Difference between revisions of "Tenax II"

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#REDIRECT [[Tenax]]
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|image_text=
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|image_by= Romuald Swieconek
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The '''Tenax II''' model 580/27 is an advanced 24×24mm on [[35mm]] film [[rangefinder camera|RF-camera]] launched by [[Zeiss Ikon]] (ZI) in 1938. Its proper name is actually '''Tenax''', but a much simpler camera with the same name, although with a different body casting, was launched the following year, both designed by Hubert Nerwin. The advanced 1938 model is known as mark II, or just Tenax II, while the simpler 1939 model 570/27, is known as [[Tenax I]]. The Tenax name goes back to the [[Goerz|C. P. Goerz]] company in Berlin, using it from 1907 on [[Tenax (folding)|folding plate cameras]]. It was used again by ZI in the 1960s. The manufacture of Tenax I was continued for a while in the 1950s in East Germany.
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== The Camera ==
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The main object of the Hubert Nerwin concept is speed, and both winding and focusing the camera, as well as setting the exposure, is exemplary quick and easy. This is accomplished using a large wind-lever at the right-hand camera front operated downwards by the index finger. It is mounted coaxially to the lensmount, and is sometimes described as a plunger. The shutter-release is just next to the top of the wind-lever in its rest position, enabling fast switching the finger back and forth. The entire concept was patented by Nerwin's team at Zeiss Ikon <ref>[https://depatisnet.dpma.de/DepatisNet/depatisnet?window=1&space=menu&content=treffer&action=pdf&docid=DE000000666559A&Cl=2&Bi=1&Ab=&De=2&Dr=3&Pts=&Pa=&We=&Sr=&Eam=&Cor=&Aa=&so=asc&sf=vn&subdok=Cl&firstdoc=1&NrFaxPages=3&pdfpage=2 Deutsches Reichspatent 666.559 from 9.Jun.1935], [https://depatisnet.dpma.de/DepatisNet/depatisnet?window=1&space=menu&content=treffer&action=pdf&docid=DE000000660603A&Cl=2&Bi=1&Ab=&De=2&Dr=3&Pts=&Pa=&We=&Sr=&Eam=&Cor=&Aa=&so=asc&sf=vn&firstdoc=1&NrFaxPages=3&pdfpage=2 Deutsches Reichspatent 660.603 from 18.Jul.1935]</ref>.
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The coupled [[rangefinder]] image is visible in the [[viewfinder]]. It employs two counter rotating sandwiched wedge-shaped prisms, placed in front of the rangefinder window. They are an integral part of the interchangeable lens, and therefore directly geared to the focusing mechanism in the lens barrel. This system is similar to that on the [[Super Ikonta]], the [[Super Nettel]] and the [[Nettax]], and it shows to what extreme ZI went to evade the [[Leica]] patents.
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The behind the lens shutter is a [[Compur]] Rapid OS [[leaf shutter]] speeded from 1 to 1/400 sec. and B. Time exposure is obtained at B by depressing the [[shutter release]] button and rotate it clockwise while depressed. The button is threaded for [[cable release]]. The square image format yields 48 images on a standard 36 image length of film.
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|image_source= https://www.flickr.com/photos/the-open-mind/4280360867/in/pool-camerawiki/
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|image= https://live.staticflickr.com/2803/4280360867_cf904173ca_n.jpg
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|image_align= right
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|image_text= Zeiss Ikon 6200/1 Röntgen-Tenax
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|image_by= Johnno
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|image_rights=  non-commercial
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}}
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The Tenax II was certainly inspired by the [[Robot]] camera, a small 24x24mm camera with spring-driven motorized film advance, launched in 1934. The format was indeed the same, as well as the emphasis on rapid action shooting. The rangefinder Tenax II was more sophisticated, but it was not commercially as successful, and production ended within a few years, unlike the Robot.
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There are Tenax II cameras engraved ''Luftwaffeneingentum'' ("Luftwaffe (German Air Force) Property"). A special version for taking pictures of X-ray images on a flouroscope screen, called the '''Röntgen-Tenax''' was also made available. It is designed to be handled while wearing thick gloves, and has a metal slide to protect the film from X-rays when not in use.
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{{Br}}
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== Tenax II lenses ==
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The lens was interchangeable but only four different lenses were available:
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<br>
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|image= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5065/5654056035_b8efdff67d_n.jpg
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|image_align= right
