Difference between revisions of "Zuiko"
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| − | Table of Zuiko 75mm and 7.5cm medium-format lenses ''(the "lowest" and "highest" numbers correspond to the serial numbers actually observed)'': | + | Table of Zuiko '''75mm''' and '''7.5cm''' medium-format lenses ''(the "lowest" and "highest" numbers correspond to the serial numbers actually observed)'': |
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Revision as of 14:41, 1 November 2009
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,[1] 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).
Contents
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).[2]
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.[3]
  
|
| 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) |
Table of Zuiko 75mm and 7.5cm medium-format lenses (the "lowest" and "highest" numbers correspond to the serial numbers actually observed):
| aperture | formula | actual marking | bezel | lowest number |
highest number |
camera models |
| f/4.5 | four elements in three groups (prewar and wartime) |
Takatiho Tôkyô Zuikô 1:4.5 f=75mm. No.xxxx | black | 1048 | 1142 | Semi Olympus |
| Zuikô 1:4,5 f=75mm Takatiho Tokyo No.xxxx | black | 1221 | _ | Semi Olympus II | ||
| Zuikô 1:4,5 f=7.5cm Takatiho Tokyo No.xxxx | black | 144x | 3797 | Semi Olympus II | ||
| Zuiko 1:4,5 f=7.5cm Takatiho Tokyo No.xxxx | black | 5253 | 7157 | Semi Olympus (isolated example) Semi Olympus II Olympus Six I | ||
| f/4.5 | five elements in three groups (wartime) |
Zuiko–S 1:4,5 f=7,5cm Takatiho Tokyo No.xxxxx | black | 12507 | 13501 | Super Olympus I |
| f/3.5 | four elements in three groups (prewar and wartime) |
Zuiko 1:3,5 f=7,5cm Takatiho Tokyo No.xxxxx | silver | 7182 | 10727 | Olympus Six II Olympus Chrome Six (isolated prototype) |
| f/3.5 | five elements in three groups (wartime) |
Zuiko–S 1:3,5 f=7,5cm Takatiho Tokyo No.xxxxx | silver | 12126 | _ | Super Olympus II |
| f/3.5 | four elements in three groups (recomputed in 1946) |
Zuiko 1:3,5 f=7,5cm Takatiho Tokyo No.xxxxx | silver | 20016 | 3476x | Olympus Six (postwar) Olympus Chrome Six I Mamiya Six (early postwar) |
| Zuiko 1:3,5 f=7,5cm Takatiho Tokyo No.xxxxx | black | 50907 | _ | Elmoflex (early postwar) | ||
| Olympus Zuiko Coated 1:3.5 f=7.5cm No.xxxxx | silver | 52230 | 58379 | Olympus Chrome Six I | ||
| Olympus Zuiko Coated 1:3.5 f=7.5cm No.xxxxx (red Zuiko) | silver | _ | _ | Mamiya Six | ||
| Olympus Zuiko C. 1:3.5 f=7.5cm No.xxxxx (red C.) | silver | 89442 | 944x4 | Olympus Chrome Six I Olympus Chrome Six III f/3.5 (isolated example) | ||
| Olympus Zuiko C. 1:3.5 f=7.5cm No.xxxxx (red Zuiko C.) | silver | _ | _ | Mamiya Six | ||
| Olympus Zuiko C. 1:3.5 f=7.5cm No.xxxxx (black C.) | silver | 113x92 | 115576 | Olympus Chrome Six I | ||
| Olympus Zuiko F.C. 1:3.5 f=7.5cm No.xxxxxx | silver | 118701 | 12x309 | Olympus Chrome Six III f/3.5 | ||
| Olympus Zuiko F.C. 1:3.5 f=7.5cm No,xxxxxx | silver | 330639 | 338812 | Olympus Chrome Six III f/3.5 | ||
| Olympus Zuiko F.C. 1:3.5 f=7.5cm xxxxxx | silver | 100711 | 112305 | Olympus Chrome Six III f/3.5 | ||
| Olympus Zuiko F.C. 1:3.5 f=7.5cm xxxxxx | black | _ | _ | Olympus Flex A3.5 (viewing lens) Wagoflex | ||
| f/3.5 | four elements in three groups (recomputed in 1954) |
Olympus D.Zuiko F.C. 1:3.5 f=7.5cm xxxxxx | silver | 113869 | 139103 | Olympus Chrome Six III f/3.5 Olympus Chrome Six IVa Olympus Chrome Six RII A |
| Olympus D.Zuiko F.C. 1:3.5 f=7.5cm xxxxxx | black | 140926 | 155652 | Olympus Chrome Six VA Olympus Chrome Six RII A Olympus Flex A3.5 (taking lens) Olympus Flex A3.5 II (taking and viewing lens) Mamiya Six Mamiyaflex | ||
| f/2.8 | five elements in four groups, then perhaps four elements in three groups |
Zuiko 1:2.8 f=7.5cm Takatiho Tokyo No.xxxxx | black | 33797 | _ | Olympus Chrome Six II |
| Olympus Zuiko Coated 1:2.8 f=7.5cm No.xxxxx | black | 52115 | 59706 | Olympus Chrome Six II | ||
| Olympus Zuiko C. 1:2.8 f=7.5cm No.xxxxxx (red C.) | black | 85998 | 87988 | Olympus Chrome Six II | ||
| Olympus Zuiko C. 1:2.8 f=7.5cm No.xxxxxx (white C.) | black | 120929 | 121724 | Olympus Chrome Six II | ||
