Difference between revisions of "Voigtländer"

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'''Voigtländer''' was one of the the world's longest-lived camera and lens makers. The brand is still used by other firms.
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'''Voigtländer''' (Germ. pronunciation ''"FOYKT-lender"'') was one of the the world's longest-lived camera and lens makers. The brand is still used by other firms.
  
  
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|image= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49125525823_0538fd5072_m.jpg
 
|image_align= left
 
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|image_text= [[Bergheil]] Luxus 4×6.5 cm, c1911.
 
|image_text= [[Bergheil]] Luxus 4×6.5 cm, c1911.
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In the 19th century, Voigtländer made optical products including opera glasses and [[periscopic lens]]es. In 1840, the Hungarian [[Petzval|Josef Petzval]] designed the innovative [[Petzval lens]] for Voigtländer. The lens, with the widest relative aperture of any then made (about f/3), was very successful for its intended purpose: the making of [[daguerreotype]] portraits.<ref>Greenleaf, Allen R. ''Photographic Optics''. Macmillan, New York, 1950. p67-8.</ref> The wide aperture allowed a very considerable reduction in exposure times. The lens' main limitation (it only covers a narrow field of view) prevented it being adapted for other uses (landscape, for example), but does not matter for portraiture. The design was widely adopted, and Petzval lenses were made for about the next century. Voigtländer also made cameras, including the [[Daguerreotyp-Apparat zum Portraitiren | first all-metal daguerrotype camera]].
 
In the 19th century, Voigtländer made optical products including opera glasses and [[periscopic lens]]es. In 1840, the Hungarian [[Petzval|Josef Petzval]] designed the innovative [[Petzval lens]] for Voigtländer. The lens, with the widest relative aperture of any then made (about f/3), was very successful for its intended purpose: the making of [[daguerreotype]] portraits.<ref>Greenleaf, Allen R. ''Photographic Optics''. Macmillan, New York, 1950. p67-8.</ref> The wide aperture allowed a very considerable reduction in exposure times. The lens' main limitation (it only covers a narrow field of view) prevented it being adapted for other uses (landscape, for example), but does not matter for portraiture. The design was widely adopted, and Petzval lenses were made for about the next century. Voigtländer also made cameras, including the [[Daguerreotyp-Apparat zum Portraitiren | first all-metal daguerrotype camera]].
  
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In 1849 Voigtländer built a branch factory in Braunschweig (Brunswick) in Germany under the name Voigtländer & Sohn, Optical Institute, and in 1862 the company moved its headquarters to Braunschweig. In 1898 the company, until then family-owned, became a public company (i.e. sold shares on the stock market, becoming Voigtländer ''AG'').<ref>Thus [http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/originalDocument?CC=GB&NR=189718157A&KC=A&FT=D&ND=4&date=18971016&DB=worldwide.espacenet.com&locale=en_EP British Patent 18157 of 1897], ''Improvements in Photographic Objectives'', is in the name of Friedrich, Ritter von Voigtländer, while [http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/originalDocument?CC=US&NR=716035A&KC=A&FT=D&ND=4&date=19021216&DB=worldwide.espacenet.com&locale=en_EP US Patent 716035 of 1902], ''Lens'', is in that of Voigtländer & Sohn Aktien Gesellschaft; both patents at [http://worldwide.espacenet.com/?locale=en_EP Espacenet], the patent search facility of the European Patent Office.</ref> By 1915 the company had outgrown its buildings and moved to new premises in another part of Braunschweig. Unsurprisingly, the company made some military products during the First World War.<ref>For example, [http://www.pbase.com/g_hawkins/image/74774998 Voigtländer binoculars] at [http://www.pbase.com PBase].</ref>
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In 1849 Voigtländer built a branch factory in Braunschweig (Brunswick) in Germany under the name Voigtländer & Sohn, Optical Institute, and in 1862 the company moved its headquarters to Braunschweig. In 1898 the company, until then family-owned, became a public company (i.e. sold shares on the stock market, becoming Voigtländer ''AG'').<ref>Thus [https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search?q=pn%3DGB189718157A British Patent 18157 of 1897], ''Improvements in Photographic Objectives'', is in the name of Friedrich, Ritter von Voigtländer, while [https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search?q=pn%3DUS716035A US Patent 716035 of 1902], ''Lens'', is in that of Voigtländer & Sohn Aktien Gesellschaft; both patents at [http://worldwide.espacenet.com/ Espacenet], the patent search facility of the European Patent Office.</ref> By 1915 the company had outgrown its buildings and moved to new premises in another part of Braunschweig. Unsurprisingly, the company made some military products during the First World War.<ref>For example, [http://www.pbase.com/g_hawkins/image/74774998 Voigtländer binoculars] at [http://www.pbase.com PBase].</ref>
  
