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Meyer Gorlitz Kinon Superior I f=5cm

Updated: 22 hours ago



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Welcome to Googool.com, where we test only the best of the antique lenses that we get our hands on. We decided to choose this beautiful Meyer Gorlitz 5cm projector lens – which, by the way, is one of the most wanted antiquities in the lens market – in the first post that we’re writing on our blog.


As you see in the photos, it’s a pretty simple lens with a straightforward barrel that was taken off an old projector. Regarding the production year of this lens, our best estimation is that it was manufactured between the two World Wars, somewhere in 1920s and 30s, as the markings and names used on it were mostly used by Meyer Gorlitz before WWII.

 


Stills

We placed this lens on a Nikon ZF using a tubular mount, set the camera on aperture mode with “vivid colors” profile and tested it. As seen in the amazing photos below, it gives a very spectacular swirly bokeh with a very shallow depth of field. This projector lens lacks aperture blades, so the f-stop is at the widest possible in all the stills and videos. It is noteworthy that we only did very, very minor edits on the photos to preserve the originality of the shots.


A vibrant orange butterfly rests on white daisies under soft light, with blurred purple flowers in the background and a serene mood. Meyer Gorlitz Kinon Superior I f=5cm Photo Sample

Butterfly on a white daisy among lush greenery. Blurred pink flowers in the background, blue sky visible. Bright and serene setting. Meyer Gorlitz Kinon Superior I f=5cm Photo Sample


Butterfly on white daisies in a garden with blurred pink flowers in the background. Bright sunlit scene, conveying a peaceful mood. Meyer Gorlitz Kinon Superior I f=5cm Photo Sample



Red flowers with yellow centers, against a green and purple background. Swirling, dreamy effect creates a vibrant mood. Meyer Gorlitz Kinon Superior I f=5cm Photo Sample
Butterfly rests on white coneflower under soft light, set against dark, blurred background. The scene is serene and focused on nature.

A vibrant red flower with a yellow center stands amidst blurred green foliage and purple blossoms, set against a soft, dark background. Meyer Gorlitz Kinon Superior I f=5cm Photo Sample

 As you can see in these still shots, the lens gives a very characterful bokeh, with a rather smooth transition to the out of focus areas, and in the edges of the shot, a swirly bokeh.

In the meantime, the shallow depth of field, while making it more difficult to maintain focus, smoothly separates the subject from the background.



Swirly Bokeh

The spectacular swirly bokeh of this lens is more visible in the next shots.


Butterfly perched on a vibrant pink flower with a blurred background of green foliage and more pink flowers, creating a serene scene.
Vibrant orange daylilies with yellow centers bloom among blurred green foliage, creating a dreamy garden scene. Meyer Gorlitz Kinon Superior I f=5cm Photo Sample
A vibrant orange butterfly on a white daisy with green leaves. Blurred background of similar flowers suggests a garden setting. Meyer Gorlitz Kinon Superior I f=5cm Photo Sample
A butterfly perched on a vibrant pink flower, set against a swirling, blurred green background, conveying a peaceful and natural mood. Meyer Gorlitz Kinon Superior I f=5cm Photo Sample
Butterfly on a pink flower with a blurred green background. Vivid colors and serene mood. No visible text. Meyer Gorlitz Kinon Superior I f=5cm Photo Sample
Butterfly on a vibrant pink coneflower in a garden. Blurred green background with more pink blooms, creating a serene, natural scene. Meyer Gorlitz Kinon Superior I f=5cm Photo Sample
Orange lilies and pink flowers in a vibrant green field under a clear sky. The scene has a dreamy, soft-focus effect. Meyer Gorlitz Kinon Superior I f=5cm Photo Sample
Close-up of white daisies with yellow centers in a sunny field. Background has blurred orange flowers, creating a vibrant, dreamy effect. Meyer Gorlitz Kinon Superior I f=5cm Photo Sample
A vibrant orange lily blooms amid blurred green grass. The focal point is on the lively flower, creating a dreamy, artistic effect. Meyer Gorlitz Kinon Superior I f=5cm Photo Sample
Purple thistles in focus against a blurred background of pink flowers and green foliage, creating a dreamy garden scene. Meyer Gorlitz Kinon Superior I f=5cm Photo Sample
Purple bellflowers in bloom with green leaves in a blurred background, creating a serene and vibrant natural scene. Meyer Gorlitz Kinon Superior I f=5cm Photo Sample



Black and White Photography

Many photography enthusiasts are highly interested in monochrome or black and white photography. It strips away color to give more emphasis on form, light, texture, and composition, transforming a literal scene into an abstract interpretation. By removing the distraction of color, it creates a timeless, dramatic, and emotionally profound image that invites deeper viewer engagement. Here are a handful of the black and white photos.



Videography

Here are some of the samples of videos recorded by this lens mounted on a Nikon Zf. Similar to the stills, a minor light and color correction has been made but no major edits have been done. We intentionally didn't crop the video to preserve the swirly boke effect that it gives. Feel free to click on videos to watch them in higher quality.


Infrared Photography

We were thinking about taking one more step ahead and do infrared photography. And then we thought, why not? We went on and installed it on an infrared modified Nikon Z7. The results were as interesting as it could get. Take a look at the results. The swirly bokeh specific to this lens is more visible in the close-ups than wider photos. Nevertheless, the infinity focus on the airplane in the last photo along with focusing on the foliage gives an artistic taste to the result.


Infrared Videography

The infrared videos turned out to be even dreamier than the color videos. One more interesting thing about this lens!



Flare

The last, but not the least, characteristic of vintage lenses that we test is their flare. Flares can add character to photos and videos and create specific sensualities from an artistic point of view. It seems that although flare is not the sharpest tool in its quiver, it still has a one-of-a-kind character when it comes to flares. Take a look at the results.



 
 
 

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