Zeiss lenses: who makes them? made where?

[naren]

I'm a bit familiar with the Zeiss company, it's postwar division, change from a camera maker and lens maker to just a lens maker- I believe for a while just for Hasselblad and Rollei cameras. When Hasselblad came out with the HI 645 camera I remember being told the Carl Zeiss lenses were actually made in Japan by Fuji. I assumed the current line of classic Hassy lenses were still being made in Germany.

Then I came to learn not long ago of F mount Zeiss lenses made in Japan by Cosina. I'm curious what Zeiss lenses are still made in Germany if any, and where or by whom have the G-series lenses made? What about the lenses released with the Zeiss Ikon? and now the new releases? I believe a 50mm is being issued in Nikon rangefinder mount? Is this another Japanese Cosina lens? Not that they haven't been doing a bang up job- I'm just curious. Thanks. 😕

 

[drewbarb]

The Zeiss Ikon lenses are indeed mostly made by Cosina in Japan, although as I understand it, the 15mm and the 85mm are both made by Zeiss in Oberkochen, Germany.

 

[peripatetic]

Yes, and of course they are three times the price. Pretty much the same price as the Leica equivalents.

But hooray for Cosina and Mr. Kobayashi. Their contribution to the richness of the photographic landscape cannot be easily overstated.

 

[BNF]

The Zeiss Ikon lenses are indeed mostly made by Cosina in Japan, although as I understand it, the 15mm and the 85mm are both made by Zeiss in Oberkochen, Germany.

All of the lenses, except the 15 and 85, are made by Cosina in Japan.

The 15 and 85 are made in Oberkochen, Germany. (People will read into the slightly ambiguousness of "mostly" 😀 )

BTW

Zeiss is perfectly clear about this in the Ikon literature. They are not trying to make it a secret. (The 2.8/21 that I have is clear labelled "Made in Japan".)

 

[pizzahut88]

Indeed, it was made clear in Zeiss literature, the 15mm and the 85mm are made in Germany, because of the complex floating element(s) incorporated.

Which is odd, the newly release Zeiss F mount 28mm F2 also has a floating element, but yet it's made in Japan by Cosina.

Anyway, if making it in Japan halves the costs and not of detriment to quality, than all the better.

 

[skahde]

[...]When Hasselblad came out with the HI 645 camera I remember being told the Carl Zeiss lenses were actually made in Japan by Fuji. I assumed the current line of classic Hassy lenses were still being made in Germany.

On the topic of Hasselblad. All lenses for Hasselblad carrying the Zeiss label are made by Zeiss Oberkochen, Germany. As of today, Zeiss only lists three lenses as beeing currently in production. Lenses for Hasselblad just labelled "Hasselblad" are from different sources, eg. Fuji is their source for the current lineup of lenses for the H-series. As Fuji also contributed the larger part of the H-series bodies some think it is appropriate to call it the "Fujiblad".

But we're getting off-topic here...

Stefan

 

[mfogiel]

The interesting bits of Zeiss history can be found here and there, and in fact I can say with confidence, that one of my best, if not THE best Zeiss tools I use, has been made by Florence...
Yes, made BY Florence, not IN Florence, haha... Here's a short story:

"The SWC and its improved variants are an example of a high quality specialty camera, essentially hand made in small quantities. For most of the period of production, one staff member specialized in the assembly of this camera, attaching a body shell to the Biogon lens supplied by Zeiss and fitting all the internal pieces. If you have a SWC or SWC/M made in the 1970's or 1980's your camera was likely put together by a skilled woman named Florence, who assembled several thousand cameras during that period."

Florence made a terrific job, I still enjoy the results:

 

[gavinlg]

No shame in being made in japan - just look at the nikon rangefinders. Also look at the massive reliability ratings of subaru/toyota/honda.

The zeiss lenses by cosina are extremely close to, if not as well made as the german leicas. Nothing to worry about there!

 

[adonf]

Regarding the G series lenses : all were made by Kyocera in Japan, except the f/8 16mm Hologon, which was built in Oberkochen.

 

[kbg32]

Some of the lenses are indeed made in Japan, but if you need servicing, they are taken care of in Germany.

 

[BNF]

All of the lenses, except the 15 and 85, are made by Cosina in Japan.

