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History of Carl Zeiss: From Microscopes to Photographic Lenses

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Carl Zeiss was born on September 11, 1816, in Weimar, Germany. After eleven years of apprenticeship, he returned to Jena in 1845 and established his precision mechanics and optics workshop. From the outset, Zeiss aimed to create innovative optical instruments, and within a few years, he became renowned for his high-quality microscopes.

A pivotal moment in the company's history was the collaboration with eminent scientists Otto Schott and Ernst Abbe. Schott, an expert in glass manufacturing, helped create new types of optical glass that significantly improved product quality. Abbe, in turn, developed theoretical foundations for optics that greatly enhanced the lens and microscope manufacturing process.

After Carl Zeiss's death in 1888, the company continued to grow, expanding its product range and implementing new technologies. One of the most significant directions was photographic optics. In the 1890s, Carl Zeiss began producing photographic lenses, which quickly gained popularity due to their high quality.

One of the most iconic lenses was the "Tessar," created by Paul Rudolph in 1902. This lens was distinguished by its excellent image quality and became very popular among photographers. The development of the "Tele-Tessar" lens in 1919 further cemented Carl Zeiss's reputation as a leading manufacturer of photographic optics.

The collaboration with Leica, which began in 1925, also had a significant impact on the development of photography. This led to the creation of new cameras that greatly expanded photographers' capabilities. In 1936, Carl Zeiss introduced the world's first single-layer coating on photographic lenses, significantly improving image quality by reducing reflections and enhancing contrast.

After World War II, the company was split into two parts: one in Jena (East Germany) and the other in Oberkochen (West Germany). Despite this, both companies continued to evolve and make significant contributions to the field of optics.

In 1969, Carl Zeiss optics were used on the Apollo spacecraft for photographing the moon's surface. This fact further confirmed the high quality and reliability of the company's products. In the 1970s, the company began collaborating with the Japanese company Yashica, leading to the creation of new camera models, such as the "RTS."

Today, Carl Zeiss remains one of the leading manufacturers of optical instruments and cameras in the world. With its ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence, the company continues to produce products that meet the highest standards of quality and satisfy the needs of professional photographers and enthusiasts around the globe.

1816  Carl Zeiss was born.

1846  Carl Zeiss opened a precision mechanics and optics workshop in Jena.

1879  Technical collaboration between Otto Schott and Ernst Abbe with Carl Zeiss’s enterprise began.

1884  The company “Schott & Genossen Glass Works of Jena” was established.

1888  Carl Zeiss passed away.

1889  Ernst Abbe established the Carl Zeiss Foundation.

1890  The production of photographic lenses began. Paul Rudolph developed the “Protar” lens.

1896  Paul Rudolph developed the “Planar” F3.6 lens.

1899  Paul Rudolph developed the “Planar” F4.5 lens.

1891  Moritz von Rohr developed experimental aspheric lenses.

1902  Paul Rudolph and Ernst Wandersleb developed the “Tessar” F6.3 lens.

1907  Ernst Wandersleb developed the “Tessar” lens with an achromatic lens.

1913  The “Schott” company presented a catalog containing 97 types of optical glass, including 17 new types.

1919  Willy Merté developed the “Tele-Tessar” lens. Otto Schott transferred the glassworks in Jena to the Carl Zeiss Foundation.

1925  The era of miniature photography began with the introduction of the Leica camera, which used perforated film.

1926  After the merger of four companies: “ICA”, “Contessa-Nettel”, “Ernemann”, “Goerz”, the “Zeiss Ikon” company was created in Dresden. Subsequently, Dresden housed two major Zeiss factories: the Ernemann factory (Schandauer Straße 48) and the Ica factory (Schandauer Straße 76). Until 1945, Contax cameras and other 35mm cameras were assembled at the Ernemann factory, while cameras for 120 film were produced at the Contessa factory in Stuttgart.

1927  At the age of 26, Heinz Küppenbender became an assistant engineer at Carl Zeiss Jena.

1929  Küppenbender was transferred to Zeiss Ikon and became the chief optical engineer there. Zeiss Ikon introduced the first Ikonta cameras with roll film. Ludwig Bertelè developed the “Sonnar” lens. Dr. Heinrich Küppenbender began producing “Contax” cameras. The “Ikonta” cameras went on sale.

1930  The production of miniature cameras began. The “Kolibri” 3×4 cm camera was released. It was the first camera by Zeiss to enter the miniature camera market (though not very successfully). Notably, the 3×4 cm format was invented at Zeiss Ikon, allowing 16 exposures on a “127” roll film. The “Baby Ikonta” — another 3×4 cm camera from Zeiss Ikon — was highly successful among buyers. The miniature “Tessar” 2.8 lens was introduced.