 
Voigtländer remained independent after the War, when hard times (due in part to the effects of War reparations on Germany's economy) caused some other firms to enter mergers. In 1920, '''Rudolf Heidecke''' and '''Paul Franke''', employees of Voigtländer, left the firm to form [[Franke & Heidecke]] (their first camera, the [[Heidoscop]], bears a striking similarity to Voigtländer's [[Stereflektoskop]]; Heidecke was a designer, and it seems likely that he either had rights to this design, or had Voigtländer's blessing to use it). In 1925, Schering AG (a chemicals company) bought a majority share in Voigtländer. The company expanded its premises again in 1929. It was in the period of Schering's ownership that many of the familiar Voigtländer cameras were made, including the first [[Bessa]]. Voigtländer again made military equipment (including but not limited to aerial reconnaissance cameras, binoculars and rifle scopes) for Germany's rearmament and the Second World War, but continued development of cameras at least up to shortly before the War itself; the Bessa 466 was designed around 1938 (Voigtländer's British patent for this innovative camera was finalised in 1940, actually during the War)! During this time parts of production were moved to the Wolfenbüttel district (still on the outskirts of Braunschweig), where prisoners of war were employed.
 
Voigtländer remained independent after the War, when hard times (due in part to the effects of War reparations on Germany's economy) caused some other firms to enter mergers. In 1920, '''Rudolf Heidecke''' and '''Paul Franke''', employees of Voigtländer, left the firm to form [[Franke & Heidecke]] (their first camera, the [[Heidoscop]], bears a striking similarity to Voigtländer's [[Stereflektoskop]]; Heidecke was a designer, and it seems likely that he either had rights to this design, or had Voigtländer's blessing to use it). In 1925, Schering AG (a chemicals company) bought a majority share in Voigtländer. The company expanded its premises again in 1929. It was in the period of Schering's ownership that many of the familiar Voigtländer cameras were made, including the first [[Bessa]]. Voigtländer again made military equipment (including but not limited to aerial reconnaissance cameras, binoculars and rifle scopes) for Germany's rearmament and the Second World War, but continued development of cameras at least up to shortly before the War itself; the Bessa 466 was designed around 1938 (Voigtländer's British patent for this innovative camera was finalised in 1940, actually during the War)! During this time parts of production were moved to the Wolfenbüttel district (still on the outskirts of Braunschweig), where prisoners of war were employed.
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* In 1898 Voigtländer became a stock market company.
 
* In 1898 Voigtländer became a stock market company.
 
* In 1900 the "Reise Kamera" (travel camera) was introduced.
 
* In 1900 the "Reise Kamera" (travel camera) was introduced.
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* In 1927 the company's first rollfilm cameras were introduced, in three different sizes.
 
* In 1931 Voigtländer entered the mass market with the BESSA camera for 6x9 format.
 
* In 1931 Voigtländer entered the mass market with the BESSA camera for 6x9 format.
 
* In '''1939''' the VITO, their first camera for [[35mm]] film, was well received by the customers.
 
* In '''1939''' the VITO, their first camera for [[35mm]] film, was well received by the customers.
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While still in Austria, Voigtländer introduced the [[Petzval lens]], which became a standard lens for portrait photography: Voigtländer's Petzval lenses were fitted to cameras of many makers. The lens has four elements, divided in two groups, the two front elements cemented, the two back elements just placed close to each other. The lens has a characteristic vignetting and curvature of field, but it made images which were very sharp in the centre. This and its wide aperture make it ideal for portraiture, though of little use for other photography; portrait photography was a big business, however.
 
