The Zenzanon Lens Saga, Part 2
More Zenzational Zenzanon lenses for focal plane shutter Bronicas
By Jason Schneider
While many Bronica fans still believe Nikon put Bronica in a bind by suddenly halting production of Nikkor lenses in Bronica mount in1972, it’s clear from the historical record that the whole story is a lot more complicated. By that time, both companies knew their optical partnership had been winding down for at least 3 years and was bound to come to an end at some point—for details, see The Zenzanon Lens Saga, Part 1. Indeed, in anticipation of the breakup, Bronica already had 4 Zenzanon lenses in its official lineup as early as 1969. Many photo writers have noted that normal 75mm and 80mm Bronica lenses were in short supply when the landmark Bronica EC(named for its electronically controlled shutter)debuted in 1972.That may be why so many ECs were sold with the superb 100mm f/2.8 or 80mm f/2.4 Zenzanons instead of the latest multicoated 75mm f/2.8 Nikkor-P.C.
Beautiful black Bronica S2A with matching 100mm f/2.8 Zenzanon lens: A great combo, but be careful mounting or removing the lens! See text for details.
Undoubtedly some Bronica shooters bemoaned the loss of the legendary Nikkors, but fortunately for Bronica, they still had a sizeable number of Nikkors in inventory, and the new Zenzanons had already established a reputation for optical excellence. As a result, the formidable but somewhat ponderous Bronica EC, which incorporated many ingenious refinements, turned out to be one of the company’s best sellers.
Who made all these magnificent Zenzanon lenses? That’s still something of a mystery because there were several Japanese suppliers and perhaps, at times, German suppliers, that decided to or were asked to remain anonymous. Also, it’s not clear whether they only supplied the glass elements to Bronica or assembled the entire lenses using lens mounts, control rings and helical focusing mechanisms supplied by Bronica. Either of these scenarios (or maybe both) is possible since all Zenzanon lenses bear a close physical resemblance to one another, and to the previous Nikkors, a strategy designed to convey the visual continuity of the optical line. The situation is nicely summed up in this online posting:
“Lens optics labeled Zenzanon were supplied by Carl Zeiss in Jena, Tokyo Optical Co., Ltd, Norita Optics, Komura-Komuranon (Sankyo Kohki), and Zenzanon optics were later manufactured by Bronica itself based on designs by Zeiss and leading Japanese lens manufacturers.”
By the time Bonica launched the leaf shutter SQ series in 1980, they had undoubtedly been making their own Zenzanon lenses for some time, and when Tamron, a leading independent Japanese lens manufacturer, acquired Bronica in 1992, they specifically cited Bronica’s“optical knowledge base and lens manufacturing capability”among the chief reasons for the acquisition.
4 Great Zenzanons: 3 Normals and 1 “Normal-ish”
80mm f/2.4 Zenzanon MC: Listed in the Bronica S2A manual of 1969, it’s the fastest Zenzanon (or Nikkor) lens ever made for the Bronica (except for the mythical 85mm f/1.8 Nikkor), employs an innovative 6-element, 5-group Gaussian formula, and is acclaimed for its outstanding image quality, crisp definition, and smooth bokeh. Since it’s multicoated (MC) some experts have speculated that its optics were made by Carl Zeiss Jena, DDR. Despite its large 1.4-inch diameter rear element the lens is quite compact, but it weighs 2.47 ounces more than the 75mm f/2.8 Nikkor and has a slightly longer minimum focus distance of 27.6 inches. Considered a user-collector prize among Bronica fans it’s relatively scarce and pricey at $575-$625 used.
80mm f/2.4 Zenzanon MC was the fastest of the Zenzanon lenses. It's multicoated and acclaimed for its outstanding image quality and rendition.
80mm f/2.4 Zenzanon MC diagram shows that this 6-element, 5-group formula successfully combines classic and innovative design elements.
80mm f/2.8 MC Zenzanon by Carl Zeiss Jena DDR: This acclaimed dual-branded lens is essentially a Bronica S- and EC-series mount version of the iconic Carl Zeiss Biometar made by the East German division of Carl Zeiss in Thuringia, DDR for the fascinating but unreliable Pentacon Six 6x6 cm SLR. According to Zeiss experts, Zeiss Jena was slated to supply 3000 of these lenses in 1974 and another 5000 in 1977, but the actual number delivered was far lower. Said to be a spectacular performer, this 5-element, 4-group classic is a collector’s heartthrob that’s relatively rare, which accounts for its relatively high price range of $400-$750 on the used market. Many fans love the Jena’s bokeh.
