Soooo you wanna see the bokeh monster eh?

[cdifoto]

Here's the Meyer-Optik/Pentacon 135mm as sampled in this thread (http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29198).

As it arrived (the M42 adapter didn't come with it; it's just preventing the lens from rolling):
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/gear/2007-02-27-006.jpg

With box, on 30D:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/gear/2007-02-27-011.jpg

On 30D:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/gear/2007-02-27-017.jpg

Side-by-side comparison:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/gear/2007-02-27-018.jpg

[cwphoto]

I can't believe how small it is next to those other over-sized monsters! :eek:

f/2.8 ain't too shabby either - should make for a brilliant discrete walk-around for urban stuff.

I'm a little bit envious... :( :D

[coldrain]

Roarrrrr! Do you like the bokeh of it that much? How is it compared to your 85mm f1.8 or 70-200 for instance? Nice "product shots" btw :).

[cdifoto]

I can't believe how small it is next to those other over-sized monsters! :eek:

f/2.8 ain't too shabby either - should make for a brilliant discrete walk-around for urban stuff.

I'm a little bit envious... :( :D

Yeah it's relatively tiny. I already knew what an f/2.8 at this FL looks like in M42 but in the eBay pics it looked much bigger. It sorta threw me off because I really wondered if I wanted something that big. Then it arrives...and fits in my rather small mailbox...and I chuckle to myself.

Definitely nice for candids. It's small enough that you wouldn't think of it as being long. I wish I had a FF camera though because obviously it's more ideal on there. But I'll make do for now. :D

f/2.8 isn't spectacular but anything faster is really rare in M42 mount...and kinda pricey. Takumar 35mm f/2s are regularly going for nearly $200. That's too close to the cost of a more convenient EF 35 f/2 for my blood. I might pick up a Jupiter-9 85mm f/2 sometime though. They're actually still in production and about $115 + Shipping brand new from Russia/Ukraine.

This Meyer is about 40 years old.

[cdifoto]

Roarrrrr! Do you like the bokeh of it that much? How is it compared to your 85mm f1.8 or 70-200 for instance? Nice "product shots" btw :).

Yeah it's smoother than my EFs when you start stopping down. The 15 blades keep it more circular. Not to say the EF glass is bad. Hell it's great. But it's also nice to have something smaller and less expensive too. Plus it works on my Spotmatic - unlike the EF stuff.

[cwphoto]

Thanks for the story - it almost looks like a Command Module from the Apollo Missions in that photo.

Fascinating lens, unreal price - talk about bang for your buck.

[cdifoto]

Thanks for the story - it almost looks like a Command Module from the Apollo Missions in that photo.

Fascinating lens, unreal price - talk about bang for your buck.

Woulda been a bigger bang about 7 years ago...when our dollar was stronger than the UK's pound sterling. :(

2007: £41.50 = ~$83.19

2000: £41.50 = ~$24.90


Damn you Bush!!!! :mad: :mad:

[coldrain]

What is it with germans and their need to make technological masterpieces?

Their cars are one example of that.. and then there was this big optics industry that sprouted many famous and less famous manufacturers.
A shame that with the split up of its optics industry with the DDR and the advent of cheap copycat cameras from Japan and then the cheap SLR wave coming from Japan from then not so "famous" brands like Nikon, Canon, Minolta and what not, that the german optics industry has shrunk into near insignificance.

It is fun to see the difference of the machined precision of those traditional lens makers and todays modern mass produced lenses.

**edit: Oops.. I noticed that I left out half a sentence after reading Don's response :D :o

[adam75south]

so do you ever accidentally try to autofocus it?

[cdifoto]

What is it with germans and their need to make technological masterpieces?

Their cars are one example of that.. and then there was this big optics industry that sprouted many famous and less famous manufacturers.
A shame that with the split up of its optics industry with the DDR and the advent of cheap copycat cameras from Japan and then the cheap SLR wave coming from Japan from then not so "famous" brands like Nikon, Canon, Minolta and what not.

It is fun to see the difference of the machined precision of those traditional lens makers and todays modern mass produced lenses.

Agreed. Although I think Canon, Nikon, Pentax et al do make good stuff. It's just good in different ways. German glass is nice to use though. And optically it has flaws but in the way of characteristics rather than defects.

