Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8
The Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 is a 100mm f/2.8 manual-focus lens for the M42 mount, made by Meyer-Optik Gorlitz from 1950s-1970s. It uses 3 elements / 3 groups, Cooke Triplet. Typical used value is $250 to $900, with most examples near $450, and it adapts to Sony E, Fuji X, MFT, Canon RF, Nikon Z, and L-mount with a plain mechanical adapter.
Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 specifications
Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 specifications
Why collectors want it
Famous for soap-bubble bokeh, where out-of-focus highlights render as bright-edged circular discs. The simple triplet design creates this effect strongly against backlit foliage or points of light. Vintage examples rose sharply in price after the effect became popular online.
Mount and adapters for the Trioplan 100mm f/2.8
The Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 has a native M42 mount. M42 is a 42mm x 1mm screw thread with a 45.46mm register, introduced in 1949 on the Contax S and later adopted by Praktica, Asahi Pentax, Fujica, Zenit, Yashica, and Chinon. Every mirrorless mount has a shorter register than 45.46mm, so a plain mechanical adapter puts the lens at its design distance and infinity focus is preserved. Plain threaded adapter, no optics. Lenses with an auto-diaphragm pin need either an Auto/Manual switch on the lens or an adapter with an inner flange that holds the pin in. Preset lenses such as the Helios 44-2 have no pin and work on any adapter.
| Camera system | Adapter | Infinity focus | Frames like | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony E | Plain mechanical, 27.46mm | Yes | 100mm on full frame; 150mm on APS-C (1.5x) | M42 to Sony E |
| Fuji X | Plain mechanical, 27.76mm | Yes | 150mm on APS-C (1.5x) | M42 to Fuji X |
| MFT | Plain mechanical, 26.21mm | Yes | 200mm on Four Thirds (2x) | M42 to MFT |
| Canon RF | Plain mechanical, 25.46mm | Yes | 100mm on full frame; 160mm on APS-C (1.6x) | M42 to Canon RF |
| Nikon Z | Plain mechanical, 29.46mm | Yes | 100mm on full frame; 150mm on APS-C (1.5x) | M42 to Nikon Z |
| L-mount | Plain mechanical, 25.46mm | Yes | 100mm on full frame; 150mm on APS-C (1.5x) | M42 to L-mount |
Frequently asked
What mount is the Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8?
The Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 has a native M42 mount. M42 is a 42mm x 1mm screw thread with a 45.46mm register, introduced in 1949 on the Contax S and later adopted by Praktica, Asahi Pentax, Fujica, Zenit, Yashica, and Chinon. With a plain mechanical adapter it fits Sony E, Fuji X, MFT, Canon RF, Nikon Z, and L-mount bodies and keeps infinity focus.
How much is the Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 worth in 2026?
A used Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 typically sells for $250 to $900, with most clean working examples near $450. Basis: eBay sold listings, 2024-2025; original vintage examples, not the modern reissue. This is an estimate, not an appraisal; condition, variant, and service history move the number.
Does the Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 work on Sony E, Fuji X, and MFT?
Yes. M42 has a 45.46mm register and every mirrorless mount is shorter (16mm to 20mm), so a simple M42 adapter reaches infinity with no optics. On a full-frame body the Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 frames as a 100mm lens; on APS-C (1.5x) it frames like a 150mm, on Canon APS-C (1.6x) like a 160mm, and on Micro Four Thirds (2x) like a 200mm. Plain threaded adapter, no optics. Lenses with an auto-diaphragm pin need either an Auto/Manual switch on the lens or an adapter with an inner flange that holds the pin in. Preset lenses such as the Helios 44-2 have no pin and work on any adapter.
When was the Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 made?
Meyer-Optik Gorlitz made the Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 from 1950s-1970s. That puts the Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 1 year into the life of the M42 mount, which appeared in 1949 on the Zeiss Ikon Contax S (Dresden).
What is the optical design of the Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8?
The Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 uses 3 elements / 3 groups, Cooke Triplet. A Cooke Triplet is the simplest well-corrected design, three elements in three groups; its undercorrected spherical aberration is what draws bright-edged soap-bubble highlights.
Which lenses are similar to the Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8?
Close alternatives in the same focal class are the Nikon Nikkor 105mm f/2.5 AI-S (105mm f/2.5, $150 to $450), the Leica Elmarit-R 90mm f/2.8 (90mm f/2.8, $300 to $800), and the KMZ Jupiter-9 85mm f/2 (85mm f/2, $90 to $320). The Nikon Nikkor 105mm f/2.5 AI-S and The KMZ Jupiter-9 85mm f/2 cost less on the used market. The Nikon Nikkor 105mm f/2.5 AI-S and The KMZ Jupiter-9 85mm f/2 are faster.
Alternatives to the Trioplan 100mm f/2.8
Lenses within 15mm of 100mm from other makers, ranked by how close they sit in focal length, aperture, and price.
Where this lens fits
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Terms this lens demonstrates
Related guides
- M42 to Sony EHow M42 screw-mount lenses work on Sony E cameras: the 27.46mm adapter, flanged versus flangeless rings, auto-aperture pins, camera settings, and the APS-C crop.
- Buying checklistA step-by-step checklist for buying used manual lenses: the flashlight test for fungus, haze, and separation, mechanical checks, seller language, grades, and mount traps.