Zuiko

Zuiko is the name of the camera lenses made by Olympus, from the first one, mounted in 1936 on the Semi Olympus, to the present day. All Olympus cameras use lenses made by the company, but the word 'Zuiko' is not mentioned on some of the cheaper point and shoot compact models.

Zuikō is written 瑞光 in Japanese and can be translated as "auspicious optics" or "auspicious light". The name was adopted after a contest open to the company employees, being a contraction of the first characters of "Mizuho Kōgaku Kenkyūjo" (瑞穂光学研究所, meaning Mizuho Optical Research Institute), name of a branch of Takachiho Seisakusho (the later Olympus) founded to develop the camera lens.

Where a lens is denominated with a letter before the Zuiko name (e.g. D.Zuiko or F.Zuiko) it represents the number of optical elements in the lens. The letter's placing in the alphabet corresponds to the number of elements present — so a D.Zuiko lens has 4 elements, and a F.Zuiko has 6. Olympus began to phase out these letter designations when introducing new products in the early 1980s (e.g. the XA-3 and XA-4).

Zuiko interchangeable lenses

• OM series: see Olympus OM lenses
• M42 (FTL) series: see 42mm screw lenses
• Pen F series: see Olympus Pen F lenses
• Ace series: see Olympus Ace
• Exakta lens: see Zuiko 4cm f/3.5 for Exakta
• Leica screw lens: see Zuiko 4cm f/2.8 for Leica
• Olympus Standard lenses: see Olympus Standard
• Zuiko Digital series for the Four-Thirds system: see Four-Thirds lenses

Zuiko for other companies

The Zuiko lenses were also mounted on some cameras made by other Japanese companies:

• Airesflex by Aires
• Elmoflex by Elmo
• Mamiya Six by Mamiya
• Wagoflex by Walz
• Wester Chrome Six R by Nishida
• perhaps some Semi Minolta III by Chiyoda Kogaku

List of Zuiko lenses

13.5×18mm lenses

A range of 'Zuiko Digital'-branded lenses developed for the Four-Thirds digital SLR system. See Four-Thirds lenses for further details.

18×24mm lenses

A range of interchangeable SLR lenses for the half-frame Pen F system — see Olympus Pen F lenses for further details.

24×36mm lenses

A single lens was made in Leica screw mount; see Zuiko 4cm f/2.8 for Leica. Other Zuiko lenses may have been remounted for Leica by third-party workshops (see the high-aperture lenses below).

A single lens was made in Exakta mount; see Zuiko 4cm f/3.5 for Exakta.

A small range of interchangeable lenses in 42mm screw mount was developed for the Olympus FTL; see 42mm screw lenses for further details.

A large range of interchangeable lenses for the 35mm OM system was developed over a period of thirty years; see Olympus OM lenses for further details.

4×4cm lenses

• 60/2.8 Olympus D.Zuiko, 4 elements, taking and viewing lens of the f/2.8 Eye 44
• 60/3.5, taking and viewing lens of the f/3.5 Eye 44

4×5cm lenses

Interchangeable lenses of the Olympus Standard: see Olympus Standard.

4.5×6cm and 6×6cm lenses

The first prototype lenses made by Takachiho in 1936 include the 75/4.5 mounted on the Semi Olympus, a 105/4.5 for 6.5×9cm format (listed below), and perhaps a 75/3.5.

Zuikô 75mm f/4.5 no.1137. Picture by Henk. (Image rights) Zuikô 7.5cm f/4.5 no.3620. Picture by Adrian Gotts. (Image rights) Zuiko-S 7.5cm f/4.5 no.12507. Picture by M. Walters. (Image rights)

The "lowest" and "highest" numbers correspond to the serial numbers actually observed.

