Zuiko 4cm f/3.5 for Exakta
 
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| Zuiko C. 4cm f/3.5 no.62xxx, Exakta mount, manual diaphragm. Pictures courtesy of Scott at www.collectiblecameras.com. (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.
The first version has an all-chrome brass barrel and a manual diaphragm. The aperture scale is directly engraved on the focus ring, and it seems that the front of the lens rotates when the focusing ring is turned. The marking on the front rim is Olympus Zuiko C. 1:3,5 f=4cm No.xxxxx, in white on a black background. Only one example has been seen so far.[1]
The second version is made of chromed brass and has a manual diaphragm too. The barrel is a little longer and the aperture scale is engraved on the aperture ring itself, moving along an index placed on the front part of the barrel; this surely indicates that the front part does not rotate when focusing. Various examples are known, all with a lens number in the 62xxx range.[2] At least some of them have MADE IN JAPAN under the lens barrel. The front and rear caps are all chrome, and the front cap is stamped with the OLYMPUS OIC logo. The leather case also has the same logo. This logo was used by the company from 1949 and was already abandoned by late 1953.
The third version has an aluminium barrel and a preset diaphragm. The marking is Olympus Zuiko F.C. 1:3,5 f=4cm No.xxxxx, where F.C. stands for Full Coated, indicating that all the lens elements are coated. Only two examples have been seen so far.[3]
The chronology of the three versions is unclear: the most plausible order is the one presented above, but at least one source says that the aluminium version predates the more common brass version, on the basis of the lens number and poorer finish.[4]
Notes
- ↑ Example pictured in "Orinpasu renzu hoi", p.81 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.20.
- ↑ Known numbers: 62221, 62441 and 62459 (observed in online auctions).
- ↑ Example pictured in "Orinpasu renzu hoi", p.81 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.20, and example pictured in this page at Kensetsu's camera collection.
- ↑ See this page of Kensetsu's camera collection.
Bibliography
- "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:
In Japanese:
- Zuiko C. and Zuiko F.C. 4cm f/3.5 in Kensetsu's camera collection (web archive version of a dead link, switch to Shift-JIS encoding for proper display)
