Company Summary

CARL ZEISS AG

Company Website: www.zeiss.com
Duclos Page: https://www.ducloslenses.com/pages/zeiss
ZEISS, a renowned German optics manufacturer, has played a significant role in the motion picture industry since its inception. Founded in 1846 by Carl Zeiss in Jena, Germany, the company has become a pioneer in optical technology and precision engineering. Over the years, ZEISS has developed a strong reputation for producing high-quality lenses and camera equipment used in various industries, including photography, cinematography, and scientific research.

In the early 20th century, ZEISS lenses gained popularity in the emerging motion picture industry due to their exceptional optical performance. Filmmakers sought out ZEISS lenses for their ability to capture sharp images with minimal distortion, making them an ideal choice for capturing the nuances of human emotions and storytelling on the big screen. The ZEISS lenses' optical superiority soon became a standard for many renowned cinematographers and film studios.

As cinema technology advanced, ZEISS continued to innovate, adapting its lenses to meet the ever-evolving demands of the film industry. In the 1930s, ZEISS introduced the first set of interchangeable lenses for motion picture cameras, enabling filmmakers to have greater creative control over their shots. This breakthrough further solidified ZEISS's position as a leading provider of cinema lenses.

In the digital age, ZEISS seamlessly transitioned its expertise from traditional film cameras to modern digital cinema cameras. The company developed cutting-edge lenses optimized for high-resolution digital imaging, meeting the demands of filmmakers working with advanced digital cinema technology. Their lenses have been used in a wide range of productions, from Hollywood blockbusters to independent films, contributing to the visual excellence of countless movies. Beyond camera lenses, ZEISS has also been involved in the development of other motion picture technologies. They have contributed to the advancement of projection systems used in movie theaters, ensuring that audiences can experience films with the utmost visual clarity and fidelity.

Lens Models

Cine Prime Lenses

Standard Speed MkI

ZEISS Standard Speed Distagon 24mm T2.1
ZEISS Standard Speed Planar 25mm T2.2
ZEISS Standard Speed Planar 32mm T2.2
ZEISS Standard Speed Planar 40mm T2.1
ZEISS Standard Speed Planar 50mm T2.2
ZEISS Standard Speed Planar 85mm T2.2
ZEISS Standard Speed Sonnar 85mm T2.2
ZEISS Standard Speed Sonnar 85mm T2.9
ZEISS Standard Speed Sonnar 135mm T2
ZEISS Standard Speed Sonnar 135mm T4

Standard Speed MkII

Cine Zoom Lenses

Supreme Radiance Zooms

ZEISS SZR 15-30mm T2.9
ZEISS SZR 28-80mm T2.9
ZEISS SZR 70-200mm T2.9

Lightweight Zoom

ZEISS Vario-Sonnar LWZ.1 15.5-45mm T2.6
ZEISS Vario-Sonnar LWZ.2 15.5-45mm T2.6
ZEISS Lightweight Zoom LWZ.3 21-100mm T2.9-3.9

Compact Zoom

ZEISS CZ.2 15-30mm T2.9
ZEISS CZ.2 28-80mm T2.9
ZEISS CZ.2 70-200mm T2.9

DigiZooms

Variable Primes

ZEISS VP1 16-30mm T2.2
ZEISS VP2 29-60mm T2.2
ZEISS VP3 55-105mm T2.2

Vario-Sonnar Lenses

ZEISS Vario-Sonnar 10-100mm T2 MKI
ZEISS Vario-Sonnar 10-100mm T2 MKII
ZEISS Vario-Sonnar 10-100mm T3
ZEISS Vario-Sonnar 11-110mm T2.2

Cine Anamorphic Lenses

Master Anamorphic

ZEISS Master Anamorphic 28mm T1.9
ZEISS Master Anamorphic 35mm T1.9
ZEISS Master Anamorphic 40mm T1.9
ZEISS Master Anamorphic 50mm T1.9
ZEISS Master Anamorphic 60mm T1.9
ZEISS Master Anamorphic 75mm T1.9
ZEISS Master Anamorphic 100mm T1.9
ZEISS Master Anamorphic 135mm T1.9
ZEISS Master Anamorphic 180mm T2.8

16mm Format Lenses

Ultra 16

ZEISS Ultra 16 6mm T1.3
ZEISS Ultra 16 8mm T1.3
ZEISS Ultra 16 9.5mm T1.3
ZEISS Ultra 16 12mm T1.3
ZEISS Ultra 16 14mm T1.3
Zeiss Ultra 16 18mm T1.3
ZEISS Ultra 16 25mm T1.3
ZEISS Ultra 16 35mm T1.3
ZEISS Ultra 16 50mm T1.3

