Pekka Buttler, 03/2026
Specifications
The table below summarises the lens’ key specifications (measurements based on pictured sample):
| Brand: | Meyer-Optik Görlitz | Lens name | Primotar E 3.5/80 |
| Focal length(s) 1 | 80 mm | Angle-of-view 2 | 56 ° (medium format) 30 ° (full frame) |
| Maximum Aperture | f/3.5 | In Production | 1956– ≈1960 |
| Lens mount (this lens) | Pentacon Six | Other lens mounts | None |
| Length 3 | 35,5 mm (from flange) 47,0 mm (from base) | Diameter 4 | 70,9 mm |
| Filter ring diameter | 49 mm | Weight | 263 grams |
| Lens element count | 4 | Lens group count | 3 |
| Aperture blades (S/R/C) 5 | 6 S | Focus throw | 300 ° |
| Minimum focusing distance (measured) | 1: | Maximum magnification (measured) | 1:8,1 |
| Has manual aperture ring | YES | Has Manual focus ring | YES |
| Aperture mechanism type | Automatic/Manual | Aperture click stops | 3.5-4•5.6•8-11-16 |
Further notes:
• The name Primotar signifies a Tessar-type design. Meyer-Optik Görlitz had been designing Tessar-type lenses under this name starting in the 1930s.
• In 1956 MOG decided to re-design their standard Primotar lenses, in part to allow the new lenses to get auto-aperture housings. As a result the Primotar E series was designed with two variants: a Primotar E 50/3.5 for 35 mm film and a Primotar E 80/3.5 for medium format. The earlier was offered for the Exakta and M42 mounts whereas later was offered for the then new Pentacon Six mount.
• The Primotar E for Pentacon Six was – from the beginning – offered as an auto-aperture lens. The frontmost control ring allows switching between manual aperture and auto aperture.
• The Primotar E series are by some considered to be among the finest examples of the Tessar type design.
• Even so, after the manufacture of Carl Zeiss Jena’s 80 mm f/2.8 Biometar [data sheet] – a lens that was not only faster but also offered better image quality – got up to speed, the Primotar E for Pentacon Six was discontinued.
• For further notes on Meyer-Optik Görlitz and especially their naming logic, see the JAPB article on MOGnames (the company’s later history is summarised below).
History of Meyer-Optik Görlitz
The original Meyer-Optik Görlitz (not the modern company that has taken the classic company’s name) was founded in the town of Görlitz (modern-day Germany) by Hugo Meyer in 1896, and remained in existence until the state-directed merger into VEB Pentacon 1970. Due to its vicinity with the German camera and optics industries in Saxony (Dresden, etc.), Meyer-Optik was from an early stage heavily involved with manufacturing lenses for all kinds of cameras, but the company’s real golden age started with the advent of interchangeable lens cameras, where Meyer-Optik was uniquely placed to offer a cost-effective alternative to premium brands such as Carl Zeiss Jena.
Meyer-Optik was pronouncedly a camera lens manufacturer and never had serious ambitions for pursuing horizontal integration (diversifying into cameras and other photo gear). Instead, MOG pursued a vigorous strategy of seeking economies of scale, combined with never putting too many eggs in any basket – typically Meyer-Optik would choose which designs to put into production based on being able to cover as many platforms/mounts with one basic design. As a result, many early MOG designs were made available for a wide range of camera platforms. Later, as the number of alternative platforms diminished, that strategy had to go in favour of a strong focus on M42 and (to a somewhat lesser extent) Exakta. Even so, throughout the 60s, MOG vigorously pursued innovative designs and could by the end of the decade proudly offer a wide range of high-quality, cost effective designs.
When the lens maker Meyer-Optik was then merged with the camera maker Pentacon, it became obvious that the role the company (and its product portfolio) was intended to play was to aid Pentacon in its designs of gaining a significant global market share in the price-conscious consumer segment (and help bring hard currency to the G.D.R). Instead of focusing on continued optical innovation, the new overlords were more keen on redesigning lenses for greater economy and easier manufacture. As a result, the pace of optical innovation at MOG/Pentacon fell drastically, and very few new designs or significant redesigns were to be forthcoming in the next two decades.
Versions
To the best of my knowledge, only one version of the 80 mm Primotar E was manufactured.
There is another lens that goes by the name “Primotar 80 mm f/3.5” (without the E). These are based on an earlier optical recipe and were offered for Exakta and M42 systems.
Adapting
The Pentacon 6 mount offers a wide range of alternatives for adapting.
To use this lens natively, you will need a Pentacon 6 mount film body. In practical terms this means either a Praktisix or Pentacon Six medium format film camera or a Kiev 60/6C medium format film camera. While neither of these families of bodies were manufactured in their millions, they remain readily available, and even serviceable.
Thanks to the generous image circle Pentacon 6 lenses offer, and thanks to the copious flange focal distance (74,1 mm) of the Pentacon 6 system, this lens can be adapted to every full frame (and smaller) SLR, dSLR and mirrorless camera assuming a suitable adapter can be found or manufactured. Moreover, Pentacon 6 lenses are so uncomplicated that a simple ‘dumb adapter’ will do the job perfectly.
Thanks to the generous image circle, Pentacon 6 lenses have also long been a strong candidate to be used on smaller formats (full frame and smaller) in conjunction with tilt/shift adapters. Alternatively, one can choose to daisy-chain adapters (e.g. Pentacon 6->Canon EF; Canon EF –> mirrorless) which not only broadens the range of available adapters, but also allows using speed boosters for those photographers that use smaller than full-frame sensors.
Finally, regarding larger than full frame, there are also options. Digital medium format is perfectly usable (assuming adapter availability) and many 6×4,5 film formats are likewise theoretical possibilities, but gaining functional adapters may necessitate some DIY.
Footnotes
- Focal length is (unless stated otherwise) given in absolute terms, and not in Full-frame equivalent. For an understanding of whether the lens is wide/tele, see ‘Angle-of-view’. ↩︎
- Picture angle is given in degrees (based on manufacturers’ specs) and concerns the diagonal picture angle. Rule of thumb:
> 90 ° ==> Ultra-wide-angle
70–90 ° ==> Wide-angle
50–70 ° ==> Moderate wide-angle
40–50 ° ==> ‘Standard’ or ‘normal’ lens
20–40 ° ==> Short tele lens
10-20 ° ==> Tele lens
5-10 ° ==> Long tele lens
< 5 ° ==> Ultra-tele lens ↩︎ - Length is given from the mount flange to the front of lens at infinity. ↩︎
- Diameter excludes protrusions such as rabbit ears or stop-down levers. ↩︎
- S=straight; R=rounded; C=(almost)circular at all apertures. ↩︎