While still in Austria, Voigtländer introduced the [[Petzval lens]], which became a standard lens for portrait photography: Voigtländer's Petzval lenses were fitted to cameras of many makers. The lens has four elements, divided in two groups, the two front elements cemented, the two back elements just placed close to each other. The lens has a characteristic vignetting and curvature of field, but it made images which were very sharp in the centre. This and its wide aperture make it ideal for portraiture, though of little use for other photography; portrait photography was a big business, however.
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In 1900 Carl August Hans Harting, working for Voigtländer produced another fast lens, the '''Heliar''', a symmetric lens, improved by him as an asymmetric design in 1902. Other fine lens designs of that time were the '''Dynar''' and '''Kollinear''' (later Collinear) lenses. During the 20th century the '''Skopar''' and '''Color Skopar''' lenses became the standard lenses for Voigtländer's own cameras. Voigtländer also made the '''Zoomar''', the world's first interchangeable zoom lens, in 1959.<ref>[http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/originalDocument?CC=US&NR=2902901A&KC=A&FT=D&ND=3&date=19590908&DB=worldwide.espacenet.com&locale=en_EP US Patent 2902901], ''Reflex camera varifocal lens'', filed June 1958 and granted September 1959 to Frank Back personally, and [http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/originalDocument?CC=DE&NR=1094480B&KC=B&FT=D&ND=3&date=19601208&DB=worldwide.espacenet.com&locale=en_EP German Patent 1094480], ''Pankratisches Objektiv für Aufnahme- und Wiedergabe-Zwecke'' (A Pancratic Objective for Taking and Projection), filed January 1959 and granted December 1960 to Voigtländer AG, citing Frank Back as the inventor; at Espacenet.</ref>
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In 1900 Carl August Hans Harting, working for Voigtländer produced another fast lens, the '''Heliar''', a symmetric lens, improved by him as an asymmetric design in 1902. Other fine lens designs of that time were the '''Dynar''' and '''Kollinear''' (later Collinear) lenses. During the 20th century the '''Skopar''' and '''Color Skopar''', and '''Ultron''' lenses became the standard lenses for Voigtländer's own cameras. Voigtländer also made the '''Zoomar''', the world's first interchangeable zoom lens, in 1959.<ref>[https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search?q=pn%3DUS2902901A US Patent 2902901], ''Reflex camera varifocal lens'', filed June 1958 and granted September 1959 to Frank Back personally, and [https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search?q=pn%3DDE1094480B German Patent 1094480], ''Pankratisches Objektiv für Aufnahme- und Wiedergabe-Zwecke'' (A Pancratic Objective for Taking and Projection), filed January 1959 and granted December 1960 to Voigtländer AG, citing Frank Back as the inventor; at Espacenet.</ref>
  
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The Voigtländer camera and lens age can be determined by the serial number on the lens. See this [http://taunusreiter.de/Cameras/voigtlaender_SN.jpg Voigtländer lens serial-number reference] to date the original production year.
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The Voigtländer camera and lens age can be determined by the serial number on the lens. See this [http://www.klassik-cameras.de/voigtlaender_SN.jpg Voigtländer lens serial-number reference] to date the original production year.
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= https://www.flickr.com/photos/90900361@N08/51246057108/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51246057108_751ce375c3_m.jpg
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|image_align=
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|image_text= Voigtländer Zoomar lens
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|image_by= Geoff Harrisson
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|image_rights= wp
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}}
  
 
<br style="clear:left" />
 
<br style="clear:left" />
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* [[Collinear]] / Kollinear f/6.3
 
* [[Collinear]] / Kollinear f/6.3
 
* Color Skopar
 
* Color Skopar
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* Dynar  f/5.5
+
* Dynar   
 
* Dynaron
 
* Dynaron
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* [[Heliar]] f/4.5
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* [[Heliar]]  
 
* Lanthar
 
* Lanthar
 
* Petzval portrait lens
 
* Petzval portrait lens
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* Skoparon
 
* Skoparon
 
* Tele-Dynar f/6.3
 
* Tele-Dynar f/6.3
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* [[Ultron]]
 
* [[Voigtländer Weichzeichner]]
 
* [[Voigtländer Weichzeichner]]
−
* Voigtar f/6.3
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* Vaskar
 +
* Voigtar  
 
* Zoomar
 
* Zoomar
  
 
See [[Serial_numbers | here]] for dating the serial numbers of Voigtl&auml;nder lenses.
 
See [[Serial_numbers | here]] for dating the serial numbers of Voigtl&auml;nder lenses.
 
