Carl Zeiss AG
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2008-07-14T17:04:57Z
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/* Super-rotator lenses */
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{{Infobox_Company
| name = Carl Zeiss AG
| type = [[Aktiengesellschaft]]
| logo = [[Image:Zeiss logo.svg|205px|center]]
| foundation = [[Jena]], [[Germany]] ([[1846]])
| location = {{flagicon|GER}}[[Oberkochen]], [[Germany]]
| slogan = We make it visible
| key_people = Dr. Dieter Kurz, CEO and President
| num_employees = 12,844 (March 31st, 2008)<ref name="zeiss1st0708">[http://www.zeiss.de/C125679B0029303C/EmbedTitelIntern/2008_Presentationforthe6-MonthsPressConference/$File/080529_Presentation_6MonthPC.pdf Slides of Half-Year Press Conference for fiscal year 2007/08, May 29th, 2008]</ref>
| revenue = {{profit}}[[Euro|€]] 2,604 [[million]]<ref name="zeissar0607">[http://www.zeiss.de/C125716F004E0776/ShowIssue?ReadForm&IssueID=004B245C Annual Report Carl Zeiss Group 2006/2007]</ref> (2006/07)
| net_income = {{profit}}[[Euro|€]] 233 [[million]]<ref name="zeissar0607"/> (2006/07)
| industry = [[Imaging]]
| products = Precision [[binoculars]], [[spotting scope]]s, [[telescope]]s, [[night vision]] equipment, laser-guided [[rangefinder]]s, [[Telescopic sight|riflescopes]], [[planetarium]] projectors and other optical equipment.
}}
The '''Carl Zeiss''' company is a [[Germany|German]] manufacturer of [[optics|optical systems]], industrial measurements and medical devices originally founded in [[Jena]] in 1846 by [[Carl Zeiss]], Ernst Abbe and Otto Schott. Due to the results of World War II there are currently two parts, the Carl Zeiss [[Aktiengesellschaft|AG]] located in [[Oberkochen]] with important subsidiaries in [[Aalen]], [[Göttingen]] and [[Hallbergmoos]] (near Munich) and Carl Zeiss [[GmbH]] located in the foundation city [[Jena]].
The organisation is named after one of its founders, the German [[optician]] [[Carl Zeiss]] (1816–1888).
Carl Zeiss is the premier company of the '''Zeiss Gruppe''', one of the two large divisions of the '''[[Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung]]'''. The Zeiss Gruppe is located in [[Heidenheim]] and [[Jena]].
The other division of the Carl Zeiss Foundation, the glass manufacturer '''[[Schott AG]]''' and ''[[Jenaer Glaswerk]]'', is located in [[Mainz]] and [[Jena]].
Carl Zeiss is one of the oldest existing optics manufacturers in the world.
== Zeiss corporate history ==
[[Image:Zeisswerk Jena um 1910.jpg|thumb|250px|Carl Zeiss Jena (1910)]]
[[Image:Zeiss in Göttingen.JPG|thumb|The manufacturer Zeiss in Göttingen.]]
The history of Carl Zeiss AG begins in [[Jena]] before [[World War II]], then the world's largest location of camera production. Zeiss Ikon represented a significant part of the production along with dozens of other brands and factories, and also had major works at [[Dresden]].
The destruction of the war caused many companies to divide into smaller subcompanies and others to merge together. There was great respect for the engineering innovation that came out of Dresden—before the war the world's first 35 mm [[single-lens reflex camera]], the ''[[Exakta|Kine Exakta]]'', and the first miniature camera with good picture quality were developed there.
At the end of the war Jena was occupied by the [[US Army]]. When Jena and Dresden were incorporated into the [[Soviet occupation zone]], later [[East Germany]], Zeiss Jena was assisted by the US army to relocate to the Contessa manufacturing facility in [[Stuttgart]], [[West Germany]], while the remainder of Zeiss Jena was taken over by the (Eastern) [[German Democratic Republic]] as Kombinat VEB Zeiss Jena[http://www.contaxcameras.co.uk/history.asp]. The occupying Russians took most of the existing Zeiss factories and tooling back to Russia as the Kiev camera works, which produced low-quality copies of the Contax and other Zeiss Ikon products.