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|image_text= Tenax II with [[Sonnar]] 7.5cm F4
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|image_by= Kazutaka Tsutsui
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|image_rights= (c)
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* Carl Zeiss Jena 4cm f/2 Sonnar standard lens (6612 units<ref name="Thiele">Hartmut Thiele, "Fabrikationsbuch Photooptik II Carl Zeiss Jena", 9th edition, Munich 2020.</ref>)
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* Carl Zeiss Jena 4cm f/2.8 Tessar standard lens (4001 units<ref name="Thiele" />)
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* Carl Zeiss Jena 2.7cm f/4.5 Orthometar wide-angle lens (302 units<ref name="Thiele" />)
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* Carl Zeiss Jena 7.5cm f/4 Sonnar tele lens (1026 units<ref name="Thiele" />)
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Carl Zeiss also produced some prototypes for the camera (e.g. 4cm f3.5 Tessar, 3.5cm f2 Biotar)<ref name="Thiele" />, which did not make it into general production. The total number of standard lenses (>10.000) indicate a similar production of the camera itself. However, some sources estimate only about 8500 cameras.
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== Tenax II accessories ==
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* the close-up Contameter set, in a special version for the Tenax II, with code number 1339. It was sold in a case with a special close-up finder and three close-up lenses matched by three lenses for the finder device.
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* accessory finder for the 2.7cm Orthometar
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* finder mask for the 7.5cm Sonnar, #580/7
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* Albada finder for 4cm and 7.5cm, #433/17
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== Bibliography, References ==
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<references />
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* Dechert, Peter. ''Tenax'' article 2006. Published in the [http://issuu.com/zeisshistoricasociety/docs/pdf_zhs_journal_spring_2006 Zeiss Historica Spring 2006 issue]
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* Loder, Michael Wescott. ''The Tenax II: Zeiss Ikon's Precision, Fast-action Camera'', [https://www.blurb.com/books/8032913-the-tenax-ii-zeiss-ikon-s-precision-fast-action-ca Blurb Inc. (2017), ISBN: 978-1389878213]. Or a comprehensive summary on the [http://wesloderandnikon.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-tenax-ii-zeiss-action-camera-from.html author's blog].
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== Links ==
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/phollectormo/5746783496/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2634/5746783496_185783fb70_n.jpg
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|image_align= right
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|image_text= Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 4cm f/2 lens removed
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|image_by= phollectormo
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|image_rights= wp
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}}
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In English:
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*[https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/pp/zitenax2.htm Tenax II] in [https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/pp/rindex.htm Pacific Rim's Photographica Pages]
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In German:
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* [https://zeissikonveb.de/start/kameras/taxona.html Tenax/Taxona] on [https://zeissikonveb.de Zeiss Ikon VEB]
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* [https://knippsen.blogspot.com/2023/03/zeiss-ikon-tenax-ii-58027.html Tenax II (580/27)] on [https://knippsen.blogspot.com KniPPsen]
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In Japanese:
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* Pages in [http://www.koujiya-camera.com/ Koujiya's website]: [http://koujiyacamera.hamazo.tv/e195646.html this page] has some images<!--Commented out link, page no longer present/available, please remove if not returned by 03/2025  and [http://www.koujiya-camera.com/look108.html this one] has many of them-->
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In French:
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* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=12088 Tenax II] on [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/francais.php www.collection-appareils.fr] by Sylvain Halgand
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{{zeiss classic}}
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[[Category: German 35mm rangefinder]]
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[[Category: 24x24]]
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[[Category: Zeiss Ikon]]
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[[Category: T]]
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[[Category: 1938]]

Latest revision as of 05:09, 10 March 2024

3569912048_da5bb59cbf.jpg
image by Romuald Swieconek (Image rights)

The Tenax II model 580/27 is an advanced 24×24mm on 35mm film RF-camera launched by Zeiss Ikon (ZI) in 1938. Its proper name is actually Tenax, but a much simpler camera with the same name, although with a different body casting, was launched the following year, both designed by Hubert Nerwin. The advanced 1938 model is known as mark II, or just Tenax II, while the simpler 1939 model 570/27, is known as Tenax I. The Tenax name goes back to the C. P. Goerz company in Berlin, using it from 1907 on folding plate cameras. It was used again by ZI in the 1960s. The manufacture of Tenax I was continued for a while in the 1950s in East Germany.

The Camera

The main object of the Hubert Nerwin concept is speed, and both winding and focusing the camera, as well as setting the exposure, is exemplary quick and easy. This is accomplished using a large wind-lever at the right-hand camera front operated downwards by the index finger. It is mounted coaxially to the lensmount, and is sometimes described as a plunger. The shutter-release is just next to the top of the wind-lever in its rest position, enabling fast switching the finger back and forth. The entire concept was patented by Nerwin's team at Zeiss Ikon [1].

The coupled rangefinder image is visible in the viewfinder. It employs two counter rotating sandwiched wedge-shaped prisms, placed in front of the rangefinder window. They are an integral part of the interchangeable lens, and therefore directly geared to the focusing mechanism in the lens barrel. This system is similar to that on the Super Ikonta, the Super Nettel and the Nettax, and it shows to what extreme ZI went to evade the Leica patents.

The behind the lens shutter is a Compur Rapid OS leaf shutter speeded from 1 to 1/400 sec. and B. Time exposure is obtained at B by depressing the shutter release button and rotate it clockwise while depressed. The button is threaded for cable release. The square image format yields 48 images on a standard 36 image length of film.

4280360867_cf904173ca_n.jpg
Zeiss Ikon 6200/1 Röntgen-Tenax
image by Johnno (Image rights)

The Tenax II was certainly inspired by the Robot camera, a small 24x24mm camera with spring-driven motorized film advance, launched in 1934. The format was indeed the same, as well as the emphasis on rapid action shooting. The rangefinder Tenax II was more sophisticated, but it was not commercially as successful, and production ended within a few years, unlike the Robot.

There are Tenax II cameras engraved Luftwaffeneingentum ("Luftwaffe (German Air Force) Property"). A special version for taking pictures of X-ray images on a flouroscope screen, called the Röntgen-Tenax was also made available. It is designed to be handled while wearing thick gloves, and has a metal slide to protect the film from X-rays when not in use.

Tenax II lenses

The lens was interchangeable but only four different lenses were available:

5654056035_b8efdff67d_n.jpg
Tenax II with Sonnar 7.5cm F4
image by Kazutaka Tsutsui (Image rights)
  • Carl Zeiss Jena 4cm f/2 Sonnar standard lens (6612 units[2])
  • Carl Zeiss Jena 4cm f/2.8 Tessar standard lens (4001 units[2])
  • Carl Zeiss Jena 2.7cm f/4.5 Orthometar wide-angle lens (302 units[2])
  • Carl Zeiss Jena 7.5cm f/4 Sonnar tele lens (1026 units[2])

Carl Zeiss also produced some prototypes for the camera (e.g. 4cm f3.5 Tessar, 3.5cm f2 Biotar)[2], which did not make it into general production. The total number of standard lenses (>10.000) indicate a similar production of the camera itself. However, some sources estimate only about 8500 cameras.

Tenax II accessories

  • the close-up Contameter set, in a special version for the Tenax II, with code number 1339. It was sold in a case with a special close-up finder and three close-up lenses matched by three lenses for the finder device.
  • accessory finder for the 2.7cm Orthometar
  • finder mask for the 7.5cm Sonnar, #580/7
  • Albada finder for 4cm and 7.5cm, #433/17


Bibliography, References

  1. ↑ Deutsches Reichspatent 666.559 from 9.Jun.1935, Deutsches Reichspatent 660.603 from 18.Jul.1935
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Hartmut Thiele, "Fabrikationsbuch Photooptik II Carl Zeiss Jena", 9th edition, Munich 2020.

Links

5746783496_185783fb70_n.jpg
Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 4cm f/2 lens removed
image by phollectormo (Image rights)

In English:

In German:

In Japanese:

In French:

Zeiss Ikon Classic Cameras
Contax | Contaflex (TLR) | Super Nettel | Nettax | Tenax II | Tenax I | Ikoflex | Super Ikonta

Contax S | Contaflex (SLR) | Contarex | Icarex | SL706

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