{{br}}
 
{{br}}
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== Shutters ==
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*Verschluss (1890), one of the first modern [[leaf shutter]]s, with 4 blades
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 +
<br/>
  
 
== Cameras ==
 
== Cameras ==
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|image_by= inetjoker
 
|image_by= inetjoker
 
|image_rights= with permission
 
|image_rights= with permission
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}}* [[Vito B]], small or big finder
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}}
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* [[Vito B|Vito BL]]
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* [[Vito B]], small or big finder
 +
* [[Voigtlander Vito BL|Vito BL]]
 
* [[Vito B|Vito BR]]
 
* [[Vito B|Vito BR]]
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* [[Vitomatic|Vitomatic I]]
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* [[Vitomatic I]]
 
* [[Vitomatic|Vitomatic II]]
 
* [[Vitomatic|Vitomatic II]]
 
* [[Vitomatic|Vitomatic Ia]]
 
* [[Vitomatic|Vitomatic Ia]]
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* [[Vito C]]
 
* [[Vito C]]
 
* [[Vito C|Vito CD]]
 
* [[Vito C|Vito CD]]
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{{Flickr_image
 
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/cheffalo/5995880878/in/pool/camerawiki/
 
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|image= http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6122/5995880878_8f08e24565_t.jpg
 
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|image_align= right
 
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|image_text= Dynamatic<br/>
 
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|image_by= Daniel Wirgård
 
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|image_rights= wp
 
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}}
 
 
* [[Vito C|Vito CL]]
 
* [[Vito C|Vito CL]]
 
* [[Vito C|Vito CLR]]
 
* [[Vito C|Vito CLR]]
 
* [[Vito C|Vito CS]]
 
* [[Vito C|Vito CS]]
−
* [[Vito C|Vito CSR]]
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* [[Vito CSR]]
 
* [[Vito Automatic]]
 
* [[Vito Automatic]]
 
* [[Vito Automatic I]]
 
* [[Vito Automatic I]]
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* [[Vitoret Rapid D]]
 
* [[Vitoret Rapid D]]
 
* [[Voigtländer Vitrona|Vitrona]]
 
* [[Voigtländer Vitrona|Vitrona]]
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 +
=== 116 folding ===
 +
* [[Rollfilmkamera]] (or [[Rollfilmkamera|Rollfilm]]) (6.5×11)
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=== 120 box ===
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= https://www.flickr.com/photos/16837055@N00/50303439252/in/pool-camerawiki/
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|image= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50303439252_e20e412678_t.jpg
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|image_align= right
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|image_text= Voigtländer Box
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|image_by= Carrot Room
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|image_rights=  with permission
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}}
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* [[Bilora Box|Voigtländer Box]]
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{{br}}
  
 
=== 120 folding ===
 
=== 120 folding ===
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* [[Inos|Inos I]] (6×9)
 
* [[Inos|Inos I]] (6×9)
 
* [[Inos|Inos II]] (6×9) (6.5x11)
 
* [[Inos|Inos II]] (6×9) (6.5x11)
 +
* [[Jubilar]] (6x9)
 
* [[Virtus]] (4.5×6)
 
* [[Virtus]] (4.5×6)
 
* [[Prominent (6×9)|Prominent]] (6×9)
 
* [[Prominent (6×9)|Prominent]] (6×9)
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* [[Bessa (folders)|Bessa I]] (6×9)
 
* [[Bessa (folders)|Bessa I]] (6×9)
 
* [[Bessa (folders)|Bessa II]] (6×9)
 
* [[Bessa (folders)|Bessa II]] (6×9)
−
* [[Bessa 46]] (4.5×6)
+
* Klein Bessa or [[Baby Bessa]]
−
* [[Bessa 66]] (6×6)
+
** [[Bessa 46]] (4.5×6)
 +
** [[Bessa 66]] (6×6)
 +
** Bessa 466
 
* [[Perkeo]] (6×6)
 
* [[Perkeo]] (6×6)
 
* [[Perkeo II]] (6×6)
 
* [[Perkeo II]] (6×6)
 
* [[Perkeo_II|Perkeo E]] (6×6)
 
* [[Perkeo_II|Perkeo E]] (6×6)
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* Rollfilmkamera (6×9)
+
* [[Rollfilmkamera]] (or [[Rollfilmkamera|Rollfilm]]) (6×9)
  
 
{{Flickr_image
 
{{Flickr_image
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=== 127 folding ===
 
