Meopta Openar 80/2.8 [C-mount]

Meopta Openar 80 mm 1:2.8 came to me with another Openar 20/1.8 lens as a set with Meopta Admira 16 A1 Electric film camera. Unfortunately it's condition wasn't best. I don't mind slight scratches on the case (well, it's a 50 year old lens!), but front lens is really bad looking. A lot of soft scratches and as I suppose, when someone tried to clean it, they removed it with coating. As a result front coating layer was removed...

You know that feeling when you expect best and all you can get is not barely good. That's how I felt when I held Openar 80/2.8 for the first time. I was very disappointed about the front lens condition. However, I decided not to look for good photographs, but to push the lens hard. I've photographed directed into the sun, in various conditions.
Skimming through photos on my computer wasn't the best feeling at all. All of them were lacking colour and contrast. That's why today you won't see a lot of colourful pictures. But in the end lens is mesmerising!

 Meopta Openar 80 mm 1:2.8 - without (left) and with (right) original lens hood.

  Meopta Openar 80 mm 1:2.8 - front lens (left) and rear lens with C-mount thread (right).

I hope you remember my test of Meopta Openar 40/1.8. It was a very nice lens with sharp rendering, pleasant bokeh and vivid colours. My version of Openar 80/2.8 didn't looked that good. But you know, when life gives you lemons...

A set of Meopta c-mount lenses:
Meopta Openar 20/1.8
Meopta Openar 40/1.8
Meopta Openar 80/2.8

...make lemonade!

Colours. Who need them anyway!?

I've decided to convert my photos to black&white. As colour didn't work at all, everything looked dull and foggy, B&W seemed like a good idea. Take a look:

Camera: Lumix G2
Mount: C-mount > Micro Four Thirds
Edit: PS CS6 50% scaling (and B&W RAW conversion: Clarity ca. +70% and others)

Meopta Openar 80/2.8 - @2.8 - medium distance

Meopta Openar 80/2.8 - @2.8 - medium distance - converted to B&W

Photo below was taken against the sun. You can see even indirect light affects image quality a lot by decreasing contrast.

Meopta Openar 80/2.8 - @8.0 - colour (left), converted to B&W (right).

Meopta Openar 80/2.8 - @2.8

Meopta Openar 80/2.8 - @2.8 - converted to B&W

Meopta Openar 80/2.8 - @2.8 - colour (left), converted to B&W (right).

There is an exception to every rule

I managed to take a few satisfying shots. Colour JPGs below weren't edited in anyway, but sized down 50%.

Meopta Openar 80/2.8 - @2.8 - close-up

 Meopta Openar 80/2.8 - @2.8 - colour (left), converted to B&W (right).

Meopta Openar 80/2.8 - @2.8

Meopta Openar 80/2.8 - @2.8 - converted to B&W

Focusing and ergonomics

I must admit this lens works as good as Openar 40/1.8. There are no problem with access to focusing ring. 

Aperture

Finally aperture test.

Meopta Openar 80/2.8 - @2.8

Meopta Openar 80/2.8 - @4.0

Meopta Openar 80/2.8 - @5.6

Meopta Openar 80/2.8 - @8.0

Meopta Openar 80/2.8 - @11

Meopta Openar 80/2.8 - @16

Meopta Openar 80/2.8 - @22

As you can see image is sharpest @5.6 and 8.0. Aperture value of 22 gives a kind of blurry look and a dirt dot on the front lens becomes visible!

Summary

There are no bad lenses, but no skills to use them. Meopta Openar 80/2.8 lead me back to black&white photography. The samples above made me think of it a lot. Those are not artsy-fartsy photos, but aesthetically pleasing samples of how you can use any lens that seems like a waste of time and money.

Let's go have some lemonade!