| Olympus Zuiko F.C. 1:2.8 f=7.5cm No.xxxxxx | black | 123949 | 124951 | Olympus Chrome Six II Olympus Chrome Six III f/2.8 | ||
| Olympus Zuiko F.C. 1:2.8 f=7.5cm No,xxxxxx | black | 300026 | 313657 | Olympus Chrome Six II (isolated example) Olympus Chrome Six III f/2.8 | ||
| Olympus Zuiko F.C. 1:2.8 f=7.5cm xxxxxx | black | 101455 | 138334 | Olympus Chrome Six III f/2.8 Olympus Chrome Six IVb Olympus Chrome Six VB Olympus Chrome Six RII B Olympus Flex I (viewing lens) Olympus Flex BII (viewing lens) Olympus Flex A2.8 (taking and viewing lens) | ||
| f/2.8 | four elements in three groups (perhaps recomputed) |
Olympus D.Zuiko F.C. 1:2.8 f=7.5cm xxxxxx | black | _ | _ | Olympus Flex A2.8 (taking lens) |
| f/2.8 | six elements in four groups | Olympus F.Zuiko F.C. 1:2.8 f=7.5cm xxxxxx | black | _ | _ | Olympus Flex I (taking lens) Olympus Flex BI (taking lens) |
|
| 1946 variant on Mamiya Six image by inkyfingerz (Image rights) |
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[4]
High-aperture lenses
Three high-aperture lenses were developed from 1936–7, using Japanese optical glass, after a request from the Japanese government:[5]
- 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.[6] It is unclear if any of these lenses were actually made.[7]
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.[8] It seems that some of these lenses appeared on the market after the war in Leica screw mount, perhaps sold by Shimazu as surplus.[9]
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[10]
- with bayonet mount, for the Type 100 Small Aerial Camera (SK-100, 100式小航空写真機)[11]
- 250/4.5, four elements, three groups, for an Automatic Aerial Camera (自動航空写真機)[12]
- 400/5.6, four elements, four groups, for the Type 100 Small Aerial Camera (SK-100, 100式小航空写真機)[12]
Enlarging lenses
- 50/4.5 enlarging lens, sold ¥60 in 1941,[13]
- 50/3.5 enlarging lens, marked Olympus Zuiko C. 1:3.5 f=5cm No.xxxxxx[14]
- 75/4.5 enlarging lens, four elements, three groups, marked Olympus Zuiko C. 1:4,5 f=7,5cm xxxxxx[15]
- 75/3.5 enlarging lens, four elements, three groups[12]
Notes
- ↑ Maitani, "Kamera-zukuri he no bōken"; Sakai, p.7 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.20; Francesch, p.19.
- ↑ HPR, p.410, also mentions a Zuiko 90/4 and a Zuiko 135/3.5, both with a question mark. The existence of these lenses is dubious.
- ↑ The 75/3.5 is only mentioned in Sakai, p.7 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.20.
- ↑ Hagiya, p.13 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.20.
- ↑ Sakai, p.7 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.20. "Orinpasu kamera shisakuki 2-shu", p.59 of the same magazine. Japanese optical glass: Sakurai Eiichi, p.67 of the same magazine.
- ↑ "Orinpasu kamera shisakuki 2-shu", p.59 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.20. The Zuiko 65/2.7 and Falcon 65/2 appear in an advertisement for the Olympus Standard dated August 1937, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.62.
- ↑ Sakurai, p.67 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.20, seems to imply that they were not.
- ↑ Sakurai Eiichi, p.67 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.20.
- ↑ Sakurai and Saeki, p.67 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.20. HPR, p.410, mentions the Zuiko 50/1.5 in Leica screw mount, and also mentions a 50/1.1, certainly a confusion.
- ↑ Examples pictured in "Orinpasu renzu hoi", p.81 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.20, and observed for sale at a dealer and in an online auction.
- ↑ Example observed for sale at a dealer.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Mentioned in "Orinpasu renzu hoi", p.81 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.20.
- ↑ Advertisement dated 1941, reproduced in Nostalgic Camera by Toshio Inamura.
- ↑ Example pictured in this page at Red Book Nikkor (lens no.139597).
- ↑ "Orinpasu renzu hoi", p.81 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.20. The example pictured has no.104603.
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