• 75/4.5, four elements in three groups
  • marked Takatiho Tôkyô Zuikô 1:4.5 f=75mm. No.xxxx, black bezel (lowest 1048, highest 1142):
    • Semi Olympus
  • marked Zuikô 1:4,5 f=75mm Takatiho Tokyo No.xxxx, black bezel (lowest 1221, highest 1221):
    • Semi Olympus II
  • marked Zuikô 1:4,5 f=7.5cm Takatiho Tokyo No.xxxx, black bezel (lowest 144x, highest 3797):
    • Semi Olympus II
  • marked Zuiko 1:4,5 f=7.5cm Takatiho Tokyo No.xxxx, black bezel (lowest 5253, highest 7157):
    • one isolated example of the Semi Olympus
    • Semi Olympus II
    • Olympus Six I

• 75/4.5, five elements in three groups, wartime
  • marked Zuiko–S 1:4,5 f=7,5cm Takatiho Tokyo No.1xxxx, black bezel (lowest 12507, highest 13501):
    • Super Olympus I

• 75/3.5, four elements in three groups, prewar and wartime
  • marked Zuiko 1:3,5 f=7,5cm Takatiho Tokyo No.xxxxx, silver bezel (lowest 7182, highest 10727)
    • Olympus Six II
    • Olympus Chrome Six (isolated prototype)

• 75/3.5, five elements in three groups, wartime
  • marked Zuiko–S 1:3,5 f=7,5cm Takatiho Tokyo No.1xxxx, silver bezel (lowest 12126, highest 12126):
    • Super Olympus II

1946 variant on Mamiya Six image by inkyfingerz (Image rights)

• 75/3.5, four elements in three groups, recomputed in 1946
  • marked Zuiko 1:3,5 f=7,5cm Takatiho Tokyo No.xxxxx, silver bezel (lowest 20016, highest 3476x):
    • Olympus Six (postwar)
    • Olympus Chrome Six I (some)
    • Mamiya Six, some
  • marked Zuiko 1:3.5 f=7.5cm Takatiho Tokyo No.xxxxx, black bezel:
    • Elmoflex (some)
  • marked Olympus Zuiko Coated 1:3.5 f=7.5cm No.xxxxx, silver bezel (lowest 52230, highest 58379):
    • Olympus Chrome Six I (some)
  • marked Olympus Zuiko Coated 1:3.5 f=7.5cm No.xxxxx, red Zuiko, silver bezel:
    • Mamiya Six (some)
  • marked Olympus Zuiko C. 1:3.5 f=7.5cm No.xxxxx, red C., silver bezel (lowest 89442, highest 944x4):
    • Olympus Chrome Six I (some)
    • Olympus Chrome Six III f/3.5 (isolated example)
  • marked Olympus Zuiko C. 1:3.5 f=7.5cm No.xxxxx, red Zuiko C., silver bezel:
    • Mamiya Six (some)
  • marked Olympus Zuiko C. 1:3.5 f=7.5cm No.xxxxxx, black C., silver bezel (lowest 113x92, highest 115576):
    • Olympus Chrome Six I (some)
  • marked Olympus Zuiko F.C. 1:3.5 f=7.5cm No.xxxxxx, silver bezel (lowest 118701, highest 12x309):
    • Olympus Chrome Six III f/3.5 (some)
  • marked Olympus Zuiko F.C. 1:3.5 f=7.5cm No,xxxxxx, silver bezel (lowest 330639, highest 338812):
    • Olympus Chrome Six III f/3.5 (some)
  • marked Olympus Zuiko F.C. 1:3.5 f=7.5cm xxxxxx, silver bezel (lowest 100711, highest 112305):
    • Olympus Chrome Six III f/3.5 (some)
  • marked Olympus Zuiko F.C. 1:3.5 f=7.5cm, black bezel:
    • Olympus Flex BII, taking lens
    • Olympus Flex A3.5, viewing lens on all, taking lens on some (?)
    • Olympus Flex A3.5 II, viewing and taking lens on some
    • Wagoflex, viewing and taking lens on some