It's worth noting that before the new Zenzanon 80mm f/2.4 and Jena 80mm f/2.8, all Bronica normal lenses were 75mm. Apparently the 80mm Zenzanons were first seen on the Bronica EC. Was Bronica responding to changing market tastes or supply problem demands? Either way, if you prefer 80mm over 75mm, your only Bronica choices are the late model Zenzanons.
75mm f/2.8 Zenzanon MC: It's a 5-element, 4-group design closely based on the 75mm f/2.8 Nikkor, it's multicoated, and its performance is outstanding.
Optical diagram of the 75mm f/2.8 Zenzanon MC proves that its 5-element, 4-group design is nearly identical to the legendary 75mm f/2.8 Nikkor.
75mm f/2.8 Zenzanon MC: This 5-element, 4-group classic is an unabashed copy and of the 75mm f/2.8 Nikkor-P.C., with improved multicoating. It delivers excellent image quality and pleasing bokeh, with overall rendition quite similar the corresponding Nikkors. Some users say it’s a bit sharper and more contrasty. It available used at around $200.
100mm f/2.8 Zenzanon: Providing a slightly longer than normal focal length, this classic 6-element, 4-group, double Gauss formula lens is a favorite of portrait photographers and is acclaimed for its beautiful rendition and crisp imaging—it’s very sharp wide open and improves on stopping down. Dominated by its large front element, it’s prone to flare, weighs in at a hefty 12.7 ounces, and focuses down to a longish 38.6 inches, not quite close enough for frame filling head shots. It must also be mounted and removed with care, turning it to its closest focusing distance beforehand to avoid damaging the Bronica EC or EC-TL’s lower sub-mirror. Despite its foibles it’s a highly desirable lens that’s readily available at the rather wide price range of $150-$350, largely depending on condition. The 100mm Zenzanon was apparently not produced in an MC or Multicoated version.
Stay tuned! We’ll cover the amazing wide-angle and telephoto Zenzanon lenses, and other rare and exotic Bronica lenses shortly.
More Zenzational Zenzanon lenses for focal plane shutter Bronicas
By Jason Schneider
While many Bronica fans still believe Nikon put Bronica in a bind by suddenly halting production of Nikkor lenses in Bronica mount in1972, it’s clear from the historical record that the whole story is a lot more complicated. By that time, both companies knew their optical partnership had been winding down for at least 3 years and was bound to come to an end at some point—for details, see The Zenzanon Lens Saga, Part 1. Indeed, in anticipation of the breakup, Bronica already had 4 Zenzanon lenses in its official lineup as early as 1969. Many photo writers have noted that normal 75mm and 80mm Bronica lenses were in short supply when the landmark Bronica EC(named for its electronically controlled shutter)debuted in 1972.That may be why so many ECs were sold with the superb 100mm f/2.8 or 80mm f/2.4 Zenzanons instead of the latest multicoated 75mm f/2.8 Nikkor-P.C.
Beautiful black Bronica S2A with matching 100mm f/2.8 Zenzanon lens: A great combo, but be careful mounting or removing the lens! See text for details.
Undoubtedly some Bronica shooters bemoaned the loss of the legendary Nikkors, but fortunately for Bronica, they still had a sizeable number of Nikkors in inventory, and the new Zenzanons had already established a reputation for optical excellence. As a result, the formidable but somewhat ponderous Bronica EC, which incorporated many ingenious refinements, turned out to be one of the company’s best sellers.
Who made all these magnificent Zenzanon lenses? That’s still something of a mystery because there were several Japanese suppliers and perhaps, at times, German suppliers, that decided to or were asked to remain anonymous. Also, it’s not clear whether they only supplied the glass elements to Bronica or assembled the entire lenses using lens mounts, control rings and helical focusing mechanisms supplied by Bronica. Either of these scenarios (or maybe both) is possible since all Zenzanon lenses bear a close physical resemblance to one another, and to the previous Nikkors, a strategy designed to convey the visual continuity of the optical line. The situation is nicely summed up in this online posting:
“Lens optics labeled Zenzanon were supplied by Carl Zeiss in Jena, Tokyo Optical Co., Ltd, Norita Optics, Komura-Komuranon (Sankyo Kohki), and Zenzanon optics were later manufactured by Bronica itself based on designs by Zeiss and leading Japanese lens manufacturers.”