=== 127 folding ===
 
* [[Perkeo]] (3×4)
 
* [[Perkeo]] (3×4)
 +
 +
=== 129 folding ===
 +
* [[Rollfilmkamera]] (or [[Rollfilmkamera|Rollfilm]]) (5×8)
  
 
=== Folding plate cameras ===
 
=== Folding plate cameras ===
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=== Reflex cameras ===
 
=== Reflex cameras ===
−
 
+
* 1905 onward: [[Spiegel-Reflex-Kamera (Voigtländer)|Spiegel-Reflex-Kamera]] (various models and sizes, 1905-1925). Some of these were also named the Heliar Reflex
−
* 1905: Heliar Reflex (9x12 cm)
 
 
* 1908: [[Voigtländer Bijou|Bijou]] ('Miniatur-Reflex-Kamera'; 4.5x6 cm)
 
* 1908: [[Voigtländer Bijou|Bijou]] ('Miniatur-Reflex-Kamera'; 4.5x6 cm)
−
* 1912: Spiegel-Reflex-Kamera
 
  
 
{{Flickr_image
 
{{Flickr_image
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|image_rights= wp
 
|image_rights= wp
 
}}
 
}}
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=== Stereo cameras ===
 
=== Stereo cameras ===
 
* 1902: Stereoskop
 
* 1902: Stereoskop
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* VF 102 (1974, prototype)
 
* VF 102 (1974, prototype)
 
* [[Voigtländer VF 135|VF 135]] (1976–80)
 
* [[Voigtländer VF 135|VF 135]] (1976–80)
−
* VF 35F (1981)
+
* [[Voigtländer VF 35F|VF 35F]] (1981)
 
* XF 35 (1981)
 
* XF 35 (1981)
  
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== Cosina and Ringfoto ==
 
== Cosina and Ringfoto ==
 
Long after the demise of the original Voigtländer company, the brand was re-used by [[Ringfoto]] and [[Cosina]].
 
Long after the demise of the original Voigtländer company, the brand was re-used by [[Ringfoto]] and [[Cosina]].
−
* [[:Category:Voigtländer-brand Ringfoto products|Voigtländer-brand Ringfoto products]]
+
−
* [[Cosina Voigtländer]]
+
* [[Cosina Voigtländer]] (new series [[rangefinder camera]]s and lenses)
 +
* [[Cosina_Voigtländer#35mm_SLR | Voigtländer-branded SLRs from Cosina]] (includes those distributed by Ringfoto)
 +
* [[:Category:Voigtländer-brand Ringfoto products| Wiki articles on Voigtländer-brand Ringfoto products]]
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
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* [http://www.voigtlaender.de Voigtländer.de] Manufacturer's site (German & English)
 
* [http://www.voigtlaender.de Voigtländer.de] Manufacturer's site (German & English)
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* [http://antiquecameras.net/heliarlenses.html An Article on the Heliar Lens]
 
 
* [http://www.bubley.com/verein/index.html Voigtländer Verein Club]
 
* [http://www.bubley.com/verein/index.html Voigtländer Verein Club]
 
* [http://www.photo-manuals.com/manual/voigtlander Voigtländer Camera Manuals : Photo-Manuals.com]
 
* [http://www.photo-manuals.com/manual/voigtlander Voigtländer Camera Manuals : Photo-Manuals.com]
−
* [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/voigtlander_pdf/voigtlander_pdf_manuals.htm Some 40 Voigtlander instruction manuals in English, scanned in PDF format, 600 dpi]
+
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180705011600/http://www.ukcamera.com/classic_cameras/Kamerahersteller/voigtlaender.htm Voigtländers on ukcameras] (archived)
−
* [http://www.ukcamera.com/classic_cameras/Kamerahersteller/voigtlaender.htm Voigtländers on ukcameras]
 
−
* [http://www.technikatlas.de/~tc3/geschichte/voigtlaender_chronik.html Voigtländer illustrated history]
 
 
* [http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Voigtlander/ Voigtländer Cameras Price Guide] at [http://collectiblend.com CollectiBlend]
 
* [http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Voigtlander/ Voigtländer Cameras Price Guide] at [http://collectiblend.com CollectiBlend]
−
* [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/voigtlander.htm Voigtlander instruction manuals - English] at Orphancameras.com
+
* [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/voigtlander.htm Extensive list of Voigtlander instruction manuals, PDF format, color - most in English] at Orphancameras.com
−
 