• 75/3.5, four elements in three groups, recomputed in 1954
  • marked Olympus D.Zuiko F.C. 1:3.5 f=7.5cm xxxxxx, silver bezel (lowest 113869, highest 139103):
    • Olympus Chrome Six III f/3.5 (some)
    • Olympus Chrome Six IVa
    • Olympus Chrome Six RII A (some, black depth of field plate)
  • marked Olympus D.Zuiko F.C. 1:3.5 f=7.5cm xxxxxx, black bezel (lowest 140926, highest 155652):
    • Olympus Chrome Six VA (silver depth of field plate)
    • Olympus Chrome Six RII A (some, silver depth of field plate)
    • Olympus Flex A3.5, taking lens on some
    • Olympus Flex A3.5 II, viewing and taking lens on some
    • Mamiya Six (some)
    • Mamiyaflex (some)

• 75/2.8: five elements in four groups, then perhaps four elements in three groups (the exact transition moment is unknown)
  • marked Zuiko 1:2.8 f=7.5cm Takatiho Tokyo No.xxxxx, black bezel (lowest 33797, highest 33797):
    • Olympus Chrome Six II (some)
  • marked Olympus Zuiko Coated 1:2.8 f=7.5cm No.xxxxx, black bezel (lowest 52115, highest 59706):
    • Olympus Chrome Six II (some)
  • marked Olympus Zuiko C. 1:2.8 f=7.5cm No.xxxxxx, red C., black bezel (lowest 85998, highest 87988):
    • Olympus Chrome Six II (some)
  • marked Olympus Zuiko C. 1:2.8 f=7.5cm No.xxxxxx, white C., black bezel (lowest 120929, highest perhaps 121724):
    • Olympus Chrome Six II (some)
  • marked Olympus Zuiko F.C. 1:2.8 f=7.5cm No.xxxxxx, black bezel (lowest 123949, highest 124951):
    • Olympus Chrome Six II (some)
    • Olympus Chrome Six III f/2.8 (some)
  • marked Olympus Zuiko F.C. 1:2.8 f=7.5cm No,xxxxxx, black bezel (lowest 300026, highest 313657):
    • Olympus Chrome Six II (isolated example)
    • Olympus Chrome Six III f/2.8 (some)
  • marked Olympus Zuiko F.C. 1:2.8 f=7.5cm xxxxxx, black bezel (lowest 101455, highest 138334):
    • Olympus Chrome Six III f/2.8 (some)
    • Olympus Chrome Six IVb
    • Olympus Chrome Six VB
    • Olympus Chrome Six RII B
    • Olympus Flex I, viewing lens
    • Olympus Flex BI, viewing lens
    • Olympus Flex BII, viewing lens
    • Olympus Flex A2.8, viewing lens on all, taking lens on some
  • marked Olympus D.Zuiko F.C. 1:2.8 f=7.5cm xxxxxx, black bezel:
    • Olympus Flex A2.8, taking lens on some

• 75/2.8, six elements in four groups
  • marked Olympus F.Zuiko F.C. 1:2.8 f=7.5cm xxxxxx, black bezel:
    • Olympus Flex I, taking lens
    • Olympus Flex BI, taking lens

6.5×9cm lens

• 105/4.5, four elements in three groups, first prototype lens made by Takachiho, intended for 6.5×9cm plate cameras

High-aperture lenses

Three high-aperture lenses were developed from 1936–7, using Japanese optical glass, after a request from the Japanese government:

• Zuiko f/2.7, five elements in three groups
• Falcon f/2, six elements in four groups
• Olympar f/1.5, six elements in five groups

It seems that the projects were first designed with a focal length of 50mm, then a 65mm version of the Zuiko f/2.7 and Falcon f/2 was planned for the Olympus Standard. It is unclear if any of these lenses were actually made.