By the time Bonica launched the leaf shutter SQ series in 1980, they had undoubtedly been making their own Zenzanon lenses for some time, and when Tamron, a leading independent Japanese lens manufacturer, acquired Bronica in 1992, they specifically cited Bronica’s“optical knowledge base and lens manufacturing capability”among the chief reasons for the acquisition.
4 Great Zenzanons: 3 Normals and 1 “Normal-ish”
80mm f/2.4 Zenzanon MC: Listed in the Bronica S2A manual of 1969, it’s the fastest Zenzanon (or Nikkor) lens ever made for the Bronica (except for the mythical 85mm f/1.8 Nikkor), employs an innovative 6-element, 5-group Gaussian formula, and is acclaimed for its outstanding image quality, crisp definition, and smooth bokeh. Since it’s multicoated (MC) some experts have speculated that its optics were made by Carl Zeiss Jena, DDR. Despite its large 1.4-inch diameter rear element the lens is quite compact, but it weighs 2.47 ounces more than the 75mm f/2.8 Nikkor and has a slightly longer minimum focus distance of 27.6 inches. Considered a user-collector prize among Bronica fans it’s relatively scarce and pricey at $575-$625 used.
80mm f/2.4 Zenzanon MC was the fastest of the Zenzanon lenses. It's multicoated and acclaimed for its outstanding image quality and rendition.
80mm f/2.4 Zenzanon MC diagram shows that this 6-element, 5-group formula successfully combines classic and innovative design elements.
80mm f/2.8 MC Zenzanon by Carl Zeiss Jena DDR: This acclaimed dual-branded lens is essentially a Bronica S- and EC-series mount version of the iconic Carl Zeiss Biometar made by the East German division of Carl Zeiss in Thuringia, DDR for the fascinating but unreliable Pentacon Six 6x6 cm SLR. According to Zeiss experts, Zeiss Jena was slated to supply 3000 of these lenses in 1974 and another 5000 in 1977, but the actual number delivered was far lower. Said to be a spectacular performer, this 5-element, 4-group classic is a collector’s heartthrob that’s relatively rare, which accounts for its relatively high price range of $400-$750 on the used market. Many fans love the Jena’s bokeh.
It's worth noting that before the new Zenzanon 80mm f/2.4 and Jena 80mm f/2.8, all Bronica normal lenses were 75mm. Apparently the 80mm Zenzanons were first seen on the Bronica EC. Was Bronica responding to changing market tastes or supply problem demands? Either way, if you prefer 80mm over 75mm, your only Bronica choices are the late model Zenzanons.
75mm f/2.8 Zenzanon MC: It's a 5-element, 4-group design closely based on the 75mm f/2.8 Nikkor, it's multicoated, and its performance is outstanding.
Optical diagram of the 75mm f/2.8 Zenzanon MC proves that its 5-element, 4-group design is nearly identical to the legendary 75mm f/2.8 Nikkor.
75mm f/2.8 Zenzanon MC: This 5-element, 4-group classic is an unabashed copy and of the 75mm f/2.8 Nikkor-P.C., with improved multicoating. It delivers excellent image quality and pleasing bokeh, with overall rendition quite similar the corresponding Nikkors. Some users say it’s a bit sharper and more contrasty. It available used at around $200.
100mm f/2.8 Zenzanon: Providing a slightly longer than normal focal length, this classic 6-element, 4-group, double Gauss formula lens is a favorite of portrait photographers and is acclaimed for its beautiful rendition and crisp imaging—it’s very sharp wide open and improves on stopping down. Dominated by its large front element, it’s prone to flare, weighs in at a hefty 12.7 ounces, and focuses down to a longish 38.6 inches, not quite close enough for frame filling head shots. It must also be mounted and removed with care, turning it to its closest focusing distance beforehand to avoid damaging the Bronica EC or EC-TL’s lower sub-mirror. Despite its foibles it’s a highly desirable lens that’s readily available at the rather wide price range of $150-$350, largely depending on condition. The 100mm Zenzanon was apparently not produced in an MC or Multicoated version.
Stay tuned! We’ll cover the amazing wide-angle and telephoto Zenzanon lenses, and other rare and exotic Bronica lenses shortly.
