Difference between revisions of "Zuiko 4cm f/3.5 for Exakta"
Rebollo fr (talk | contribs) (more pictures) |
Rebollo fr (talk | contribs) m (minimum distance) |
||
| Line 31: | Line 31: | ||
== Rotating brass barrel, manual diaphragm == | == Rotating brass barrel, manual diaphragm == | ||
| − | The '''late version''' is made of chromed brass and has a manual diaphragm again. The lens barrel is slightly shorter than on the early version, and the front barrel rotates when the focusing ring is turned. The aperture ring only has an index moving along an aperture scale engraved on the focusing ring. The marking on the lens bezel again reads ''Olympus Zuiko C. 1:3,5 f=4cm No.xxxxxx''. Only few examples have been seen so far, and the known lens numbers are in the 224xxx range.<REF> Example pictured in "Orinpasu renzu hoi", p.81 of {{KKS}} no.20, example owned by Horst Neuhaus (no.224137) and example offered for sale by a dealer (no.224006). </REF> | + | The '''late version''' is made of chromed brass and has a manual diaphragm again. The lens barrel is slightly shorter than on the early version, and the front barrel rotates when the focusing ring is turned. The minimum focusing distance is now 3.5ft. The aperture ring only has an index moving along an aperture scale engraved on the focusing ring. The marking on the lens bezel again reads ''Olympus Zuiko C. 1:3,5 f=4cm No.xxxxxx''. Only few examples have been seen so far, and the known lens numbers are in the 224xxx range.<REF> Example pictured in "Orinpasu renzu hoi", p.81 of {{KKS}} no.20, example owned by Horst Neuhaus (no.224137) and example offered for sale by a dealer (no.224006). </REF> |
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
Revision as of 23:31, 21 March 2008
|
| Picture courtesy of Horst Neuhaus at www.photobutmore.de. (Image rights) |
The only lens made by Olympus in Exakta mount is the Zuiko 4cm f/3.5, of which three versions are known. It was probably the same as the lens of the Olympus 35. At about the same period, Olympus was also selling a Zuiko 4cm f/2.8 for Leica. Three versions of the lens are known: the most common has manual diaphragm and a straight brass barrel, another has manual diaphragm and a brass barrel rotating with the focusing ring, and the third has preset diaphragm and a straight aluminium barrel. It would seem logical that the lens was gradually improved by the adoption of a non-rotating front barrel, then of a preset diaphragm. However the observed serial numbers suggest a different sequence, which is retained below.
Contents
Straight brass barrel, manual diaphragm
|
| Case for the Zuiko 4cm f/3.5 lens in Exakta mount. Picture courtesy of Pacific Rim Camera. (Image rights) |
 
|
| Zuiko C. 4cm f/3.5 no.62xxx, Exakta mount, straight brass barrel, manual diaphragm. Pictures courtesy of Scott at www.collectiblecameras.com. (Image rights) |
The early version has an all-chrome brass barrel and a manual diaphragm. The focusing ring goes down to 3ft, and is engraved MADE IN JAPAN at the bottom. The front part of the lens barrel does not rotate when focusing, and the aperture ring moves along an index on the chrome front rim. The marking on the lens bezel is Olympus Zuiko C. 1:3,5 f=4cm No.xxxxx, in white on a black background. Various examples are known, all with a lens number in the 62xxx range, immediately following the 60xxx and 61xxx batch allotted to the Zuiko 4cm f/2.8 for Leica.[1] The front and rear caps are all chrome, and the front cap is stamped with the OLYMPUS OIC logo, which was used by the company from 1949 to 1953. The leather case also has the same logo on the top cover, and MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN on the underside.
 
|
|
| |
| Zuiko C. 4cm f/3.5 no.62441, Exakta mount, straight brass barrel, manual diaphragm. The two main pictures show the distance set at infinity and at the closest distance. Pictures courtesy of Horst Neuhaus at www.photobutmore.de. (Image rights) | |
Straight aluminium barrel, preset diaphragm
The middle version has an aluminium barrel and a preset diaphragm. The focusing ring goes down to 2ft, and the front barrel does not rotate when focusing. The knurling of the focusing ring is reminiscent of the lenses for the Kodak Ektra. The aperture ring moves along an index on the black front rim, and has a moving tab on the rear for aperture preselection. The marking on the lens bezel reads Olympus Zuiko F.C. 1:3,5 f=4cm in white on a black background, where F.C. stands for Full Coated, indicating that all the elements are coated. Only few examples of this version have been seen so far, one of them having lens no.200125.[2]
Rotating brass barrel, manual diaphragm
The late version is made of chromed brass and has a manual diaphragm again. The lens barrel is slightly shorter than on the early version, and the front barrel rotates when the focusing ring is turned. The minimum focusing distance is now 3.5ft. The aperture ring only has an index moving along an aperture scale engraved on the focusing ring. The marking on the lens bezel again reads Olympus Zuiko C. 1:3,5 f=4cm No.xxxxxx. Only few examples have been seen so far, and the known lens numbers are in the 224xxx range.[3]
Notes
- ↑ Known numbers: 62059, 62163, 62221, 62333, 62432, 62441 and 62459 (observed in online auctions, for sale by dealers and in the links below).
- ↑ Example pictured in Exakta Obscurities, p.40 (no.200125), example pictured in "Orinpasu renzu hoi", p.81 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.20, and example pictured in a page at Kensetsu's camera collection (which is now offline).
- ↑ Example pictured in "Orinpasu renzu hoi", p.81 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.20, example owned by Horst Neuhaus (no.224137) and example offered for sale by a dealer (no.224006).
Bibliography
- Cullen, Gary and Rademaker, Klaus. Exakta Obscurities. Published by Gary Cullen, 2001. ISBN 0-9689868-1-1.
- "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.
Links
In English:
- Zuiko C. 4cm f/3.5 in Captain Jack's Exakta Pages
- Zuiko C. 4cm f/3.5 at Pacific Rim Camera
- Zuiko C. 4cm f/3.5 in Maurizio Frizziero's Exakta Blog
