Laack lenses
Julius Laack (later Laack Söhne) in Rathenow (Brandenburg, Germany) was first and foremost an optical company making lenses for cameras, binocluars and microscopes. Laack produced a wide range of lenses for still photo and cine camera applications as well as enlargers and projectors.[1] [2] An advertisement in 1934 claimed that over 500,000 lenses had been produced by Laack and Laack Söhne.[3]
Contents
Standard Lenses
Atelier Schnellarbeiter
A Petzval type lens[4]
- Laack 6 cm f/3.5 Schnellarbeiter lens,[5]
Dialytar
Doppel Anastigmat Dialytar, 1:5.6 185mm image by Ron (Netherlands) (Image rights) |
This name was used on several lenses of different design and maximum aperture. Greenleaf[2] lists three designs; one is a simple triplet, one (Series T!) a Tessar-type, and one a four-element lens like a Tessar, but with the two parts of the rear group not cemented, and with an air space.
- Dialytar
- Dialytar Series P
- f/3.5 30cm [12]
- Dialytar Series T
- A four-lens Anastigmat with one cemented and one air filled pair
- f/3.5 15 cm in Compur shutter[13]
- f/4.5 7.5 cm to cover 4.5x6 [14]
- f/4.5 10.5 cm to cover 6x9 [14]
- f/4.5 11.5 cm to cover 6x9 [14]
- f/4.5 13.5 cm to cover 9x12 [14]
- f/4.5 13.5 cm in Compur shutter [15]
- f/4.5 18 cm to cover 10x15 [14]
- f/4.5 21 cm to cover 13x18 [14]
- f/4.5 25 cm to cover 28x24 [14]
- f/6.3 15 cm in Pronto shutter[16]
- f/6.3 18 dm to cover 10x15 [14]
- f/6.3 21 cm to cover 13x18 [14]
- f/6.3 25 cmto cover 18x24 [14]
Doppel Anastigmat, 16.5cm f4.5 image by Ladenla (Image rights) |
Doppel-Polynar
A simple double-anastigmat, with two cemented doublets.[2]
- f/6.3 210mm[19]
Egotar
Egolyt
- f/4.5 105mm[21]
Extra Rapid Aplanat
Pololyt
A simple triplet.
- f/3.5 2.5cm
- Köhnlein Wiko with interchangeable Pololyt[24]
- f/3.5 3.5cm
- f/3.5 7.5cm
- f/3.5 8cm
- in KW Pilot Super [28]
- f/3.9 13.5cm[29]
- f/4.5 75mm
- f/4.5 105mm
- f/4.5 135mm[35]
- f/6.3 [39]
Polynar
- Polynar
- f/6.8 42mm
- in C.E.Nei Knirps 3x3[40]
- f/6.8 42mm
- Polynar C
- f/6.8 13.5cm
- in a ICA Halloh 511 [41]
- f/6.8 13.5cm
- Polynar C1
- f/6.8 190mm
- for military application[42]
- f/6.8 190mm
Laack Polyplan f/7.2 135mm in Vario shutter image by Dirk HR Spennemann (Image rights) |
Polyplan
A simple double-anastigmat, with two cemented doublets.
Polyxentar
A double-anastigmat; either composed of two cemented triplets (f/6.8) or of two triplets with only the outermost pair of each cemented (f/4.5).[2]
Regulyt
A simple triplet.
Texon
Cine Lenses
Cine-lens
A Petzval design
- f/2 15 to 85mm[1]
Cine-Pololyt
A Cooke design for 16mm cine cameras
- f/2 25mm[1]
Cine-Polyxentar
A Cooke design for 8 and 16mm cine cameras
Fineston
details needed [52]
Enlarger Lenses
Definon
An enlarger lens[53]
- f/4.5 5.5cm to cover 30x40cm[53][54]
- f/4.5 6cm to cover 40x40cm[53]
- f/4.5 7.5cm to cover 45x60cm[53][55]
- f/4.5 9cm to cover 60x60cm[53]
- f/4.5 10.5cm to cover 60x90cm[53]
- f/4.5 13.5cm to cover 90x120cm[53]
- f/6.3 5.5cm to cover 30x40cm[53]
- f/6.3 7.5cm to cover 45x60cm[53]
- f/6.3 10.5cm to cover 60x90cm[53]
Super Definon
Konkretar
- f/4/5 80mm[56]
Repro-Polyxentar
An Anastigmat-Apochromat with 90º viewangle
Vergrösserungs Anastigmat
Film Projector Lenses
Heleston
Film projector lens [52]
Lens Diagram for Laack f/1.35 3 cm (Image rights) |
Lens Designs
In addition, there are a number of lens designs on record. It is not clear whether any of these were ever put into production. The wide maximum apertures suggest these are cine lenses.
Links
- 1 inch f/1.3 Cine-Polyxentar cine lens, 1930s (as estimated by owner) in Japanese blog Hubbell's Photo Leaf.
- Laack 13.5 cm enlarging lens at ksmt.com, the website of a Japanese lens collector (he has tried the lens for photography with a DSLR; example photos are linked from this page).
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Kingslake, R (1939) The Development of the Photographic Objective. in: Keith Henney, Handbook of photography. (London: Whittlesey House, pp.37-68, esp. p. 59.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Greenleaf, Allen R. (1950) Photographic Optics. Macmillan, New York. pp82 & 201-8.
- ↑ The 50th anniversary of the company is mentioned for 1934: The British Journal Photographic Almanac and Photographer's Daily Companion 1934, p309.
