{"id":3591,"date":"2016-09-16T13:36:01","date_gmt":"2016-09-16T12:36:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=3591"},"modified":"2024-04-21T14:38:25","modified_gmt":"2024-04-21T13:38:25","slug":"meyer-trioplan-100mm-28-review-sony-a7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/meyer-trioplan-100mm-28-review-sony-a7\/","title":{"rendered":"Review of the overhyped Meyer Trioplan 100mm 1:2.8"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\"Meyer_Trioplan_100mmf2p8\"<\/h1>\n

The Meyer Trioplan 2.8\/100 is one of the\u00a0most hyped lenses of the moment and prices have exploded to absolutely crazy levels.\u00a0But do you get anything special but that soap bubble bokeh for your money? Read on if you want to know.<\/p>\n

Specifications<\/h1>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Diameter<\/td>\n64\u00a0mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Length<\/td>\n36\u00a0mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filter Thread<\/td>\n49\u00a0mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/td>\n150 g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Max. Magnification<\/td>\n0.15<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Close Focusing Distance from the sensor<\/td>\n1.2\u00a0m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Number of aperture blades<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elements\/ Groups<\/td>\n3 \/ 3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/address>\n
Price<\/strong> (September 2016): $500 in good condition.
\nCheck current prices\u00a0at\u00a0ebay.de<\/strong>\"\"<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<\/strong>ebay.com<\/strong>\"\"<\/a>\u00a0(affiliate links).<\/address>\n
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Image Samples<\/h1>\n

\"DSC06299\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"DSC06087\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"DSC04788\"<\/a><\/p>\n<\/address>\n

<\/p>\n<\/address>\n

Versions<\/h1>\n

There are quite a \u00a0few versions of this lens and it came in several different mounts. There even is a modern version of this lens which you can buy for the very affordable price of just 1.499\u20ac.<\/p>\n

I didn’t spend too much time on research and found no good resource about the history and different versions. So all I can tell you is that my copy comes in M42 mount but there are also many version with Exakta mount.<\/p>\n

If you really like this soap bubble effect be smart and have a look at the TTArtisan 100mm 2.8<\/a> which does exactly the same thing but at a fair price of $155 and with better build quality.<\/p>\n

Build quality and handling<\/h1>\n

\"Meyer_Trioplan_100mmf2p8-5\"<\/a>
\nThe lens is made from aluminium and it feels a bit delicate if you ask me, the fact that it is quite thin might play a role here but I felt that I had to be more careful with it than with my SLR lenses from the 70’s.<\/p>\n

Focusing Ring<\/strong><\/p>\n

The focusing ring\u00a0travels around 330\u00a0degrees\u00a0from 1,2 m \u00a0to infinity. It feels very smooth and is a pleasure to use.<\/p>\n

Aperture<\/strong><\/p>\n

The aperture ring\u00a0has no stops but a long way of travel and you can select any value form f\/2.8\u00a0to f\/22 very precisely.<\/p>\n

The lens has 15\u00a0straight aperture blades so specular highlights stay round even stopped down.<\/p>\n

Hood<\/strong><\/p>\n

The hood is just an about 15mm long silver ring which offers some protection against damage but it doesn’t shield the front of the lens effectively.<\/p>\n

\"Meyer_Trioplan_100mmf2p8-4\"
The lens itself has a black front, the ring above is the lens hood<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Size and Weight<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Trioplan is a small lens, especially the diameter is unusually small but it is also somewhat detrimental to the handling if you ask me.<\/p>\n

\"Meyer_Trioplan_100mmf2p8-2\"<\/p>\n

Optical performance<\/h1>\n

These results are based on the use with a Sony Alpha 7.<\/p>\n

Flare Resistance<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In short: Lousy.<\/p>\n

Ghosting isn’t the issue but you often have to carefully shield the front of the lens with your hand to fight the veiling flare. Especially when you want to provoke the one effect this lens is known for, see bokeh.<\/p>\n

\"DSC04786\"<\/p>\n

Bokeh<\/h2>\n

The Meyer Trioplan 2.8\/100 is known and loved (by some at least) for it’s rather distinctive rendering of specular highlights at f\/2.8 wich is a nice way of saying that it there is very strong outlining going on in the background.<\/p>\n

\"DSC06089\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"DSC00841\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I have used the lens on a couple of trips but I haven’t warmed to the effect. I still think that it usually distracts a lot from my subject and only very rarely adds to the image. Here is a \u00a0comparison with the Minolta MC 2.5\/100<\/a> (which costs a lot less than the Trioplan).<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

In my opinion the Bokeh of the\u00a0Trioplan catches the viewers attention and leads it away from the subject to the background while the very soft background of the Minolta doesn’t\u00a0call for any attention and lets the viewer focus on the subject.<\/p>\n

The Meyer Trioplan 2.8\/100’s bokeh characteristic changes dramatically from f\/2.8 to f\/4:

<\/div><\/p>\n

So at f\/4 bokeh is actually\u00a0very smooth.<\/p>\n

Chromatic Aberrations<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Lateral CA are corrected perfectly which is unusual for a 100mm lens.<\/p>\n

Sharpness<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Meyer_Trioplan_100mmf2p8_infinty\"<\/p>\n

f\/2.8:<\/strong>\u00a0Decent resolution in the center but very low contrast. The midframe area is barely sharp and shows even lower contrast, the corners are soft.<\/p>\n

f\/4: <\/strong>Good contrast and sharpness in the center, corners are soft.<\/p>\n

f\/5.6:\u00a0<\/strong>The Trioplan is\u00a0less\u00a0<\/em>sharp in the center than at f\/4 and contrast is lower as well. Never before have I used a lens on my a7 which showed this behavior so I repeated the test with the same result.<\/p>\n

f\/8: <\/strong>Contrast is even lower but now the midframe region is very sharp as well.<\/p>\n

f\/11: <\/strong>A significant improvement of the corners, they are sharp now. Contrast overall is pretty low though.<\/p>\n

So all in all a rather pitiful performance here, more “modern” lenses from the 60’s and 70’s perform significantly better.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Alternatives<\/h1>\n