Many photographers prefer to get some nice creamy bokeh to make their images stand out. While there are many first-party variants, they cost you thousands of dollars to get one good optical system. Those who can afford it will certainly go after first-party lenses, but those who can’t will have to rely on third-party ones. So, we are here to showcase three Meyer Optik lenses that cost you less than $1000 on the used market but give you big results.
Meyer Optik Trioplan 35mm f2.8 II
Most Meyer Optik lenses are a modern take on their vintage offerings. This lens is no different. The 35mm lens is not weather resistant, but it has a nice, well-built metal exterior. You can also see a depth of field scale with the focusing scale, which is to help photographers since this is a manual lens. What the lens does best is it offers nice lens character, similar to old Zeiss lenses from the 2000s and early 2010s.
The bokeh has a soap bubble render, which is not as vivid given the fact that it is a wider focal length. However, you still get a nice separation of background. The colors look amazing, and the skin tone looks even. The flares can add to your images if used wisely. Overall, the 35mm is ideal if you are shooting on the streets, capturing food, or taking environmental portraits. As we explained in our review, “The Meyer Optik Trioplan 35mm f2.8 II is a beautiful lens that can surely give you gorgeous photographs. It’s a good option for the vintage enthusiast, someone who wants a different look, or a passionate photographer who just wants a new experience.”
Meyer Optik 58mm F1.5 II
The 58mm is an ideal lens for portrait photographers who want the best of everything. The images are sharp with 58mm, and when paired with Leica, you get a results worth drooling over. The lens also offers swirly bokeh when shooting at f1.5, and when you stop down, it will become faint. The colors are nice and vivid, especially when you look at the out-of-focus areas.
The silver lens also boasts a full metal body, and when used with the Leica SL2s, it looks pretty well paired. While there is no weather-sealing, one has to be a bit careful when shooting in the rain. But for the most part, dust and debris can’t do them in. Speaking about who must buy this lens, we said in our review, “The Meyer Optik 58mm f1.5 II is a lens advanced photographers will love. If you’re sick of clinically perfect bokeh and a lack of character, this will be your favorite lens. Not only is 58mm a fun focal length, it’s a fairly versatile length too.”
Meyer Optik Trioplan 100mm II
The 100mm lens is long, has an aperture ring at the front, and a focusing ring at the back. For better results, use zone focusing, as this is a manual lens. It is built using metal, has little rubber, and does not have weather sealing. However, it feels nice in your hands, and it works like a long-range finder optic.
The image quality offers nice character, and there is enough sharpness to make your life easy. Speaking about the 100mm bokeh, we added, “This is the type of lens that will get so many photographers excited about shooting. Sony, we don’t care about your quibbles with onion bokeh. We want this! This is the character your lenses are lacking.” The colors are a bit muted, but when paired with a vivid color profile, the colors appear unique. It is less suited for professionals who are working on a specific project.