- ↑ Schnellarbeiter (literally 'fast worker') was a lens design and term appears on Ferrotype cameras by more than one maker.
- ↑ On a Ertee 'cannon' camera by Romain Talbot, for 'button' ferrotypes.
- ↑ pho-Tony via Flickr
- ↑ Seen in a Yahoo Japan on-line auction
- ↑ Laack Rathenow Doppel Anastigmat Dialytar
- ↑ Dorotheum Auctions 2011 lot 404
- ↑ Küllenberg Essen Laack s/n 420326;; brass barrel lens, eBay October 2012
- ↑ eBay November 2012
- ↑ brass barrel lens, eBay October 2012
- ↑ Enter-net de
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 14.8 14.9 Laack Photo-Optik : Bei Tag und Nacht Katalog der Firma Julius Laack Söhne, Rathenow, Werkstätten für Präzisions-Optik und Mechanik [Rathenow]: 1939.p. 12.(seen on eBay)
- ↑ Laack Rathenow LP Auktioner
- ↑ Stereo Camera, lens s/n 59344) Yeshen Venema's site
- ↑ Barrel lens, Laack Rathenow s/n202452; eBay November 2012
- ↑ Laack Rathenow s/n 132368 via Flickr
- ↑ in IBSO shutter; eBay August 2012
- ↑ eBay October 2012
- ↑ in IBSO shutter; eBay August 2012
- ↑ Brass barrel lens, Breker September 25, 2010 Lot 299
- ↑ Brass barrel lens, eBay October 2012
- ↑ Christies 2005 Lot 219
- ↑ eBay September 2012
- ↑ Christies 2005 Lot 218
- ↑ ROW Pololyt 1:3,5 f=75mm 602534 in Blitz I shutter
- ↑ eBay October 2012
- ↑ in IBSO shutter; eBay August 2012
- ↑ s/n 128241 Laack-Rathenow via Flickr
- ↑ zniv via Flickr.—Gerard Vogels via Flickr
- ↑ s/n 222626 K.W. Box Reflex at Early Photography
- ↑ eBay September 2012
- ↑ Laack Gazelle Tropical 6x9 with Laack Rathenow s/n 151980
- ↑ Laack Rathenow s/n 91253 in IBSO (Romanian on-line auction, November 2012).
Laack Rathenow s/n 102664 in Compur (eBay March 2011). - ↑ Laack Rathenow s/n 112939 in Compur in a Laack Gazelle Tropical formerly published on Flickr
- ↑ in plate camera; eBay October 2012
- ↑ Laack Rathenow s/n 103031 via Flickr
- ↑ Now defunct German on-line auction system
- ↑ Cjhrisies 2006 Lot 436; Christies 2007 lot 333
- ↑ Laack Söhne Rathenow s/n 31072
- ↑ s/n 27658 Jul. Laack Söhne, Rathenow
- ↑ s/n 17553 "Julius Laack Söhne Rathenow"; loose lens in shutter, eBay October 2012
- ↑ s/n 22451 "Julius Laack Söhne Rathenow"; 9x12 plate camera (Wanderer /) in Fotosidans Forum.
- ↑ s/n 12938 "Laack" almost square 12 x 9 cameravia Flickr
s/n 55072 "Julius Laack Söhne Rathenow"; eBay January 2012. - ↑ s/n 195656 on-line Auction Germany
- ↑ s/n 195466. Christies 2007, lot 63
- ↑ Barrel lens (for enlarger?), s/n 405856 Laack Rathenow; eBay October 2012
- ↑ sn 268433 blog.sina.com.cn
- ↑ s/n 48xxxx Brass barrel lens (Black Kamera Kan)
- ↑ s/n 261977, Laack Rathenow, brass barrel lens, eBay October 2012
- ↑ 52.0 52.1 52.2 Laack Photo-Optik : Bei Tag und Nacht Katalog der Firma Julius Laack Söhne, Rathenow, Werkstätten für Präzisions-Optik und Mechanik [Rathenow]: 1939. (seen on eBay)
- ↑ 53.00 53.01 53.02 53.03 53.04 53.05 53.06 53.07 53.08 53.09 53.10 53.11 53.12 Laack Photo-Optik : Bei Tag und Nacht Katalog der Firma Julius Laack Söhne, Rathenow, Werkstätten für Präzisions-Optik und Mechanik [Rathenow]: 1939.p. 16.(seen on eBay)
- ↑ mentioned in a Flcikr forum
- ↑ Laack Anastigmat Definon s/n 409196 via forum.mflenses.—Laack Anastigmat Definon s/n 453110 (eBay August 2011).
- ↑ eBay November 2012
- ↑ 57.0 57.1 57.2 57.3 Laack Photo-Optik : Bei Tag und Nacht Katalog der Firma Julius Laack Söhne, Rathenow, Werkstätten für Präzisions-Optik und Mechanik [Rathenow]: , 1939.p. 18.(seen on eBay)
- ↑ eBay October 2012
- ↑ eBay October 2012
- ↑ Laack Rathenow s/n 430551 (seen on a Polish auction site)
- ↑ Laack Rathenow s/n 470054
- ↑ German Patent 665520, filed 20 September 1934 and granted 27 September 1938 to Julius Laack Söhne, Rathenow, at Espacenet, the patent search facility of the European Patent Office.
- ↑ Julius Laack Söhne1938 DCE 0 665 520 dioptrique.info
- ↑ Julius Laack Söhne1938 DCE 0 665 520 II dioptrique.info