 
 
* [http://www.jollinger.com/photo/cam-coll/histories/history-voigtlander.html  Ollinger's History of Voigtländer]
 
* [http://www.jollinger.com/photo/cam-coll/histories/history-voigtlander.html  Ollinger's History of Voigtländer]
 +
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180706154221/http://voigtlander.pagesperso-orange.fr/index.htm Voigtländer Camera Collection] (archived) Good Overview, English & French
 +
* [https://www.butkus.org/chinon/voigtlander.htm Voigtlander PDF manuals, mostly English, some German] at [https://www.butkus.org/chinon/ Butkus.org]
 
In French :
 
In French :
−
* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/liste10_imagettes.php#voigtlander Cameras and user manuals] at Sylvain Halgand's www.collection-appareils.com
+
* [https://www.collectiongeven.com/piwigo/index.php?/category/134 Voigtländer page] at [https://www.collectiongeven.com/piwigo/ Collection G. Even's site].
−
* [http://photo.even.free.fr/col_app.php?type=voigt Voigtlander page] at [http://photo.even.free.fr/ Collection G. Even's site]
 
 
In German :
 
In German :
−
*  [http://www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras/Bessa_RF_histo_dt.html lenses of Voigtländer] on taunusreiter.de [http://www.taunusreiter.de]
+
*  [http://www.klassik-cameras.de/Bessa_RF_histo_dt.html lenses of Voigtländer] on [http://www.klassik-cameras.de taunusreiter.de]
−
* [http://home.wtnet.de/~ddrescher/voigtlaender/index.htm Voigtländer site by Dietrich Drescher, alias doppeld]
+
* [http://www.klassik-cameras.de/Voigtlaender_Main.html Voigtländer page by Frank Mechelhoff]
−
* [http://www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras/Voigtlaender_Main.html Voigtländer page by Frank Mechelhoff]
 
 
* [http://www.schoebels-voigtlaender-archiv.de/ Schoebels' Voigtländer archive]
 
* [http://www.schoebels-voigtlaender-archiv.de/ Schoebels' Voigtländer archive]
−
* [http://hans.lissberger.at/ Meine Voigtländer-Sammlung] by Hans Lißberger
+
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20210301161930/http://hans.lissberger.at/ Meine Voigtländer-Sammlung] (archived) by Hans Lißberger
 
* [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voigtl%C3%A4nder_(Marke) Voigtländer on the German Wikipedia.]
 
* [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voigtl%C3%A4nder_(Marke) Voigtländer on the German Wikipedia.]
 
** [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Christoph_Voigtl%C3%A4nder Johann Christopher Voigtländer]
 
** [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Christoph_Voigtl%C3%A4nder Johann Christopher Voigtländer]
 
** [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Friedrich_Voigtl%C3%A4nder Johann Friedrich Voigtländer]
 
** [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Friedrich_Voigtl%C3%A4nder Johann Friedrich Voigtländer]
 
** [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Wilhelm_Friedrich_von_Voigtl%C3%A4nder Peter Wilhelm Fredrich von Voigtländer]
 
** [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Wilhelm_Friedrich_von_Voigtl%C3%A4nder Peter Wilhelm Fredrich von Voigtländer]
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* [http://www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras/index.html Cameras of the 1950's]
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* [http://www.klassik-cameras.de/index.html Cameras of the 1950's]
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* [http://www.unser38.de/braunschweig-nordstadt/menschen/die-geschichte-der-fa-voigtlaender-in-braunschweig-und-meine-erinnerungen-als-mitarbeiter-d5341.html memories of a Voigtländer employee]
 
  
 
[[Category: German camera makers]]
 
[[Category: German camera makers]]
 
[[Category: German lens makers]]
 
[[Category: German lens makers]]
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[[Category: Lens makers]]
 
[[Category: Voigtländer|*]]
 
[[Category: Voigtländer|*]]
 
[[Category: Austria]]
 
[[Category: Austria]]
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[[Category: Image by rebollo_fr]]
 

Latest revision as of 05:20, 22 December 2023


Voigtländer (Germ. pronunciation "FOYKT-lender") was one of the the world's longest-lived camera and lens makers. The brand is still used by other firms.


