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Meyer-Optik Kickstarters Lydith 30mm Art Lens
8 June 2017
Meyer-Optik-Goerlitz has launched its fifth Kickstarter campaign to bring the Lydith 30mm f3.5 art lens back to life.
Designed in the late 1950s and introduced in 1964, the modern version of the Lydith will be updated with high-performance lens coatings and a short minimum focusing distance of 8.0 inches. Like other Meyer-Optik's lenses, the Lydith will be a manual lens, handmade in Germany.
The Kickstarter campaign, which ends July 4, allows early backers to get the lens for as little as $549, about a third of the expected retail price.
Lydith 30mm f3.5 Art Lens. Image courtesy of Firat Bagdu.
The company expects to ship the Lydith in March 2018 with mounts for Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony, FujiX, Micro Four Thirds, M42, Leica M (rangefinder not supported/focusing via Live View) and Leica SL.
New Meyer-Optik Kickstarter will Revive Historic Lydith 30mm Art Lens
German lens maker Meyer-Optik-Goerlitz launched its fifth Kickstarter today, announcing it intends to bring the historic Lydith 30mm f3.5 art lens back to life.
Designed in the late 1950s and introduced to the market in 1964, the modern version of the Lydith will be updated with high-performance lens coatings and a short minimum focusing distance of 8 inches (16 cm). Like all of Meyer-Optik's lenses, the Lydith will be a fully manual lens, 100 percent handmade in Germany. Meyer-Optik describes the lens as having exceptional sharpness, contrast and color fidelity and a wonderful ability to create images with an indefinable magic.
Through the Kickstarter project backers are offered the chance to be first in line to receive the new Lydith 30mm at a greatly reduced price. The initial offering allows early backers to own the lens for as little as $549, about a third of the expected retail price.
The Lydith will use high-quality Schott and O'Hara glass and its 12 aperture blades, will produce a soft, dreamy background and foreground bokeh with a very sharp center of focus. Meyer-Optik has dubbed it "the embracing bokeh," which inspired the theme of the current kickstarter campaign as a lens that can catch the magic moment. Test photographers were amazed by the lens' ability to use color like paint in their images.
The Kickstarter for the Lydith ends on July 4 and follows four successful Kickstarters that have raised more than $2.4 million. The Kickstarters have been essential in helping relaunch the Meyer-Optik brand, which was revived three years ago by the German firm net SE.
The Lydith is expected to ship in March 2018 and will be available with mounts for Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony, FujiX, Micro Four Thirds, M42, Leica M (rangefinder not supported/focusing via live view) and Leica SL.