Meyer-Optik's Primoplan 58mm f/1.9 — a cult vintage M42 portrait prime famed for swirly, bubbly bokeh.
The Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Primoplan 58mm f/1.9 is a German fast standard-to-portrait prime whose design dates from the 1930s, later produced in M42 mount among others. Made by Meyer-Optik of Gorlitz, the Primoplan is a celebrated vintage lens known for its distinctive rendering, and the design has been revived in modern times.
This is a manual-focus M42 screw-mount lens with a 58mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/1.9. Focus and aperture are set by hand on the barrel, with early versions using a preset aperture. It is an all-metal fast prime. Detailed element figures are not asserted here beyond the verified focal length and aperture, following the accuracy standard.
The 58mm f/1.9 Primoplan is famous for its swirly, bubbly out-of-focus rendering, spinning background highlights around the subject and producing pronounced bokeh balls, a signature look that makes it a cult portrait lens. It is soft and glowing wide open, firming up stopped down, and is chosen specifically for this dramatic character.
Original vintage Primoplans are scarce and highly valued for their bokeh, commanding strong prices. Inspect the elements for haze, fungus, scratches and separation, confirm the aperture and any preset ring work, and check focus feel. Verify the M42 mount, as the lens exists in several mounts. An M42 adapter makes it a prized character portrait lens on mirrorless.