S16 Super Speed MkI

ZEISS S16 9.5mm T1.3 MkI
ZEISS S16 12mm T1.3 MkI
ZEISS S16 16mm T1.3 MkI
ZEISS S16 25mm T1.3 MkI

S16 Super Speed MkII

ZEISS S16 9.5mm T1.3 MkII
ZEISS S16 12mm T1.3 MkII
ZEISS S16 16mm T1.3 MkII
ZEISS S16 25mm T1.3 MkII
ZEISS S16 50mm T1.3 MkII

S16 Super Speed MkIII

ZEISS S16 7mm T1.3 MkIII
ZEISS S16 9.5mm T1.3 MkIII
ZEISS S16 12mm T1.3 MkIII
ZEISS S16 16mm T1.3 MkIII
ZEISS S16 25mm T1.3 MkIII
ZEISS S16 50mm T1.3 MkIII

T2.2s

Samcines

Still Lenses

Special Lenses

ZEISS Planar "Kubrick Lens" 50mm f/0.7

Zeiss Contax C/Y

ZEISS Contax C/Y Lens Database

ZEISS Contax C/Y Distagon 15mm f/3.5
ZEISS Contax C/Y F-Distagon 16mm f/2.8
ZEISS Contax C/Y Distagon 18mm f/4.0
ZEISS Contax C/Y Distagon 21mm f/2.8
ZEISS Contax C/Y Distagon 25mm f/2.8
ZEISS Contax C/Y Distagon 28mm f/2.0
ZEISS Contax C/Y Distagon 28mm f/2.8
ZEISS Contax C/Y Distagon 35mm f/1.4
ZEISS Contax C/Y Distagon 35mm f/2.8
ZEISS Contax C/Y PC-Distagon 35mm f/2.8
ZEISS Contax C/Y Tessar 45mm f/2.8
ZEISS Contax C/Y Planar 50mm f/1.4
ZEISS Contax C/Y Planar 50mm f/1.7
ZEISS Contax C/Y Planar 55mm f/1.2
ZEISS Contax C/Y C Makro-Planar 60mm f/2.8
ZEISS Contax C/Y Makro-Planar 60mm f/2.8
ZEISS Contax C/Y Planar 85mm f/1.2
ZEISS Contax C/Y Planar 85mm f/1.4
ZEISS Contax C/Y Sonnar 85mm f/2.8
ZEISS Contax C/Y Planar 100mm f/2.0
ZEISS Contax C/Y Makro- Planar 100mm f/2.8
ZEISS Contax C/Y Sonnar 100mm f/3.5
ZEISS Contax C/Y Planar 135mm f/2.0
ZEISS Contax C/Y Sonnar 135mm f/2.8
ZEISS Contax C/Y Sonnar 180mm f/2.8
ZEISS Contax C/Y Aposonnar 200mm f/2.0
ZEISS Contax C/Y Tele-Tessar 200mm f/3.5
ZEISS Contax C/Y Tele-Tessar 200mm f/4.0
ZEISS Contax C/Y Tele-Apotessar 300mm f/2.8
ZEISS Contax C/Y Tele-Tessar 300mm f/4.0
ZEISS Contax C/Y Mirotar 500mm f/4.5
ZEISS Contax C/Y Mirotar 500mm f/8.0
ZEISS Contax C/Y Mirotar 1000mm f/5.6

ZEISS Contax C/Y Vario-Sonnar 28-70mm 3.5-4.5
ZEISS Contax Vario-Sonnar AF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6
ZEISS Contax C/Y Vario-Sonnar 28-85mm 3.3-4
ZEISS Contax C/Y Vario-Sonnar 35-70mm f/3.4
ZEISS Contax C/Y Vario-Sonnar 35-135mm 3.3-4
ZEISS Contax C/Y Vario-Sonnar 40-80mm f/3.5
ZEISS Contax C/Y Vario-Sonnar 70-210mm f/3.5
ZEISS Contax C/Y Vario-Sonnar 80-200mm f/4.0
ZEISS Contax C/Y Vario-Sonnar 100-300mm 4.5-5.6

ZEISS Jena

ZEISS Jena Flektogon 20mm f/2.8
ZEISS Jena Flektogon 65mm f/2.8
ZEISS Jena Pancolar 80mm f/1.8

