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Over the past few years, there has been a vogue for resurrecting older lens designs and manufacturing them using modern materials and techniques. There appear to have been two mainly companies responsible. Lomography has mainly introduced lenses based on the earliest days of photography such as the Petzval and is going strong. The other producer, net SE, has reportedly run into financial difficulties although it has raised large sums through Kickstarter campaigns. It seems that some of those who invested might not receive their lenses. New products funded by initiatives such as Kickstarter are typically offered at a discount as an inducement against the risk that the venture will fail.

Whereas Lomography has always kept its prices to reasonably affordable, net SE has gone for the premium market. While I would expect build quality to be high, the lenses it offers can still be purchased at much lower prices in their original forms. The Trioplan 100 f2.8 is one just example. A few years ago used examples were cheap and not well regarded until someone noticed the "bubble bokeh" rendering of out of focus backgrounds. Nowadays, the price has soared to around £500, which is probably an overvaluation, but the recreation is an eye popping €1,599.

https://www.meyer-optik-goerlitz.com/en ... -100-f2.8#

An even bigger discrepancy is with the Lydith 30 f/3.5, a lens which was extensively manufactured in East Germany and can be picked up for a few pounds. I know of one currently on sale for £20, yet the reproduction is also priced at €1,599. And, like the Trioplan and the company's other products, it is manual focus. I would not be surprised if the Kickstarter fundraising had not mopped up much of the main demand and the business is not sustainable as an ongoing concern.

https://www.meyer-optik-goerlitz.com/en/lydith-30-f3.5#

More on this story from PetaPixel.

https://petapixel.com/2018/08/10/the-co ... e-support/

PetaPixel has run a follow-up story* which gives more information about the background to net SE's bankruptcy. Unlike some Kickstarter campaigns which are intentionally fraudulent, it appears that net SE's failure was due, at least in part, to poor business practices. Kickstarter funding was apparently being used for purposes other than those stated. As the article says, people paying for future products via schemes such as Kickstarter do not have recourse to the same level of information as corporate investors. Think Dragon's Den for the type of questions which need to be asked. Warning signs in this instance were net SE switching to Indiegogo and the clumsy attempt to resurrect other brands as apparently unrelated companies. Nevertheless, this initiative was about giving photographers a greater choice and something a bit different. I, for one, cannot help but regret its probable demise.

https://petapixel.com/2018/08/21/how-me ... d-at-life/

* The click bait title is unfortunate given that the company's founder, Dr Stefan Immes, was seriously injured in a recent road accident.