Difference between revisions of "Ludwig"
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* [[Belca Beltica]] - Meritar 2.9/50 mm | * [[Belca Beltica]] - Meritar 2.9/50 mm | ||
* [[Certo KN 35]] - Kosmar 2.8/45 and Meritar 2.8/45 alternatively | * [[Certo KN 35]] - Kosmar 2.8/45 and Meritar 2.8/45 alternatively | ||
− | * Exa - Meritar 2.9/50 mm (bayonet mount) | + | * Exa and Exakta - Meritar 2.9/50 mm (bayonet mount) |
+ | * [[Korelle (3x4)]] - Vidar 1:4.5 f=5cm or Victar 1:2.9 f=5cm | ||
* [[Minifex]] | * [[Minifex]] | ||
* [[Praktiflex]] Victar 5 cm f/3.5 or Victar-Anastigmat 5 cm f/2.9 | * [[Praktiflex]] Victar 5 cm f/3.5 or Victar-Anastigmat 5 cm f/2.9 | ||
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''See their [[Exakta lenses#Ludwig|Exakta lenses]], [[42mm screw lenses#Ludwig|42mm screw lenses]] and [[Praktiflex lenses#Ludwig|Praktiflex lenses]].'' | ''See their [[Exakta lenses#Ludwig|Exakta lenses]], [[42mm screw lenses#Ludwig|42mm screw lenses]] and [[Praktiflex lenses#Ludwig|Praktiflex lenses]].'' | ||
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==Serial Numbers== | ==Serial Numbers== | ||
The following serial number sequence was derived from information provided here <ref>[https://photobutmore.de/exakta/objektive/ludwig/ Ludwig lenses] at [https://photobutmore.de Photobutmore (in German)]</ref> and validated/adjusted by own research. The numbers given should be only regarded a rough guideline: | The following serial number sequence was derived from information provided here <ref>[https://photobutmore.de/exakta/objektive/ludwig/ Ludwig lenses] at [https://photobutmore.de Photobutmore (in German)]</ref> and validated/adjusted by own research. The numbers given should be only regarded a rough guideline: |
Revision as of 20:26, 15 February 2024
Camera industry in Dresden |
Balda | Certo | Eho-Altissa | Eichapfel | Ernemann | Feinmess | Heyde | Hamaphot | Huth | Hüttig | ICA | Ihagee | Kochmann | Kerman | KW | Eugen Loeber | Ludwig | Mentor | Merkel | Meyer | Mimosa | Pentacon | Richter | Sommer | Stübiger | Unger & Hoffmann | Werner | Wünsche | Zeiss Ikon | Zeh |
Camera distributors in Dresden |
Stöckig |
Camera industry in Freital |
Beier | Pouva | Stein & Binnewerg | Thowe | Welta |
Anastigmat Victar 5cm/2.9 on Praktiflex image by botakjay (Image rights) |
Ludwig Meritar on Beirette V image by Süleyman Demir (Image rights) |
Ludwig or Ernst Ludwig was a German optical company based at Lausa, a small town near Dresden.
History
teleconverter Konverter 2× for M42 lenses image by Uwe Kulick (Image rights) |
Optisches Werk Ernst Ludwig (Optical Factory Ernst Ludwig) company was grounded in 1924 in Lausa near Dresden, after Ernst Ludwig had acquired an optical glass factory. The company was making affordable lenses for medium class amateur cameras, named Enoldar, Peronar and Victar. E.g. the Victar series included triplet lenses of focal lengths from 25 to 135 mm, intended as fixed lenses as well as interchangeable ones for reflex cameras. In 1936 Ludwig was employing more than 70 workers. The town of Lausa merged with the neighbour town of Weixdorf in 1938, some prewar lenses were thus marked Ludwig Lausa Dresden.
The company was still led by Ernst Ludwig after 1945 and Meritar family of lenses (45 mm and 50 mm) was developed in this period. 16 per cent of shares were acquired by the state in 1959, while Ludwig headed the company further, until 1968. The company, having already 130 employees, became the state owned VEB Optisches Werk Weixdorf in 1972 and was headed by Peter Heizler. In 1980 it was absorbed by the VEB Pentacon.
Lenses
Ludwig made entry level lenses, often with three elements. After the war, they were offered as a low price alternative to the Carl Zeiss Jena or Meyer lenses. Some trademarks used for Ludwig lenses include:
Enoldar Anastigmat on Korelle P image by Dirk HR Spennemann (Image rights) |
Anastigmat >Victar< on Welta Weltax image by Foveonyc (Image rights) |
- Auxanar (simple triplet, enlarger lens)
- Cosmar (five element triplet with cemented first and third groups)
- Enoldar
- Kosmar (four element triplet with cemented front group)
- Meritar (simple triplet or a Tessar type)[1]
- Peronar
- Victar (simple triplet)
- Vidar
Cameras
Ludwig was not a camera maker, but rather a lens maker. Cameras equipped with a Ludwig lens include:
- Altix - Meritar 2.9/50 mm
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|
- Baldax Vidar f/2.9 75mm as well as Vidar f/4.5 75mm
- Beirette - Meritar 2.9/45 mm, later 2.8/45 mm
- Beirette SL 200 - Meritar 2.9/45 mm, later 2.8/45 mm
- Beirette SL 300 - Meritar 2.9/45 mm, later 2.8/45 mm
- Belca Beltica - Meritar 2.9/50 mm
- Certo KN 35 - Kosmar 2.8/45 and Meritar 2.8/45 alternatively
- Exa and Exakta - Meritar 2.9/50 mm (bayonet mount)
- Korelle (3x4) - Vidar 1:4.5 f=5cm or Victar 1:2.9 f=5cm
- Minifex
- Praktiflex Victar 5 cm f/3.5 or Victar-Anastigmat 5 cm f/2.9
- Precisa - Meritar 3.5/75 mm
- Reflekta I - Meritar 3.5/75 mm
- Reflekta II - Meritar 3.5/75 mm
- Super Dollina II
- Weltaflex - Meritar 3.5/75 mm
- Wirgin Auta (1935) with E. Ludwig Lausa 6.3 /1 0.5cm lens[2]
See their Exakta lenses, 42mm screw lenses and Praktiflex lenses.
Serial Numbers
The following serial number sequence was derived from information provided here [3] and validated/adjusted by own research. The numbers given should be only regarded a rough guideline:
Meritar 2.9/50 (ca. 1959?) attached to NEX-5 by means of Exakta-NEX adapter image by Uwe Kulick (Image rights) |
Year | Serial nº |
---|---|
1934 | 100,000 |
1936 | 300,000 |
1938 | 400,000 |
1940 | 500,000 |
1947 | 505,000 |
1951 | 750,000 |
1953 | 900,000 |
1955 | 1,025,000 |
1957 | 1,150,000 |
1963 | 1,450,000 |
1972 | 1,650,000 |
Korelle (3x4) with Vidar lens image by Vagn1949 (Image rights) |
Notes
- ↑ Both types were produced under one name
- ↑ Note that the use of 'cm' instead of mm indicates pre-World war II usage
- ↑ Ludwig lenses at Photobutmore (in German)
Sources
- Fincke H.E.: Das Objektiv deiner Kamera; Fotokinoverlag Halle, Halle, 1959.
- Jehmlich G.: Der VEB Pentacon Dresden; Sandstein Verlag, Dresden. 2009.
- Naumann H.: Das Auge meiner Kamera; Verlag von Wilhelm Knapp, Halle (Saale), 1951.
- Puskov V.V.: Poradnik fotograficzny; PWT, Warsaw, 1956.
Links
In English:
In German: