Difference between revisions of "Tessar"

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}}The '''Tessar''' is a camera [[lens]] designed by [[Paul Rudolph]], working for the [[Carl Zeiss]] Jena company, in 1902. It is normally used as a standard lens, and versions of it have been fitted to many millions of cameras.
 
}}The '''Tessar''' is a camera [[lens]] designed by [[Paul Rudolph]], working for the [[Carl Zeiss]] Jena company, in 1902. It is normally used as a standard lens, and versions of it have been fitted to many millions of cameras.
  
The design consists of four elements in three groups; the front element is positive, bi-convex (with the rear almost flat), the central a negative bi-concave and, following an aperture, at the rear is a cemented doublet of plano-concave and a bi-convex elements. Though often referred to as a "modified [[Cooke triplet]]", the Tessar is actually a development of Rudolph's 1899 Unar (4 element in 4 groups) lens, itself a development of Rudolph's 1890 Zeiss Anastigmat (4 elements in 2 groups) lens.  
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The design consists of four elements in three groups; the front element is positive, bi-convex (with the rear almost flat), the central a negative bi-concave and, following an aperture, at the rear is a cemented doublet of plano-concave and a bi-convex elements. Though often referred to as a "modified [[Cooke triplet]]", the Tessar is actually a development of Rudolph's 1899 Unar (4 element in 4 groups) lens, itself a development of Rudolph's 1890 Zeiss Anastigmat (4 elements in 2 groups) lens.<ref>Kingslake, Rudolph, ''A History of the Photographic Lens'', Academic Press, (1989). "It is certain that the [[Tessar]] was not a modified [[Cooke Triplet]], as the series of steps followed by Dr. Paul Rudolph in going from the [[Anastigmat]] to the Tessar are well established, but for some of the later designs it is not always clear whether they should be regarded as modified Tessars or modified Triplets." Nevertheless, the easiest way of describing a Tessar is to explain how it differs from a simple triplet, and this is what is meant by those who call it a modified triplet, rather than implying any particular design process.</ref>
  
 
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*  [[Carl Zeiss |Zeiss]] Tessar
 
*  [[Carl Zeiss |Zeiss]] Tessar
 
{{br}}
 
{{br}}
==Sources==
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/89864432@N00/5074423595/in/pool-camerawiki
 
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|image_align= right
 
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|image_text= imaging sample, Tessar on [[Belca Beltica]]<br /><small>image by Uwe Kulick </small> {{with permission}}
 
|image_text= imaging sample, Tessar on [[Belca Beltica]]<br /><small>image by Uwe Kulick </small> {{with permission}}
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===Books===
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==Notes==
* Rudolf Kingslake, ''A History of the Photographic Lens'', Academic Press, 1989
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<references/>
===Links===
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==Links==
 
* [http://oomz.net/tessar/ How to clean or repair a 50mm f2.8 Tessar, by Michel Pollet]
 
* [http://oomz.net/tessar/ How to clean or repair a 50mm f2.8 Tessar, by Michel Pollet]
 
* [http://www.zeiss.com/C125716F004E0776/ShowIssue?ReadForm&IssueID=91F5/ Innovation 11, 100th Anniversary of the Tessar]
 
* [http://www.zeiss.com/C125716F004E0776/ShowIssue?ReadForm&IssueID=91F5/ Innovation 11, 100th Anniversary of the Tessar]
  
===References===
 
<references/>
 
 
[[Category: German lenses]]
 
[[Category: German lenses]]
 
[[Category: 1900-1905]]
 
[[Category: 1900-1905]]
 
[[Category: Carl Zeiss]]
 
[[Category: Carl Zeiss]]

Revision as of 20:22, 18 August 2013

The Tessar is a camera lens designed by Paul Rudolph, working for the Carl Zeiss Jena company, in 1902. It is normally used as a standard lens, and versions of it have been fitted to many millions of cameras.

The design consists of four elements in three groups; the front element is positive, bi-convex (with the rear almost flat), the central a negative bi-concave and, following an aperture, at the rear is a cemented doublet of plano-concave and a bi-convex elements. Though often referred to as a "modified Cooke triplet", the Tessar is actually a development of Rudolph's 1899 Unar (4 element in 4 groups) lens, itself a development of Rudolph's 1890 Zeiss Anastigmat (4 elements in 2 groups) lens.[1]


The original design had a maximum aperture of f/6.3, but the developments in design allowed f/2.8 by 1930.

In addition to production by Carl Zeiss, the Tessar name and design (under license) was used in the production of numerous lenses by Bausch & Lomb (Rochester), Ross (London) and Krauss (Paris).

The Tessar design has been widely copied by nearly all major optics companies. By 2002, Carl Zeiss, Inc. had produced over five millions Tessar lenses, and they estimated the total number of Tessar formula lenses at more than 150 million.[2]

A very partial list includes:


Notes

  1. Kingslake, Rudolph, A History of the Photographic Lens, Academic Press, (1989). "It is certain that the Tessar was not a modified Cooke Triplet, as the series of steps followed by Dr. Paul Rudolph in going from the Anastigmat to the Tessar are well established, but for some of the later designs it is not always clear whether they should be regarded as modified Tessars or modified Triplets." Nevertheless, the easiest way of describing a Tessar is to explain how it differs from a simple triplet, and this is what is meant by those who call it a modified triplet, rather than implying any particular design process.
  2. Innovation – The Magazine from Carl Zeiss", Issue 11, Carl Zeiss, Inc.

Links