The Olympar f/1.5 design later evolved as the Zuiko 50/1.5, which was produced in small quantities and sold to Shimazu Seisakusho for X-ray cameras made around 1940. It seems that some of these lenses appeared on the market after the war in Leica screw mount, perhaps sold by Shimazu as surplus.

Aerial lenses

• 200/4.5, four elements, three groups, marked ZUIKO 1:4.5 f=200mm Takatiho NO.xxxx:
  • as a barrel lens, for an unknown military application
  • with bayonet mount, for the Type 100 Small Aerial Camera (SK-100, 100式小航空写真機)
• 250/4.5, four elements, three groups, for an Automatic Aerial Camera (自動航空写真機)
• 400/5.6, four elements, four groups, for the Type 100 Small Aerial Camera (SK-100, 100式小航空写真機)

Enlarging lenses

• 50/4.5 enlarging lens, sold ¥60 in 1941,
• 50/3.5 enlarging lens, marked Olympus Zuiko C. 1:3.5 f=5cm No.xxxxxx
• 75/4.5 enlarging lens, four elements, three groups, marked Olympus Zuiko C. 1:4,5 f=7,5cm xxxxxx
• 75/3.5 enlarging lens, four elements, three groups

Bibliography

• Asahi Camera (アサヒカメラ) editorial staff. Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi (昭和10–40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史, Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements, 1935–1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN 4-02-330312-7.
• Hagiya Takeshi (萩谷剛). "Orinpasu kamera no subete 1: supuringu kamera <senzen-hen>" (オリンパスカメラのすべて1・スプリングカメラ戦前編, "All of Olympus cameras 1: folding cameras [prewar]"). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no. 20, 25 March 1992. No ISBN number. Orinpasu no subete (オリンパスのすべて, special issue on Olympus). Pp.13–5.
• HPR. Leica Copies. London: Classic Collection Publications, 1994. ISBN 1-874485-05-4. P.410.
• Maitani Yoshihisa (米谷美久). "Kamera-zukuri he no bōken" (カメラ創りへの冒険, "Venturing into camera production"). Volume 1 of Haikei — Sekkeisha yori (拝啓・設計者より, "Dear Sir, from the designer"). Published in the Zuiko Club website, belonging to the Olympus Imaging Corp.
• "Orinpasu kamera shisakuki 2-shu" (オリンパスカメラ試作機2種, "Two experimental Olympus cameras"). Anonymous column about the Olympus Standard and Olympus Eye Flex. Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no. 20, 25 March 1992. No ISBN number. Orinpasu no subete (オリンパスのすべて, special issue on Olympus). P.59.
• "Orinpasu renzu hoi" (オリンパスレンズ補遺, "Olympus lens appendix"). Anonymous column about various Zuiko lenses. Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no. 20, 25 March 1992. No ISBN number. Orinpasu no subete (オリンパスのすべて, special issue on Olympus). P.81.
• Sakai Shūichi (酒井修一). "Orinpasu no rekishi" (オリンパスの歴史, "History of Olympus"). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no. 20, 25 March 1992. No ISBN number. Orinpasu no subete (オリンパスのすべて, special issue on Olympus). Pp.6–9.
• "Zadankai: Orinpasu no michi" (座談会・オリンパスの道, "Conversation: the way of Olympus"). Interview of Sakurai Eiichi (桜井栄一), Maitani Yoshihisa (米谷美久) and Kawazoe Mitsuo (河添光男), by Saeki Kakugorō (佐伯恪五郎). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no. 20, 25 March 1992. No ISBN number. Orinpasu no subete (オリンパスのすべて, special issue on Olympus). Pp.64–71.

Links

In Japanese:

• Advertisement for the Zuiko 50/4.5 enlarging lens published in 1941, reproduced in Nostalgic Camera, a page by Toshio Inamura
• September 2008 meeting report of the Nikon Kenkyukai (English version) at Akiyama Michio's Red Book Nikkor, showing a Zuiko C. 50mm f/3.5 enlarging lens