The western business was restarted in Oberkochen (in southwestern Germany) as Opton Optische Werke Oberkochen GmbH in 1946, which became Zeiss-Opton Optische Werke Oberkochen GmbH in 1947, but was soon renamed to Carl Zeiss. West German Zeiss products were labelled Opton for sale in the Eastern bloc, while East German Zeiss products where labelled "Zeiss Jena" for sale in Western countries.
In 1973, the Western Carl Zeiss AG entered into a licensing agreement with the Japanese camera company [[Yashica]] to produce a series of high-quality 35mm film cameras and lenses bearing the [[Contax]] and Zeiss brand names. This collaboration continued under Yashica's successor, [[Kyocera]], until the latter ceased all camera production in 2005. Zeiss later produced lenses for the space industry and, more recently, has again produced high-quality 35mm camera lenses.
Following [[German reunification]], VEB Zeiss Jena became Zeiss Jena GmbH, which became Jenoptik Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH in 1990. In 1991, Jenoptik Carl Zeiss Jena was split in two, with Carl Zeiss AG (Oberkochen) taking over the company's divisions for microscopy and other precision optics (effectively reuniting the pre-war Carl Zeiss enterprise) and moving its microscopy division back to Jena. [[Jenoptik]] GmbH was split off as a specialty company in the areas of [[photonics]], [[optoelectronics]], and [[mechatronics]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mti.uni-jena.de/~i6koka/history/start.html | title=A Short Review On History Of Optics In Jena | first=Karsten | last=König | publisher=Institute of Anatomy II, [[Friedrich Schiller University of Jena]] | date=[[July 21]] [[1998]] | accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://optics.org/cws/article/articles/7286 | title=A passion for politics and a head for business | publisher=[[Optics & Laser Europe]] | date=[[January 1]] [[2002]] | accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref>
The companies of the Zeiss Gruppe in and around Dresden have branched into new technologies: screens and products for the [[automotive industry]], for example. Zeiss nonetheless still continues to be a camera manufacturer, and still produces the ''Pentacon'', ''Praktica''[http://www.praktica.de], and special-use lenses (e.g., ''Exakta'').
Today, there are arguably three companies with primarily Zeiss Ikon heritage: ''Zeiss Germany'', the [[Finland|Finnish]]/[[Sweden|Swedish]] ''Ikon'' (which bought the West German ''Zeiss Ikon AG''), and the independent eastern ''Zeiss Ikon''.
== Innovations ==
The Zeiss company was responsible for many innovations in optical design and engineering. Early on, Carl Zeiss realised that he needed a competent designer so as to bring the firm beyond just being another optical workshop, so in 1866, the service of Dr [[Ernst Abbe]] was enlisted. From then on, novel products appeared in rapid succession, which brought the Zeiss company to the forefront of optical technology.
Abbe was instrumental in the development of the famous Jena optical glass. When he was trying to eliminate astigmatism from microscopes, he realised that the assortment of optical glass available was not sufficient. After some calculations, he found that, if optical glasses of various properties were available, performance of optical instruments would dramatically improve. His challenge to glass manufacturers was finally answered by Dr [[Otto Schott]], who established the famous glassworks at [[Jena]] from which new types of optical glass began to appear from 1888, and employed by Zeiss and other makers.
The new Jena optical glass also opened up the possibility of increased performance of photographic lenses. The first use of Jena glass in a photographic lens was by [[Voigtländer]], but as the lens was an old design its performance did not make great improvement. But the point of these new types of optical glass was the possibility of further corrections, especially correction for [[astigmatism]], and the highest level of correction: [[apochromatic]] corrections. Abbé started the design of a photographic lens of symmetrical design with five elements, but went no further.
Zeiss' domination of photographic lens innovation was due to Dr Paul Rudolph. In 1890, Rudolph designed an asymmetrical lens with a cemented group at each side of the diaphragm, and appropriately named "Anastigmat". This lens was made in three series: Series III, IV and V, with maximum apertures of f/7.2, f/12.5, and f/18 respectively. This family was constantly developed. In 1891, Series I, II and IIIa appeared with respective maximum apertures of f/4.5, f/6.3, and f/9. 1893 came Series IIa of f/8 maximum aperture. These lenses are now better known by the trademark "Protar", first used in 1900.