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Bergheil Luxus 4×6.5 cm, c1911.
image by eBayer Yalluflex (Image rights)
148809149_28705ce36a_q.jpg
1930s Perkeo
with Skopar lens
image by Uwe Kulick (Image rights)
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1950s Vitessa
image by Alf Sigaro (Image rights)
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1965 Ultramatic CS
image by Geoff Harrisson (Image rights)


Company history

Voigtländer was founded in 1756 in Vienna, Austria by Johann Christoph Voigtländer, as a scientific instrument maker. Voigtländer was an optician and inventor, noted for his work on mathematical instruments, and held letters patent (a state-protected monopoly, the forerunner of a Patent) from the Austrian government, granting an exclusive right to carry on that business. For example, Voigtländer invented instruments for linear and circular measure (i.e. to measure and divide distances and angles with great precision) which were used for calibrating surveying and navigational instruments including astrolabes.[1]

Voigtländer died in 1797, and the company passed to his widow and two eldest sons, Wilhelm and Siegmund. Another son, Friedrich Voigtländer, took control in 1808.

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catalog cover (1915)
image by sunivroc (Image rights)
 

In the 19th century, Voigtländer made optical products including opera glasses and periscopic lenses. In 1840, the Hungarian Josef Petzval designed the innovative Petzval lens for Voigtländer. The lens, with the widest relative aperture of any then made (about f/3), was very successful for its intended purpose: the making of daguerreotype portraits.[2] The wide aperture allowed a very considerable reduction in exposure times. The lens' main limitation (it only covers a narrow field of view) prevented it being adapted for other uses (landscape, for example), but does not matter for portraiture. The design was widely adopted, and Petzval lenses were made for about the next century. Voigtländer also made cameras, including the first all-metal daguerrotype camera.

In 1849 Voigtländer built a branch factory in Braunschweig (Brunswick) in Germany under the name Voigtländer & Sohn, Optical Institute, and in 1862 the company moved its headquarters to Braunschweig. In 1898 the company, until then family-owned, became a public company (i.e. sold shares on the stock market, becoming Voigtländer AG).[3] By 1915 the company had outgrown its buildings and moved to new premises in another part of Braunschweig. Unsurprisingly, the company made some military products during the First World War.[4]

Voigtländer remained independent after the War, when hard times (due in part to the effects of War reparations on Germany's economy) caused some other firms to enter mergers. In 1920, Rudolf Heidecke and Paul Franke, employees of Voigtländer, left the firm to form Franke & Heidecke (their first camera, the Heidoscop, bears a striking similarity to Voigtländer's Stereflektoskop; Heidecke was a designer, and it seems likely that he either had rights to this design, or had Voigtländer's blessing to use it). In 1925, Schering AG (a chemicals company) bought a majority share in Voigtländer. The company expanded its premises again in 1929. It was in the period of Schering's ownership that many of the familiar Voigtländer cameras were made, including the first Bessa. Voigtländer again made military equipment (including but not limited to aerial reconnaissance cameras, binoculars and rifle scopes) for Germany's rearmament and the Second World War, but continued development of cameras at least up to shortly before the War itself; the Bessa 466 was designed around 1938 (Voigtländer's British patent for this innovative camera was finalised in 1940, actually during the War)! During this time parts of production were moved to the Wolfenbüttel district (still on the outskirts of Braunschweig), where prisoners of war were employed.

In 1956 Schering sold its shares in Voigtländer to Carl Zeiss.


Lenses

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Lenses: Heliar (1902 variant), Dynar and Kollinear
 (Image rights)
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Petzval lens (Image rights)
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No. 9643
images by Siim Vahur (Image rights)
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Tele-Dynar
images by Dirk HR Spennemann (Image rights)

Despite the successful early metal camera designed by Voigtländer, lenses were the company's main contribution to photography in the 19th century, and the success of Voigtländer's camera lines of the 20th century was based on the quality of its lenses. At the turn of the 20th century, Voigtländer had a branch office in New York, Voigtlander & Son Optical Co. (with no umlaut), advertising Voigtländer lenses like the Dynar for use with the better Kodak cameras.