ZEISS ZF

ZEISS ZF Distagon 15mm f/2.8
ZEISS ZF Distagon 18mm f/3.5
ZEISS ZF Distagon 21mm f/2.8
ZEISS ZF Distagon 25mm f/2.0
ZEISS ZF Distagon 25mm f/2.8
ZEISS ZF Distagon 28mm f/2.0
ZEISS ZF Distagon 35mm f/1.4
ZEISS ZF Distagon 35mm f/2.0
ZEISS ZF Planar 50mm f/1.4
ZEISS ZF Makro-Planar 50mm f/2.0
ZEISS ZF Planar 85mm f/1.4
ZEISS ZF Makro-Planar 100mm f/2.0
ZEISS ZF APO-Sonnar 135mm f/2.0

ZEISS ZF.2 Classic

ZEISS ZE Classic

ZEISS ZE Distagon Classic 15mm f/2.8
ZEISS ZE Distagon Classic 18mm f/3.5
ZEISS ZE Distagon Classic 21mm f/2.8
ZEISS ZE Distagon Classic 25mm f/2.0
ZEISS ZE Distagon Classic 28mm f/2.0
ZEISS ZE Distagon Classic 35mm f/1.4
ZEISS ZE Distagon Classic 35mm f/2.0
ZEISS ZE Planar Classic 50mm f/1.4
ZEISS ZE Makro-Planar Classic 50mm f/2.0
ZEISS ZE Planar Classic 85mm f/1.4
ZEISS ZE Makro-Planar Classic 100mm f/2.0
ZEISS ZE APO-Sonnar Classic 135mm f/2.0

ZEISS Milvus ZF.2

ZEISS ZF.2 Milvus Distagon 15mm f/2.8
ZEISS ZF.2 Milvus Distagon 18mm f/2.8
ZEISS ZF.2 Milvus Distagon 21mm f/2.8
ZEISS ZF.2 Milvus Distagon 25mm f/1.4
ZEISS ZF.2 Milvus Distagon 35mm f/1.4
ZEISS ZF.2 Milvus Distagon 35mm f/2.0
ZEISS ZF.2 Milvus Planar 50mm f/1.4
ZEISS ZF.2 Milvus Makro Planar 50mm f/2.0
ZEISS ZF.2 Milvus Planar 85mm f/1.4
ZEISS ZF.2 Milvus Makro Planar 100mm f/2.0
ZEISS ZF.2 Milvus APO Sonnar 135mm f/2.0

ZEISS Milvus ZE

ZEISS ZE Milvus Distagon 15mm f/2.8
ZEISS ZE Milvus Distagon 18mm f/2.8
ZEISS ZE Milvus Distagon 21mm f/2.8
ZEISS ZE Milvus Distagon 25mm f/1.4
ZEISS ZE Milvus Distagon 35mm f/1.4
ZEISS ZE Milvus Distagon 35mm f/2.0
ZEISS ZE Milvus Planar 50mm f/1.4
ZEISS ZE Milvus Makro Planar 50mm f/2.0
ZEISS ZE Milvus Planar 85mm f/1.4
ZEISS ZE Milvus Makro Planar 100mm f/2.0
ZEISS ZE Milvus APO Sonnar 135mm f/2.0

ZEISS Otus ZF.2

ZEISS ZF.2 Otus Apo Distagon 28mm f/1.4
ZEISS ZF.2 Otus Apo Distagon 55mm f/1.4
ZEISS ZF.2 Otus Apo Planar 85mm f/1.4
ZEISS ZF.2 Otus Apo Sonnar 100mm f/1.4

ZEISS Otus ZE

ZEISS Apo Distagon 28mm f/1.4 ZE Otus
ZEISS Apo Distagon 55mm f/1.4 ZE Otus
ZEISS Apo Planar 85mm f/1.4 ZE Otus
ZEISS Apo Sonnar 100mm f/1.4 ZE Otus

ZEISS Batis

ZEISS Batis Distagon 18mm f/2.8
ZEISS Batis Distagon 25mm f/2.0
ZEISS Batis Distagon CF 40mm f/2.0
ZEISS Batis Sonnar 85mm f/1.8
ZEISS Batis Sonnar 135mm f/2.8

ZEISS Loxia

ZEISS Loxia Distagon 21mm f/2.8
ZEISS Loxia Distagon 25mm f/2.4
ZEISS Loxia Biogon 35mm f/2.0
ZEISS Loxia Planar 50mm f/2.0
ZEISS Loxia Sonnar 85mm f/2.4

ZEISS Touit

ZEISS Touit Distagon 12mm f/2.8
ZEISS Touit Planar 32mm f/1.8
ZEISS Touit Planar 50mm f/2.8

Key Figures

Carl Zeiss

History

Founded: 1846 — Jena, German Confederation (modern day Germany)

