Some Carl Zeiss history

[Ken]

Carl Zeiss is a German optics company founded in 1846 by optician Carl Zeiss. Throughout its history, the company has been known for producing high-quality camera lenses and other optical instruments. It was one of the first companies to produce lenses that allowed photographers to capture sharp images, and its products are still highly sought after today.

Zeiss started his business with a small workshop in Jena, Germany. This workshop expanded over time, and in 1872 he opened up a larger lens production facility in the same city. At this new factory he began producing photographic lenses and microscopes under the name Carl Zeiss AG. Soon after, he developed an improved version of the Petzval portrait lens which quickly became popular among photographers.

In the late nineteenth century, Zeiss released several other lenses, including the Protar and Dialyt series. These were some of the first wide-angle lenses made for photography, allowing more expansive shots than ever before. Around this time, Carl Zeiss also produced a range of projector lenses to be used in cinemas and theaters. The company’s reputation for precision optics was now firmly established.

The twentieth century saw further innovations from Carl Zeiss, such as the Tele Tessar lens which could take pictures up to sixteen times farther away than standard lenses of the time. This was one of their most popular products for many decades after its release. In 1975 Carl Zeiss merged with fellow German optics company, VEB Pentacon. This union allowed the two companies to produce a range of products under one name, strengthening their reputation even further.