Meyer Optik 135 and 200 given an outing.

The Meyer/ Pentacon f2.8 135mm 'bokeh monster' is well known and a good one can be a bit pricey. I have never understood why nobody is ever interested in the f4 200mm however. It is just as good and the extra reach is handy now and again. You'd be lucky to get £10 for one of them! There is just one from the 135 here - the rest are from the 200.

1 This dandelion was nicely lit and I loved how it was hanging over the edge of a plant pot. This is the 135mm.



2 After I put the 200 on the camera this hoverfly turned up.



3 Lychnis is one of those flowers whose intense colour presents real problems when trying to photograph it. It has a pale center that clashes with the vibrant purple/red. That, in its turn is so intense that it often renders with a dark red border around the edges. This one turned out quite well.



4 Then it started to rain. I had been saving this hawksbeard 'dandelion' seedhead until it had fully formed but the rain put paid to that !



5 And the lychnis got wet too.



All with a K1 on a tripod and IR remote release

The 200 certainly shines in your hands David - that last shot in particular shows it's qualities. Comparing images 1 and 2, the 135 doesn't render that subject background so well - but it may just be it's not the best background to show it off at its best!