Manual focus is very inspiring though.

[cdifoto]

so do you ever accidentally try to autofocus it?

No but I have more than once turned the damned aperture ring by mistake when I want to focus. The Lentar has an aperture ring really close to the mount. The Meyer is out front. So it's bass ackwards. Just gotta get used to it.

[adam75south]

No but I have more than once turned the damned aperture ring by mistake when I want to focus. The Lentar has an aperture ring really close to the mount. The Meyer is out front. So it's bass ackwards. Just gotta get used to it.
it took me a while getting used to just zooming in and out on regular lenses, i'd go completely retarded with one of those lenses.

[cdifoto]

it took me a while getting used to just zooming in and out on regular lenses, i'd go completely retarded with one of those lenses.

You think I don't? :eek: :D

Luckily for me it's just a prime. So the zooming is one less variable to dicker with. I'm thankful for the "inconvenience."

[coldrain]

it took me a while getting used to just zooming in and out on regular lenses, i'd go completely retarded with one of those lenses.
Be glad you chose Canon then, Nikon would make you more confused!
"Normally" lenses have a zoom ring close to the camera and a focus ring to the end of the lens. Nikon uses the exact opposite with some lenses, with the zoom ring at the front. Now THAT could be very confusing.

And then there is the difference in which way to turn zoom rings... most turn clockwise to zoom in, some turn clockwise to zoom out like the 17-50 f2.8 tamron and the 12-24 f4 Tokina. :eek: :eek:

[Sungrazer]

Whoa. Yeah, I'm glad mine are all the same. Other people pick up my camera and try to zoom by hitting the +/- buttons for magnifying images on playback.

[VTEC_EATER]

So does your camera even meter with that lens, or do you have to use full manual to get proper exposure?

[cwphoto]

Stop-down metering I assume?

[coldrain]

So does your camera even meter with that lens, or do you have to use full manual to get proper exposure?
All Canon EOS cameras meter with manual lenses, even with Nikon manual lenses (can mount with an adapter).

There really is no reason why they should not be able to meter either... This is the strange thing about Nikon, where the Nikon D40/50/70/70s/80 can not meter with older (manual focus) lenses, where the Nikon D200 and D2x/h can meter.

The only thing you can NOT do with the Canon EOS cameras is letting the camera close the aperture only during exposure time, so when you adjust the aperture you do get to see the aperture being closed and less light being let through to the viewfinder. So, focus first, then set the aperture, and the camera will choose a metered matching shutter speed.

[VTEC_EATER]

All Canon EOS cameras meter with manual lenses, even with Nikon manual lenses (can mount with an adapter).

There really is no reason why they should not be able to meter either... This is the strange thing about Nikon, where the Nikon D40/50/70/70s/80 can not meter with older (manual focus) lenses, where the Nikon D200 and D2x/h can meter.

The only thing you can NOT do with the Canon EOS cameras is letting the camera close the aperture only during exposure time, so when you adjust the aperture you do get to see the aperture being closed and less light being let through to the viewfinder. So, focus first, then set the aperture, and the camera will choose a metered matching shutter speed.

Ahhh... Interesting. I was unaware that Canon worked like that. Chalk one up for Canon.

[cdifoto]

Ahhh... Interesting. I was unaware that Canon worked like that. Chalk one up for Canon.

Yep. One caveat though is the aperture is displayed as "00" on the camera body because there's no electrical contact. As far as the body's electronics are concerned, there's no lens attached. Since metering is "what you see is what you get" through the lens, it's not an issue. Ignore the "00" and set the camera to either Av or M & the aperture on the lens as desired. Meter the scene as normal.

Another caveat is since there is no contact, the Speedlites cannot be used. They rely on distance information to provide a proper exposure and without the contact between lens and camera, distance info cannot be read or transmitted. Causes underexposure because as far as I can tell it fires minimum power. You might get away with it as fill only though but the Flash Exposure Compensation does absolutely nothing for it, even when adjusted on the flash itself. The Thyristor type Auto flashes (Sunpak 383, Vivitar 283/285, et al) work fine and accurately since they have their own sensor and operate independently, using the camera's shoe only to trigger it.