Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 II

Meyer-Optik Görlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 II

The Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 II is a modern reissue of one of the most recognizable character lenses in photography, built around the simple three-element triplet formula that gives the line its trademark "soap bubble bokeh." Rather than chasing clinical correction, it is sold as a deliberately characterful optic, and Meyer Optik Görlitz frames it as a centennial revival of a classic design intended for photographers who want an expressive, vintage-style rendering [1][4]. The M-mount version is one of many fittings offered for the same optical unit, and like all current Trioplan 100 versions it is a fully manual lens.

Optically the lens uses three elements in the classic Cooke triplet arrangement, paired with a 15-blade aperture that keeps the out-of-focus highlights round and is central to producing the bubble effect [1]. The manufacturer states the II carries revised mechanics, an improved optical design, a new coating, and a minimum focusing distance reduced to 0.9 m, and that the barrel is aluminum with black anodizing [1]. It is a purely mechanical lens with no electronic communication to the camera body; the aperture ring is declicked and the focus is smoothly damped, which makes it well suited to live-view focusing on mirrorless cameras and a slower, deliberate process on bodies without it [4]. In the M-mount form there is no rangefinder coupling, so Meyer Optik specifies that live view is mandatory for accurate focus [1]. Reviewers note that the build is solid and industrial rather than luxuriously silky, with a clear sense of mechanical quality [4].

The modern Trioplan name carries a complicated recent history that matters to buyers. The current lenses are made by OPC Optics in Germany, which acquired the Meyer Optik Görlitz brand after the previous operator went bankrupt, and reviewers report that dealing with the new owner has been straightforward [4]. The lens is offered in a wide range of mounts, including Leica M and Leica L alongside Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, Pentax, M42 and Micro Four Thirds, and overall length and weight vary with the mount adapter section fitted [1].

Optical qualities

Rendering The Trioplan 100 is defined by its bubble bokeh, which is strongest at f/2.8 in backlit scenes where bright background points render as hard-edged, soap-bubble circles; stopping down to around f/4 calms the effect noticeably [1][4]. Meyer Optik positions it as a portrait and nature lens that offers balanced central sharpness with a distinctive transition from the focused plane to the background, and notes it can reach high magnification with extension rings [1].

Sharpness One detailed review found that wide open the lens is low in contrast with a pronounced glow, so the plane of focus can be hard to pin down even at high magnification, while a single stop down brings a marked jump in contrast and apparent sharpness; even stopped down the rendering stays gentle rather than clinical, and edges are softer than the center [4].

Contrast and color The II uses modern coated Schott glass, which the manufacturer and reviewers credit with better contrast, color neutrality and flare control than a vintage example, giving images more "pop" while retaining the soft vintage look [1][3][4].

Bokeh and transitions Beyond the literal bubbles, one reviewer described the in-focus area melting smoothly into the background, with transition zones that are less wiry and distracting than expected from a bubble-bokeh lens [4].

Distortion and vignetting The same review reported that the lens shows relatively little vignetting, little distortion and modest chromatic aberration, with its softness toward the frame edges being the more obvious limitation [4].

History

Development and Launch The Trioplan name dates to Hugo Meyer's company in Görlitz, where the triplet was introduced in the early twentieth century and became the basis for many later Meyer lenses [5]. Trioplan triplets were produced in quantity from the 1950s, and the original 100mm f/2.8 was made into the 1960s before the design faded into vintage obscurity and later cult status among character-lens users [6]. The brand was revived in 2014 under net SE, which launched crowdfunded "soap bubble" Trioplan lenses; those campaigns raised large sums but ended in unfulfilled orders and a 2018 bankruptcy [2]. The current Trioplan 100 f2.8 II is the version produced after OPC Optics took over the brand, marketed as a reworked, modernized edition of the classic [4].

Production Evolution Compared with the earlier modern reissue, the II is described by the maker as having optimized mechanics, an improved optical design, a new coating and a closer 0.9 m minimum focus distance [1]. Reviewers add that the manufacturer has worked to make the focus and aperture action smoother across production runs [4]. Because the lens is built for many mounts, the optical core is shared while the rear mount section changes, which is why quoted length and weight are given as ranges rather than a single figure [1].

Special editions No major factory special variants of the II are widely documented in the consulted sources; the lens is primarily distinguished by its choice of camera mount rather than by limited or commemorative editions [1].

Collector Notes Buyers should be careful not to confuse the modern OPC-built Trioplan 100 f2.8 II with vintage Hugo Meyer or VEB-era Trioplan triplets, or with the troubled net SE crowdfunded products; the current lenses are a separate German production under new ownership [2][4]. Because the M-mount version is uncoupled and uncoded, it requires live view focusing, so it is best matched to mirrorless or live-view-capable bodies [1]. Worth verifying before purchase are the included accessories Meyer Optik lists with the lens, namely front and rear caps, the lens hood, and the warranty and quick-start documentation [1].

Sources

• [1] Meyer Optik Görlitz. Trioplan 100 f2.8 II. https://www.meyer-optik-goerlitz.com/en/lenses/trioplan-100-f2.8-ii
• [2] HandWiki. Company: Meyer Optik Görlitz. https://handwiki.org/wiki/Company:Meyer_Optik_G%C3%B6rlitz
• [3] B&H Photo. Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 II Lens for Canon EF. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1486183-REG/meyer_optik_gorlitz_mog10028iief_trioplan_100_f2_8_ii.html
• [4] Hamish Gill, 35mmc. Meyer Optik Görlitz f/2.8 100mm Trioplan II (The New Version) Review. https://www.35mmc.com/09/11/2020/meyer-optik-gorlitz-100mm-trioplan-ii-review/
• [5] Camera-wiki.org. Meyer. https://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Meyer
• [6] Fstoppers. My Review of the Vintage Meyer-Optik Görlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8. https://fstoppers.com/gear/my-review-vintage-meyer-optik-gorlitz-trioplan-100mm-f28-679413