At the time, single combination lenses, which occupy one side of the diaphragm only, were still popular. Rudolph designed one with three cemented elements in 1893, with the option of fitting two of them together in a lens barrel as a compound lens, but it was found to be the same as the Dagor by C.P. Goerz, designed by Emil von Hoegh. Rudolph gave the idea a rethink and came up with a single combination with four cemented elements, which can be considered as having all the elements of the Protar stuck together in one piece. Marketed in 1894, it was called the Protarlinse Series VII, the most highly corrected single combination lens with maximum apertures between f/11 and f/12.5, depending on its focal length.
But the important thing about this Protarlinse is that two of these lens units can be mounted in the same lens barrel to form a compound lens of even greater performance and larger aperture, between f/6.3 and f/7.7. In this configuration it was called the Double Protar Series VIIa. An immense range of focal lengths can thus be obtained by the various combination of Protarlinse units.
At about the same time, Rudolph also investigated the [[Double-Gauss]] concept of a symmetrical design with thin positive meniscii enclosing negative elements. The result was the Planar Series Ia of 1896, with maximum apertures up to f/3.5, one of the fastest lenses of its time. While it was very sharp, it suffered from [[Coma (optics)|coma]], thus restricted its popularity. However, further developments of this configuration made it the design of choice for high-speed lenses of standard coverage.
Probably inspired by the Stigmatic lenses designed by Hugh Aldis for Dallmeyer of London, Rudolph designed a new asymmetrical lens with four thin elements, the Unar Series Ib, with apertures up to f/4.5. Due to its high speed it was used extensively on hand cameras.
The most important Zeiss lens by Rudolph was the [[Tessar]], first sold in 1902 in its Series IIb f/6.3 form. It can be said as a combination of the front half of the Unar with the rear half of the Protar. This proved to be a most valuable and flexible design, with tremendous development potential. Its maximum aperture was increased to f/4.7 in 1917, and reached f/2.7 in 1930. It is safe to say that every lens manufacturer has produced lenses after the Tessar configuration.
Rudolph left Zeiss after the First World War, but many other competent designers such as Merté, Wandersleb, etc. kept the firm at the leading edge of photographic lens innovations. One of the most significant designer was the ex-Ernemann man Dr Ludwig Bertele, famed for his Ernostar high-speed lens.
With the advent of the [[Contax]] by Zeiss-Ikon, the first serious challenge to the [[Leica Camera|Leica]] in the field of professional 35mm cameras, both Zeiss-Ikon and Carl Zeiss decided to beat the Leica in every possible way. Bertele's Sonnar series of lenses designed for the Contax can be said to be superior to almost every equivalence for the Leica for at least two decades. Other lenses for the Contax included the Biotar, Biogon, Orthometar, and various Tessars and Triotars.
The last important Zeiss innovation before the Second World War was the technique of applying anti-reflective coating to lens surfaces. A lens so treated was marked with a red "T", short for "Transparent". The technique of applying multiple layers of coating was developed from this basis after the war, and known as "T*" (T-star).
After the partitioning of Germany, a new Carl Zeiss optical company was established in [[Oberkochen]], while the original Zeiss firm in [[Jena]] continued to operate. At first both firms produced very similar lines of products, and extensively cooperated in product-sharing, but they drifted apart as time progressed. Jena's new direction was to concentrate on developing lenses for the 35mm single-lens reflex camera, and many achievements were made, especially in ultra-wide angle designs. In addition to that, Oberkochen also worked on designing lenses for large format cameras, interchangeable front element lenses such as for the 35mm single-lens reflex Contaflex, and other types of cameras.
Since the beginning of Zeiss as a photographic lens manufacturer, it has a licensing programme which allows other manufacturers to produce its lenses. Over the years its licensees included [[Voigtländer]], [[Bausch & Lomb]], Ross, Koristka, Krauss, [[Kodak]]. etc. In the 1970s, the western operation of Zeiss-Ikon got together with Yashica to produce the new [[Contax]] cameras, and many of the Zeiss lenses for this camera, among others, were produced by Yashica's optical arm Tomioka. As Yashica's owner [[Kyocera]] terminated camera production in 2006, these lenses are then made by [[Cosina]], who also manufacture most of the new Zeiss designs for the new Zeiss Ikon coupled rangefinder camera. Another licensees active today is [[Sony]] who uses the Zeiss name on lenses on its video and digital still cameras.
