Meyer-Optik Görlitz Domiplan 50mm f/2.8 - lens flare testPictures with sun in the frame
The Domiplan 50mm 2.8 lens, commonly paired with EXA and Praktica cameras, is an entry-level lens from East Germany. It is available in "zebra" and all-black versions but offers the same optical performance. With a simple design, three lens elements, and no multi-coating, it is lightweight and affordable. However, its plasticky feel and less sturdy construction detract from its appeal. It is compatible with M42/Pentax Mount and EXA/Exakta mount systems.
In the following series of photos, I have captured images without using a tripod, showcasing the Meyer-Optik Görlitz Domiplan 50mm f/2.8 lens at various apertures ranging from f/2.8 to f/22 with the sun in the frame, just to see and compare quickly how the lens is affected by lens flare. This test is totally unscientific, as I simply pointed the camera at the sun shining through the trees and adjusted the aperture.
Unsurprisingly, a simple and old triplet lens without any coating like the Domiplan will experience significant issues with lens flares. These may manifest as veiling and ghosting, affecting image quality at all apertures.
All the pictures were taken with a Fujifilm X-A3 camera, which features an APS-C sensor with a crop factor of 1.52. Additionally, I used a focal reducer Zhongyi Lens Turbo II , which has a factor of 0.72x. As a result, the effective focal length of the lens on the camera is approximately 55mm in full-frame equivalent. I will redo in a future a similar test with and without the focal reducer.
The following photo series is unedited and presented straight out of camera (SOOC), but due to shooting without a tripod, I aligned them in Photoshop using the Photomerge option for better visualization, which resulted in slight reframing of the photos.
