Tag Archives: Zeiss

Larry Gubas 1942 – 2020

Posted on August 25, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Larry was our Zeiss expert. He completed his massive opus on Zeiss and Photography (©2015) just a few years before he shuffled off this mortal coil, after 78 years. The dates and some material used here are courtesy of … Continue reading →

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great Scott! an early Zeiss shutter

Posted on August 23, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. You never know what gems hide in our journals! In issue 15-4 Ev Roseborough wrote an article titled, “An Early Zeiss Shutter“. Early indeed! The box (from Bill Belier’s collection) contains some lenses and the shutter (c1893). Also included … Continue reading →

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an interesting issuu

Posted on August 16, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. While browsing the web recently for the Zeiss Historica Society, I came across the ISSUU web site and its cache of Zeiss/Zeiss Ikon catalogues and Zeiss Historica magazines. I recognized ISSUU because the editor of PhotoEd once used it … Continue reading →

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triple tengor tango

Posted on July 7, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. After WW1, the German camera industry was in a crisis – too many companies making too many cameras that were very similar. The government invited  Zeiss to  the dance and the mighty Zeiss-Ikon was formed. Zeiss Ikon and a … Continue reading →

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reach for da sky!

Posted on June 2, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Bob Lansdale wanted to add more balance to the journal with some ‘camera’ related articles. He was delighted to learn of the massive and exotic collection held by the late  Bill (father) and late John (son) down in the … Continue reading →

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what the heck?

Posted on January 13, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Around 1931, Leitz decided to make their tiny Leica an interchangeable lens camera and produced the first few new focal length lenses. Within a year, the Leica’s film to lens mount distance was standardized and thereafter any screw mount … Continue reading →

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a Johnny come lately

Posted on December 3, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Introduced in 1924, the Leica by Leitz was a flat out success. Two years later, in 1926, its competitor, Zeiss formed the Zeiss-Ikon group to rationalize the German photographic Industry. By 1932, the first Zeiss Contax reached market – … Continue reading →

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beyond macro

Posted on September 7, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. In the days of minicams (mainly 35mm),  subjects could be focussed from infinity down to about a metre. Any subject closer needed accessories like front element lenses, extension tubes, bellows, or special closeup stands. If a lens was asymmetrical, … Continue reading →

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shining Leitz on the human condition

Posted on October 27, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Before photography, we relied on paintings and sketches, like those of Hogarth in 18th century London, to depict the human condition. Later in the 19th century when photography found its legs, some enterprising photographers, like Mathew Brady  (American civil … Continue reading →

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a lens for all reasons

Posted on January 10, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. When Leitz first marketed the Leica in the mid 1920s, it was an innovative success. By 1933 other makers had competing cameras out. The mighty Carl Zeiss organization not only marketed cameras, but their Tessar lens was a excellent … Continue reading →

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