Currently: Carl Zeiss AG, Pentacon GmbH

ZEISS Ikon was founded in the German city of Jena in the November of 1846 as a small workshop for Carl Zeiss, a 30 year-old optical engineer. Soon, ZEISS began producing scientific instruments like scales, telescopes, and eventually the microscopes which would lay the foundations of ZEISS’s optical career. As demand for microscopes grew among scientific and medical communities, Carl Zeiss sought the expertise of Ernst Abbe—a professor of physics at the University of Jena—and together they began pioneering what is now regarded as modern optical design. By 1876, ZEISS and Abbe’s microscopes became world-famous and the company, now no longer a small workshop, grew to have 360 employees by the late 1880s.

After Carl Zeiss’s death in 1888, Ernst Abbe expanded the company’s offerings and formed a division specifically for the development of photographic lenses. This part of the company performed extensive research and development and the groundbreaking Planar lens design was born in 1896 followed by the brilliant Tessar of 1902, ushering in a new era of advanced optical design. ZEISS also began producing cameras in 1902 having acquired the manufacturer Palmos AG but stopped in 1909 when ZEISS pulled out of the industry and abandoned its acquisition. Independent again, Palmos merged with several other camera companies to form Ica.

As the Great War erupted in Europe, the company switched gears and began producing military optics for the Kaiser’s soldiers like rifle scopes and binoculars. After Germany’s eventual defeat in 1918, the country’s economy collapsed as it struggled to pay off the massive war reparations defined by the Treaty of Versailles (Germany only finished paying off this positively enormous sum—approximately 442 billion USD in today’s money—over 90 years later in 2010). German industry struggled during this period of hyperinflation (at one point, a single US dollar was worth a staggering 4.2 trillion marks) and camera companies were no exception.

To stave off financial ruin, four major camera companies—Ernemann and Ica (the very same Ica which absorbed ZEISS’s former camera business 17 years earlier) of Dresden, Contessa-Nettel from Stuttgart, and Berlin’s Goerz—merged in 1926 and, with significant financial support from ZEISS, became the conglomerate known as ZEISS Ikon. While new cameras were being designed, a selection of models from the four original companies continued to be produced but now with the new ZEISS Ikon name and logo. Soon, a new wave of high quality bespoke models began rolling off the production line. The stalwart Ikonta line of folding cameras started in 1929, the incredible Contax series of rangefinders was introduced in 1932, and the great Ikoflex twin lens reflex cameras began in 1934.

During World War II, ZEISS used its optical expertise to produce instruments for all three branches of the German military including binoculars for Wehrmacht commanders, bombsights for Luftwaffe aircraft, and periscopes for Kriegsmarine U-boats. In fact, ZEISS’s contributions to the war effort were so significant that its facilities were among those deliberately targeted during the Allied bombing campaign against Dresden. The ensuing destruction caused serious damage to over 130 Dresden factories including several belonging to ZEISS Ikon

After the war ended, the Allies descended upon ZEISS Ikon like a wake of vultures. The Americans landed first and began relocating the most important parts of the company to the old Contessa-Nettel factory in Stuttgart. Later on, the Soviets stepped in and began sending a steady stream of the company’s remaining machinery, engineers, and scientists to the Arsenal Factory in Kiev. As Germany was being split into East and West, the Stuttgart group moved to the small city of Oberkochen where it was reestablished as ZEISS Ikon AG. The bits of ZEISS that were left behind were seized by the East German government and nationalized as VEB Carl Zeiss Jena in 1948. The two companies fought for control of the ZEISS trademark and finally settled on a compromise with ZEISS Ikon AG reserving the right to use the name in western Europe and the United States while VEB Carl Zeiss Jena would use it in Eastern Bloc countries like Poland and the Soviet Union.

In 1959, VEB Carl Zeiss Jena merged with Welta and Eho-Altissa to form Pentacon which continued producing cameras into the 1990s until the company was shut down and later restructured. On the other side of Germany, ZEISS Ikon AG purchased Voigtländer in 1956 and launched the superb Contarex line of 35mm SLRs which continued until ZEISS Ikon AG ceased camera production entirely in 1972. Over the next few decades, the company continued to keep its name in the limelight, even entering into partnerships with Yashica, Kyocera, and Sony to supply lenses. Now known as Carl Zeiss AG, the company produces a wide range of medical and industrial optics as well as continuing its long tradition of making some of the finests camera lenses that money can buy.

Media

External Links

https://www.apotelyt.com/camera-kit/zeiss-contax-catalog
https://www.contaxcameras.co.uk/_html/slr/slrmanlenses.html

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