Meyer Optik Görlitz 75mm f/1.9 lens with triplet design, prized for circular bokeh and vintage aesthetic achieved through minimal aberration correction.
Technical Details
The Primoplan is based on a modified triplet design with four lenses in three groups. The maximum aperture is f/1.9, the smallest f/22. The focusing range extends from 1 meter to infinity with a filter thread of 58mm. The lens weighs 420 grams and measures 65mm in length. It was originally available for Exakta mount, later also for M42 screw mount and other mounts. The optical design dates back to the pre-war era and was hardly changed until production ceased.
History & Development
Hugo Meyer developed the first Primoplan in 1936 for his company based in Dresden. After World War II, production resumed in Görlitz in 1946, initially under Soviet administration. In 1991, series production ended after over 55 years. Between 2015 and 2018, the revived company Meyer Optik Görlitz attempted a relaunch, which was discontinued after a few hundred units. In total, an estimated 100,000 units of the original were produced.
Practical Use in Film
Today, the Primoplan is mainly used in independent productions that appreciate its vintage look. Cinematographers use it for portrait sequences and close-ups, where the circular bokeh isolates faces from the background. At wide apertures, the lens exhibits noticeable chromatic aberrations and a soft rendering, which becomes noticeably sharper from f/4 onwards. The focus ring requires precise work, as the depth of field changes very gradually. Modern adapters allow its use on digital cameras, with the crop factor influencing the effective focal length.
Comparison & Alternatives
The Primoplan differs from modern 75mm lenses due to its significantly less corrected aberrations. While current lenses like the Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 strive for technical perfection, the Primoplan deliberately creates "imperfections" as a stylistic device. The Meyer Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 is considered a modern alternative with a similar bokeh character, pursuing the same optical philosophy. However, for productions with the highest sharpness demands, the Primoplan remains unsuitable – here, apochromatically corrected systems from Zeiss, Leica, or Canon dominate.