" Voigtlander Cameras "
Please note that the Voigtlander name has never had the letter " h " in it until collectors
started spelling it incorrectly. Founded in 1756 by Johann Christoph Voigtlander in Vienna,
who made scientific instruments such as compasses and quadrants. His son, Johann Friedrich
continued the business, adding optical glasses, spectacle lenses, and opera glasses.
Peter Wilhelm Friedrich Voigtlander, grandson of the founder, worked with mathematician
Petzval to design the first mathematically computed lens in 1840. The lens had an incredible
speed of f3.7! Voigtlander designed an equally incredible camera to use the lens. It was the
first all-metal camera and the first camera with rack and pinion focusing. The company was moved
to Braunschweig in 1849. At the turn of the century, the Heliar f4.5 lens was produced, the
first anastigmat of such large aperture. Camera production was a major part of the company's
business from the turn of the century through the 1960's. In 1956 Zeiss bought Voigtlander AG
from Schering and it became part of the Carl Zeiss-Stiftung. In 1965 the Zeiss
Ikon-Voigtlander Vertriebsgesellschaft (marketing company) was founded and the first Zeiss
Ikon-Voigtlander cameras appeared some time later. There are obvious Voigtlander influences
on some of the subsequent Zeiss Ikon-Voigtlander cameras ended in 1972. The same year a new
Voigtlander company was founded with the participation of Rollei. In 1974 the first
Voigtlander cameras were shown by Voigtlander Vertriebsgesellschaft, a subsidiary of Rollei.
Rollei went into receivership in 1981; Voigtlander GmbH was bought by Plusfoto GmbH &
Co., a buying cooperative of German photo dealers. Bought in cameras were sold with the
Voigtlander name. In 1997 Ringfoto GmbH & Co., also a buying cooperative, acquired
Voigtlander and relaunched the company. The most important products of the new
Voigtlander company are the Cosina-made Bessa-L and Bessa-RF, two 35mm cameras with several
excellent lenses in M39 screw mount. Both cameras are future collectibles.
If this symbol
is shown with a particular camera it indicates that I do not wish to sell it, however
if you really want to buy it, make me an offer.
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