While still in Austria, Voigtländer introduced the Petzval lens, which became a standard lens for portrait photography: Voigtländer's Petzval lenses were fitted to cameras of many makers. The lens has four elements, divided in two groups, the two front elements cemented, the two back elements just placed close to each other. The lens has a characteristic vignetting and curvature of field, but it made images which were very sharp in the centre. This and its wide aperture make it ideal for portraiture, though of little use for other photography; portrait photography was a big business, however. In 1900 Carl August Hans Harting, working for Voigtländer produced another fast lens, the Heliar, a symmetric lens, improved by him as an asymmetric design in 1902. Other fine lens designs of that time were the Dynar and Kollinear (later Collinear) lenses. During the 20th century the Skopar and Color Skopar, and Ultron lenses became the standard lenses for Voigtländer's own cameras. Voigtländer also made the Zoomar, the world's first interchangeable zoom lens, in 1959.[5]

The Voigtländer camera and lens age can be determined by the serial number on the lens. See this Voigtländer lens serial-number reference to date the original production year.

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Voigtländer Zoomar lens
image by Geoff Harrisson (Image rights)


Lenses

See here for dating the serial numbers of Voigtländer lenses.

Shutters

  • Verschluss (1890), one of the first modern leaf shutters, with 4 blades


Cameras

Early cameras

35mm SLR

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Bessamatic
image by Rick Soloway (Image rights)

35mm RF, interchangeable lens

35mm folding

35mm fixed lens

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Vito automatic
image by inetjoker (Image rights)

116 folding

120 box

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Voigtländer Box
image by Carrot Room (Image rights)


120 folding

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Bessa
image by Rick Zolla (Image rights)
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Superb
image by Geoff Harrisson (Image rights)

120 TLR

127 folding

129 folding

Folding plate cameras

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VAG
image by Steve Harwood (Image rights)
  • Alpin (9x12 and 10x15) (1906-1928)
  • Alpin Rapid (9x12) (1925)
  • Avus
  • Bergheil
  • Metall-Heliar-Kamera (9x12) (1903-1920)
  • VAG

Reflex cameras

  • 1905 onward: Spiegel-Reflex-Kamera (various models and sizes, 1905-1925). Some of these were also named the Heliar Reflex
  • 1908: Bijou ('Miniatur-Reflex-Kamera'; 4.5x6 cm)
8273206575_4f1ff9b33e_s.jpg
Stereflektoskop 45x107
image by Geoff Harrisson (Image rights)

Stereo cameras

Other plate cameras

Zeiss Ikon / Voigtländer

35mm SLR

For the Icarex line, see Zeiss Ikon.

2100973142_b183a7ba9b_t.jpg
image by John Kratz (Image rights)

35mm fixed lens

126 film viewfinder

  • Bessy k/ak/as/s
  • Vitessa 126 CS / 126 electronic / 126 S electronic

Voigtländer (Rollei)

35mm SLR

With 42mm screw lenses:

7604177086_4ccaa92566_t.jpg
image by Nicodemus Roger (Image rights)

With Rolleiflex SL35 lenses:

35mm rangefinder

Intermediate period

35mm

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image by Tony Kemplen (Image rights)
  • Vito CS
  • Vito C-AF

110 film pocket camera

Cosina and Ringfoto

Long after the demise of the original Voigtländer company, the brand was re-used by Ringfoto and Cosina.

Notes

  1. ↑ For example, Christie's in London sold a brass alidade by W. Voigtländer of Vienna (one of J.C. Voigtländer's sons) in June 2000. An alidade is a surveying instrument for measuring or marking the horizontal angle of sighted landmarks.
  2. ↑ Greenleaf, Allen R. Photographic Optics. Macmillan, New York, 1950. p67-8.
  3. ↑ Thus British Patent 18157 of 1897, Improvements in Photographic Objectives, is in the name of Friedrich, Ritter von Voigtländer, while US Patent 716035 of 1902, Lens, is in that of Voigtländer & Sohn Aktien Gesellschaft; both patents at Espacenet, the patent search facility of the European Patent Office.
  4. ↑ For example, Voigtländer binoculars at PBase.
  5. ↑ US Patent 2902901, Reflex camera varifocal lens, filed June 1958 and granted September 1959 to Frank Back personally, and German Patent 1094480, Pankratisches Objektiv für Aufnahme- und Wiedergabe-Zwecke (A Pancratic Objective for Taking and Projection), filed January 1959 and granted December 1960 to Voigtländer AG, citing Frank Back as the inventor; at Espacenet.

Links

In French :

In German :

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