The Meyer Optik Telemegors

[Danny Vange]

Will be used with extension tubes for flower photography. Always lots of fun.
Here are some pics taken with this golden oldie: https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=Tele-Westanar 180

 

[Brian]

Thanks for the link- you got a great price on it.

It's a Sonnar formula lens, please post a thread when you use it with the extension tubes.

 

[Danny Vange]

Thanks for the link- you got a great price on it.

It's a Sonnar formula lens, please post a thread when you use it with the extension tubes.

Hi Brian, yes...I really got lucky. Bought it on the Bay in Germany. Seller has 99% rating with almost 2300 items sold. So I suppose it will be ok.
I will post a thread...no problem.

 

[Tom Caldwell]

Just bought myself a Tele-Westanar 180/4 with M42 mount in great shape for 24,99 euro. Price was too nice to let it pass

Just found and tried my 180/5.5 Telemegor to check. The M2-M4/3 focal reduction adapter was handy just to spoil the FF sensor situation.

The test garden images were ok - the lens is not a dunce but I don't have the wit or capability top make anything special out of it. From memory my Canon FD 200/4.0 gave it a good run for its money "as a regular lens" in capability and the Takumar 200/5.6 was somewhere in between. Images look sharp enough on lcd @ f5.5 and f8.0 but are just a trifle soft when zoomed in. (could be 'me'). I don't think that I would have any trouble in using it as a reasonably good very light and compact telephoto that is very practical to carry around.

But I am sure that it could be a good lens in the right hands with patience and the right subject matter - there is a lot to be said for the skills that can make any lens show its best behaviour. There is nothing apparently wrong with the one I have. Clean as that whistle and no external scratches or scuffs. Focus action is just a little stiff to be perfect but is probably about norm for a little used lens of its age. It does look very little used, if at all, but has a few scratches on the internal thread of the filter thread that say something had been attached there. Came in the original box with original serial number matching.

The good news is that it is being listed in similar condition on eBay for 3-4 times as much as I paid for this one and of course freight charges have gone stupid as well. Not thinking on selling mine but its collector value has improved even if I am not exactly a huge fan of what it can do for me personally. But I remain in awe of the images that better photographers than I can make with it.

 

[Danny Vange]

Nice that you gave it a try, Tom. I use these old lenses mostly for flower photography because of the atmosphere and beautiful bokeh they can create. The images don't have to be very sharp...it's the mood, the colours and light that are important. Of course you have to love this...it's probably not everyone's cup of tea.
And handling these manual lenses is also fun.

 

[Tom Caldwell]

Yes I have a few MF lenses myself. I started collecting them fro my Ricoh GXR-M some years ago - before that I was mainly AF with Canon EF lenses.

I must find some of my images form our local botanic gardens. I had a session with a Canon FD 100/2.0 where I know which lens I was using but as a hopeless note taker I tend to forget which lens took what image.

Back to the Telemegor 180/5.5 - I remember that it was cheap by our importing price standards and I saw it as something to add to my Meyer Optik lens collection. I saw it as a lightweight lens with reach and in that capacity on a test walk it proved not to be exciting - much the same as mirror lenses are usually not their best towards infinity, but best closer to mid-distance. In my test yesterday it was making quite reasonable flower images but what makes for good bokeh gets down to personal aesthetics.