1931 Ludwig Bertelè developed the “Sonnar” lens for “Contax” cameras.

1932  The “Contax I” cameras were released with support for interchangeable long-focus “Sonnar” lenses 5 cm F2 (plus 3 additional 50mm lenses), “Triotar” 8.5 cm F4 lenses, and “Sonnar” 13.5 cm F4 lenses. Zeiss Ikon introduced a new format: 45×60 mm, allowing 16 exposures on 120 film. The 4.5×6 cm “Semi-Ikonta” camera was introduced.

1933  “Contax” cameras were equipped with a shutter with multi-curtains (4-group shutter), allowing the shutter speed to increase from 1/25 sec. to 1/2 sec. Five new lenses for “Contax” cameras were introduced: “Tessar” 2.8 cm F8, “Biotar” 4 cm F2, “Sonnar” 8.5 cm F2, “Tele-Tessar” 18 cm F6.3, and Carl Zeiss Jena Topogon 25/4. The Nazis removed Prof. Emmanuel Goldberg from the position of General Director of Zeiss Ikon.

1934  “Contax” cameras began to be produced in a slightly modified body. A cheaper version of “Contax” cameras — the “Super Nettel” I — was introduced. Also, Super Ikonta and Ikoflex were introduced. Telephoto lenses “Tele-Tessar” 300 cm F8 and 500 cm F8 for “Contax” cameras were released.

1935  The world’s first twin-lens reflex camera, “Contaflex”, with internal light meter, was introduced. In Tokyo, the world’s first “Contax” enthusiasts club was founded. Production of Super Six began.

1936  At the Leipzig Spring Fair, “Contax II” and “Contax III” cameras were introduced. Before the Berlin Olympics, the “Olympia Sonnar” 180 mm F2.8 lens for “Contax” cameras was developed. The first issue of the “Contaxphotographie” magazine was published. At the factory in Jena, Dr. Alexander Smakula invented single-layer coating for photographic lenses, called “T-coating”. The first high-speed wide-angle lens “Biogon” 3.5 cm F2.8 for “Contax” cameras went on sale. At the Leipzig Spring Fair, new cameras were introduced: Zeiss Ikon Super Nettel II and Super Nettel III (later renamed Nettax).

1937  A cheaper version of the “Biogon” lens — “Orthometar” 30.5 cm F4.5 — was released. The Flektoskop device, allowing eye-level shooting with telephoto lenses, was introduced. The device was offered with Sonnar 180/2.8 and other lenses with focal lengths from 300 to 500 mm. Agfa and Kodak introduced the first types of modern color films to replace the old lenticular process films.

1939  The sale of long-focus “Sonnar” 30 cm F4 lenses for “Contax” cameras began. (From this time, the need to meet the growing demands of the military limited production).

1940  Carl Zeiss introduced the 7.5cm/1.5 Biotar lens for the Kine-Exakta mirror camera, produced by Ihagee in Dresden.

1941  The “Stereotar C” stereo attachment for Contax cameras was introduced.

1945  The dismantling of “Zeiss Ikon” factories. Since Jena was in eastern Germany, in western Germany, the new company “Opton” began building an optics factory. The Zeiss group companies faced a very difficult period. First, there were now two Carl Zeiss companies. One was called VEB Carl Zeiss Jena, located in eastern Germany at the old site, and used the remaining Carl Zeiss factory equipment after the war. The second company was now located in Oberkochen (western Germany), initially named Zeiss-Opton, and was founded by management and chief engineers who fled during the Soviet advance. Zeiss Ikon faced a similar situation. The new (West German) Zeiss Ikon opened in Stuttgart, while the old one remained in its former location, but the name “Zeiss Ikon” was already prohibited in eastern Germany. The only remnant of the old company, which remained on the territory of East Germany, was the camera factory in Dresden.

1946  The production of the first post-war cameras at Carl Zeiss in Oberkochen began. The “Contax II” and “Contax III” models were manufactured. The name “Opton” was replaced with “Carl Zeiss”.

1953  The production of high-quality lenses, especially of a wide variety of photographic lenses, was resumed.

1961  The “Zeiss” company developed the first barium fluoride glass, allowing the creation of high-performance lenses. The sale of new high-quality lenses began.

1965  “Carl Zeiss” was the first company to introduce lenses made from synthetic quartz glass.

1975  Carl Zeiss introduced the first products with multilayer coatings on its lenses.

1980  Carl Zeiss developed the “Sonnar” 2.8/24 and “Sonnar” 1.8/50 lenses for digital cameras. The company also introduced the “Hologon” lenses.

1991  Carl Zeiss introduced new products in the field of digital photography.

1999  The “Carl Zeiss” company developed the new “Planar” lens for digital photography.

2001  The production of lenses for digital photography was expanded.

2006  Carl Zeiss introduced the new digital camera with high-resolution lenses.

2012  Carl Zeiss released new products in the field of digital photography with improved optics.

2018  Carl Zeiss introduced the new “Otus” and “Loxia” lenses for digital cameras.

2020  Carl Zeiss released the new “Batis” lens series for mirrorless cameras.

2023  Carl Zeiss continued to innovate with new advancements in lens technology.

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