read more
Capture all the action with the GoPro HERO12 Black — $150 off today at Amazon
The GoPro Hero 12 Black Creator Edition set up on a small tripod on the beach.

In the moment, when you're blasting over that jump on your dirt bike, catching that killer wave, or jumping off of whatever insane cliff you've found, you don't necessarily think about capturing it all. But one of the best ways to make that happen is to strap on an action cam, like a GoPro. You can capture all of the action, and it's relatively low-lift. You wear whatever unique mount is best for the situation and the camera does all the work. There's just one issue, action cameras can be expensive especially if you're on a budget. However, today, Amazon has the GoPro HERO12 Black for $150 off. That brings it down from its normal price of $400 to $250. You can use that extra money to grab an accessory and you're good to go. GoPro HERO12 Black captures it all in 5.3K or 4K so you can rewatch the glory over and over.

 
Why buy the GoPro HERO12 Black? To capture the action, that's why
An action camera like a GoPro makes it possible to capture the action, in full detail, no matter what you're doing. You don't even have to be doing crazy stunts either. A common misconception is that they're only useful for outdoor activities, but no they work for filming just about anything. Even if you're having a barbecue, or a birthday party, or want to see what your roaming cat sees throughout the day -- a GoPro is what you need.

Read more
NASA astronaut Don Pettit talks photography from the space station
NASA astronaut Don Pettit discussing his photography from aboard the ISS.

NASA ASTRONAUT DISCUSSES PHOTOGRAPHY IN SPACE WITH NASASPACEFLIGHT.COM

NASA astronaut Don Pettit arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) in September on his fourth orbital mission in 22 years. Besides working on various science projects on the space-based facility, Pettit is also known for his keen interest in photography, and he regularly shares his impressive efforts -- including rivers, clouds, star trails, and high-speed spacecraft -- on X and Instagram.

Read more