== Reputation ==
[[Image:Zeiss-Ikon-p1040096.jpg|thumb|]]
Now over 100 years old, Zeiss continues to be associated with expensive and high-quality optical lenses. Zeiss lenses are generally thought to be elegant and well-constructed, yielding high-quality images. Even old lens designs such as the Tessar demonstrate engineering elegance and in the modern age of plastic parts, many Zeiss lenses are still made with predominantly metal components.
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Although many lenses of other manufacturers commonly generate the sharpest images in the middle aperture range, Zeiss maintains that their lenses deliver high resolution at all apertures.-->
Zeiss licenses its technology to be manufactured by third-party companies and indeed, many have done so. Notable names include [[Hasselblad]], a famous name in [[Medium format (film)|medium format]] professional cameras. [[Rollei]], [[Yashica]], [[Sony]], [[Logitech]] and [[Alpa]] amongst others, have used or manufactured lenses under Zeiss license. The [[Contax]] line of 35mm cameras, first produced by Yashica and subsequently [[Kyocera]] until 2005 are perhaps the most well-known to fit Zeiss lenses. Notably absent from this list are the Japanese companies [[Canon (company)|Canon]] and [[Nikon]], who by and large produce their own lenses. However on [[January 18]], [[2006]] Zeiss announced that it planned to independently market a series of [[prime lens|fixed focal length lenses]] designed primarily for Nikon film cameras.
On [[April 27]], [[2005]] the company announced a collaboration with [[Nokia]] in the camera phone market. The first product to emerge out of this collaboration is the [[Nokia N90]].
Outside the world of cameras and imaging, Zeiss also produces spectacle lenses, particularly lenses made from high [[refractive index]] glass, allowing people whose [[eyeglass prescription|prescriptions]] require high-[[dioptre]] spectacles to use thinner lenses. These are sold in many countries, though not in the United States.
== Products ==
{{gen-section}}
Zeiss and its subsidiaries offer a wide range of products related to optics and vision. These include camera and cine lenses, microscopes and microscopy software, [[binocular]]s and [[spotting scope]]s, eyeglasses and lenses, [[planetarium]]s and dome video-systems, optics for military applications ([[Head-mounted display|head tracker systems]], submarine [[periscope]]s, targeting systems, ...), optical sensors, industrial metrology systems and [[ophthalmology]] products. The largest part of Carl Zeiss AG's revenue is generated by its Semiconductor Manufacturing Technologies division, which produces lithographic systems for the semiconductor industry as well as process control solutions (electron microscopes, mask repair tools, helium ion microscopes).<ref name="zeiss1st0708"/>
=== Microscopes ===
{{expand|section|date=February 2008}}
Zeiss offers many different types of microscopes:
* [[Optical microscope]]s
* [[Confocal laser scanning microscopy|Laser Scanning Microscopes]] (LSMs)
* [[Scanning Electron Microscope]]s (SEMs)
* [[Transmission Electron Microscope]]s (TEMs)
* [[Scanning Helium Ion Microscope]]s (SHIMs)
=== Cameras ===
==== Zeiss Ikon Camera ====
[[Image:Zeiss Ikon Rangefinder w35mm f2.JPG|thumb|]]
The Zeiss Ikon [[Rangefinder]] camera was introduced by Zeiss in 2004 and is similar to the [[Leica Camera|Leica M]] series cameras. The new camera, manufactured in Japan by Cosina, is fully compatible with [[Leica Camera|Leica]] and other lenses with the [[Leica M mount]].
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=== Camera lenses ===
{{Cleanup-section|date=April 2007}}
==== ZM lenses ====
The ZM line are lenses made for the [[Leica M mount]] and for the new [[Zeiss Ikon]] camera. They are also compatible with other [[rangefinder camera]] bodies with M Mount e.g. the Konica [[Hexar RF]] (KM Mount), the Cosina Voigtländer Bessa RxM/RxA series ([[VM mount]]), the Rollei 35RF and the Epson R-D series. Some lenses are manufactured in Germany by Zeiss, some in Japan by Cosina.
* Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 1:2.8 15 mm
* Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 1:2.8 21 mm
* Carl Zeiss C Distagon T* 1:4.5 21 mm
* Carl Zeiss Biogon T* 1:2.8 25 mm<br/>(Zeiss claims this lens has a resolution of 400 line pairs per millimetre in the centre of the image at the aperture f/4; this value represents the calculated [[diffraction limit]] for the aperture f/4, meaning that it physically doesn't get any better, resolution-wise)
* Carl Zeiss Biogon T* 1:2.8 28 mm
* Carl Zeiss Biogon T* 1:2.0 35 mm
* Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1:2.0 50 mm
* Carl Zeiss C Sonnar T* 1:1.5 50 mm<br/>("C" for "compact" and "classic")
* Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 1:2.0 85 mm
==== ZA lenses ====
The ZA line of lenses are for [[Sony]] Alpha/[[Konica Minolta]]/[[Minolta]] [[Minolta AF|A mount]]. They are fully dedicated [[autofocus]] lenses with 8 electrical contacts, ROM-IC, and distance encoder ('(D)-function' to support ADI flash).
* Sony α Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1:1.4 85 mm ZA [SAL-85F14Z]<br/>(Not optically identical to Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1:1.4 85 mm ZF/ZS lenses. However, also not optically identical to the former Minolta AF 1:1.4 85 mm G (D), it replaced)
* Sony α Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 1:1.8 135 mm ZA [SAL-135F18Z]
* Sony α Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* DT 1:3.5-1:4.5 16-80 mm ZA [SAL-1680Z]
* Sony α Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 1:2.8 24-70 mm ZA [SAL-2470Z]
==== ZF Lenses ====
The ZF lens line are for the [[Nikon F-mount]]. They have no electronics, are manual focus only, AI-S compatible. They are optically identical to corresponding ZK and ZS lenses. Manufactured in Japan by [[Cosina]]. ZF-I sealed lenses are for heavy duty industrial use, ZF-IR for infrared use.
* Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1:1.4 50 mm
* Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1:1.4 85 mm<br/>(Not optically identical to Sony α Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1:1.4 85 mm ZA lens)
* Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 1:2.0 35 mm
* Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 1:2.8 25 mm
* Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 1:2.0 50 mm
* Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 1:2.0 100 mm
* Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 1:2 28 mm
* Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 1:2.8 25 mm ZF-I
* Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 1:2 28 mm ZF-I
* Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 1:2 35 mm ZF-I
* Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 1:2.8 25 mm ZF-IR
* Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1:1.4 85 mm ZF-IR
==== ZK lenses ====
The ZK lens line is for [[Pentax K mount]]. They have no electronics, are manual focus only, K<sub>A</sub> couplers. Optically identical to corresponding ZF and ZS lenses. Manufactured in Japan by [[Cosina]].
* Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1:1.4 50 mm
* Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1:1.4 85 mm<br/>(Not optically identical to Sony α Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1:1.4 85 mm ZA lens)
* Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 1:2.0 35 mm
* Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 1:2.8 25 mm
* Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 1:2.0 50 mm
* Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 1:2.0 100 mm
* Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 1:2.0 28 mm
==== ZS lenses ====
The ZS lenses are for the [[M42 lens mount]] (''Pentacon/Practica/Pentax screw mount''). By use of mount adapters they can be adapted to most 35 mm bayonet camera mounts including Canon FD and EF, Pentax K, Minolta SR and Sony/Konica Minolta/Minolta A mounts (with the exception of Nikon F mount), usually losing open-aperture-metering, multi-segment metering, focus confirmation, automatic flash zoom capabilities as well as some built-in shake reduction performance and EXIF data accuracy. They are manual-focus only and optically identical to corresponding ZF and ZK lenses. Manufactured in Japan by [[Cosina]].
* Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1:1.4 50 mm
* Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 1:2.8 25 mm
* Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 1:2.8 35 mm
==== Super-rotator lenses ====
These are 360° tilt/shift lenses (based on Zeiss medium format lens designs) for 35 mm format including full-frame digital. Available mounts: Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony Alpha/Konica Minolta/Minolta A mount. Other mounts on request. Manual focus only, no electronics. Manufactured in Germany and Ukraine.
* [[Hartblei]] Superrotator Carl Zeiss Distagon T* IF 1:4.0 40 mm
* [[Hartblei]] Superrotator Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1:2.8 80 mm
* [[Hartblei]] Superrotator Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 1:4.0 120 mm
== See also ==
* [[Contax]]
* [[Rangefinder camera]]
* [[Telescopic sight]]
== References ==
<references />
== External links ==
{{Commons|Carl Zeiss (company)|Zeiss}}
* [http://www.zeiss.de/en Carl Zeiss AG official website]
* [http://www.praktica.de/?iL=2&iO=0&iM=1&iSM=3 History of the Zeiss Praktica]
* [http://collectiblend.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3 Zeiss Company Timeline]
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