The Meyer-Optik Görlitz Domiplan 50mm 2.8 is one of the most widespread 50mm lenses from east Germany. It was often sold with the EXA and Praktica cameras.

Although manufactured by the very reputable Meyer-Optik Görlitz company (mainly renowned for fast tele lenses), the Domiplan lens is in fact an entry level lens and as such you should not expect too much of it. The Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 2.8 50mm lens is nowadays only slightly more expensive but delivers much more bang for the buck.

Meyer-Optik Görlitz Domiplan 50mm 2.8 Versions

The most widespread version is the “zebra” version with black and silver lines on he side. There is also an all black version. Both versions are identical in regards to optical performance.

• Mount:
  • M42 / Pentax Mount
  • EXA / Exakta mount
• Lens elements: 3
• Minimum focusing distance: 75mm
• Filter mount: M49 x 0.75

Meyer-Optik Görlitz Domiplan 50mm 2.8 Recommendation

PROs:

The Domiplan will probably strike you as a very small, comapct and light lens. This is mainly due to its’ simplistic design. With no multi coating, no automatic / manual button and only 3 elements it is one of the simplest lens construction you can find. Not the sharpest lens but tends to render a dreamy almost creamy image which can be very atmospheric and appealing to the eye.

• • one of the least expensive M42 lenses
  • very light and compact

CONs:

Although it is nice to use a small and light lens, you can definitely feel that the Domiplan was build on a budget.  The lens does not have the toughness and build quality of its’ contemporaries. The ergonomics on this lens are a bit off and overall the lens feels very plasticky. The aperture ring is situated at the very end of the lens, which can be unnusual at first.

Optically it clearly lacks sharpness when shot wide open. The bookeh is interesting but you hardly get any details. It performs better when stopped down.

• • long focusing distance
  • not the highest build quality
  • at f2.8 it is among the slowest 50mm lenses
  • not the prettiest bookeh
  • needs to be stopped down to be reasonably sharp
  • soft at f4 and below

Meyer-Optik Görlitz Domiplan 50mm 2.8 Video

Here is a short example video shot using a full frame Canon 5D Mark II at f2.8. Note that everything is a bit blurry / dreamy with the lens wide open.