The Meyer-Optik Görlitz Orestegon 2.8 29 is a good and highly underrated wide angle lens. It is small, compact and solidly build. The Meyer-Optik Görlitz Orestegon 2.8 29 is very good at rendering colors and creates a distinctive vintage look. It is the predecessor of the Pentacon 2.8 29mm.

Meyer-Optik Görlitz Orestegon 2.8 29 Recommendation

PROs:

The Meyer-Optik Görlitz Orestegon 2.8 29 is certainly one of the most affordable wide angle lenses. Although 29mm is certainly an unusual format, if you are using a camera with a cropped sensor it gives you a slight edge over 35mm lenses if you seek wider perspectives and compositions. It’s a nice little travelling companion that won’t leave your shoulder crippled the next day. It offers nice angle of view that will work great for landscape photography and even portraiture. Its’ minimum focusing distance of 25 cm also comes in handy for portraire and close up shots. What I especially liked about the Meyer-Optik Görlitz Orestegon 2.8 29 is that creates a certain vintage look by capturing really warm tones.

• value for money
• unique colour rendering and vintage look
• close focusing range of 25cm
• compact, light and solidly build

CONs:

The Meyer-Optik Görlitz Orestegon 2.8 29 is more of an outdoor performer. At f2.8, it is not the fastest lens. I had the impression that the images lack luminosity and it is hard to make out details. In the long term the results you obtain might not satisfy you. I personally would rather invest a bit more and get a Carl Zeiss Flektogon 35mm orthe Takumar 28mm. If you are after a wide angle lens in the same price range but want extra sharpness, I would recommend Meyer-Optik Görlitz Lydith 3.5 30.

• a bit soft, especially in the corners
• as every extreme wide angle lens there tends to be some distortion
• not a fast lens

Meyer-Optik Görlitz Orestegon 2.8 29 Versions

The Meyer-Optik Görlitz Orestegon 2.8 29 was manufactured in M42 and EXA/Exakta mount. All versions have the typical zebra look (black and silver stripes).

• Mounts available:
  • M42 / Pentax Mount
  • EXA / Exakta mount
• Made in east Germany
• Lens elements: 7
• Aperture blades: 6
• viewing angle: 73°
• minimum focusing distance: 25cm
• Filter mount: M55 x 0.75
• Multi Coating: Yes
• Weight: 242gr