No photo available for this lens
Production
1954 – 1964
Country
East Germany
Optical
-
Updated
Feb 15, 2026
Meyer-Optik Trioplan 100mm f/2.8
M42
Overview
The Meyer-Optik Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 is the lens that launched a thousand bubble bokeh obsessions. Designed in 1916 and produced through the DDR era, this simple three-element (Cooke triplet) design creates the most distinctive bokeh in photography — perfectly circular 'soap bubble' highlights that photographers either obsess over or dismiss entirely. When the look went viral on social media, prices exploded and Meyer-Optik was briefly revived as a brand.
Verdict: A lens with one trick — but it's a great trick. The Trioplan 100mm bubble bokeh is unique in photography. If you want that ethereal, soap-bubble background, nothing else delivers. Just know what you're buying: an artistic specialty tool, not an all-rounder.
Optical Character
Bokeh
Famous for its 'soap bubble' bokeh effect
Community Insights
What people love
- The bubble bokeh — nothing else looks like this
- Extremely distinctive artistic look
- 100mm portrait reach
- When it works, it's magical
- Relatively affordable vintage optics
- Historical significance
What people dislike
- Soft — very soft wide open
- Low contrast requires heavy editing
- One-trick pony — limited use cases
- Prices have inflated
- Difficult to focus accurately
- Not practical for most work
Pro Tips
- Shoot against backlit foliage for maximum bubbles
- Use in golden hour for best effect
- Focus on nearest subject — let background bubble
- Stop down to f/4 for sharper but still dreamy
- This is an art lens — don't expect practicality
Sources (2)
unknown-
https://fstoppers.com/gear/my-review-vintage-meyer-optik-gorlitz-trioplan-100mm-f28-679413
Lens Heritage 2nd JSONsecondary
The Meyer-Optik Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 is the lens that launched a thousand bubble bokeh obsessions. Designed in 1916 and produced through the DDR era, this simple three-element (Cooke triplet) design creates the most distinctive bokeh in photography — perfectly circular 'soap bubble' highlights that photographers either obsess over or dismiss entirely. When the look went viral on social media, prices exploded and Meyer-Optik was briefly revived as a brand.