The 15 and 85 are made in Oberkochen, Germany. (People will read into the slightly ambiguousness of "mostly" 😀 )

BTW

Zeiss is perfectly clear about this in the Ikon literature. They are not trying to make it a secret. (The 2.8/21 that I have is clear labelled "Made in Japan".)

This applies to the ZM line of lenses only! I didn't read your first post closely enough! 🙄

 

[furcafe]

IIRC, Carl Zeiss did have some personnel from Germany on-site (@ least part-time) @ the Kyocera plant, which also produced most of the Contax SLR lenses.

Regarding the G series lenses : all were made by Kyocera in Japan, except the f/8 16mm Hologon, which was built in Oberkochen.

 

[oftheherd]

IIRC, Carl Zeiss did have some personnel from Germany on-site (@ least part-time) @ the Kyocera plant, which also produced most of the Contax SLR lenses.

For some reason I thought the Contax T* lenses were mostly made in Hong Kong or Taiwan. I seem to recall that was what the magazines used to report.

 

[veraikon]

Which is odd, the newly release Zeiss F mount 28mm F2 also has a floating element, but yet it's made in Japan by Cosina.

Anyway, if making it in Japan halves the costs and not of detriment to quality, than all the better.

As far as I know nowadays working cost are quite similar in Germany and Japan.
Carl Zeiss lacks of enough qualified personal and production capacity for for the mass market producting.
Since 1972/75 Carl Zeiss changed from a great production facility for photo lenses
to a fine developpment centre and small manucfacturer of photografic lenses.
Like for Mr Kobayashi Voigtländer is a playground - for the Carl Zeiss Stiftung Oberkochen the production of photographic material seems to be more heritage and "hobby" . Carl Zeiss´ cash cows graze on other meadows

For some reason I thought the Contax T* lenses were mostly made in Hong Kong or Taiwan.

In 1975 a lot lenses for the C/Y Contax System were made in Oberkochen. From the beginning of the 80ies the production changed more and more to Japan . As far as I know Kyocera produced it in the former Tomioka plant. But Q.C. was always done by Carl Zeiss (as today).

 

[jsuominen]

If you have a SWC or SWC/M made in the 1970's or 1980's your camera was likely put together by a skilled woman named Florence, who assembled several thousand cameras during that period."

Marek, where this interesting information comes from? Is it from Zeiss? By the way, my Rollei-Sonnar 40mm/2.8 LTM RF lens is made in Germany with co-operation of Zeiss, Rollei and Cosina, but I don't know who - the person - actually made it. 🙂

 

[ferider]

As far as I know nowadays working cost are quite similar in Germany and Japan.

Very much so.

I would assume that the two German-built ZM lenses are built in Oberkochen
for IP protection reasons - more than for manufacturing cost reduction.

Roland.

 

[EmilGil]

On the topic of Hasselblad. All lenses for Hasselblad carrying the Zeiss label are made by Zeiss Oberkochen, Germany. As of today, Zeiss only lists three lenses as beeing currently in production. [...]

From what I can see there are three lenses in the ZV Classic range, three F-type lenses without shutter and 12 lenses with (CFi/CFE).

Which lenses are you referring to?

 

[fuwen]

Marek, where this interesting information comes from? Is it from Zeiss? By the way, my Rollei-Sonnar 40mm/2.8 LTM RF lens is made in Germany with co-operation of Zeiss, Rollei and Cosina, but I don't know who - the person - actually made it. 🙂

Rollei has a very long relationship with Zeiss. I am not sure about the TLRs but many of the Rolleiflex 35mm lenses designed by Zeiss were actually made by Rollei factory. The glass material probably was from Zeiss. So I am not surprise that Rollei has the capability to manufacture the 40mm Sonnar. The lens metals and outer shells I believe were supplied by Cosina. The final assembly should be in Rollei Germany and therefore they marked the lenses as 'made in Germany'.

 

[Mazurka]

For some reason I thought the Contax T* lenses were mostly made in Hong Kong or Taiwan. I seem to recall that was what the magazines used to report.

They were actually made in the humid jungles of Indochina, hence their resistance to fugus.😛

Seriously, see this old FAQ: http://www.zeiss.com/C12567A8003B58B9/Contents-Frame/6F4D7BFE33B270E9C125711E004AD178

More details: http://www.zeiss.com/C12567A8003B8B6F/EmbedTitelIntern/CLN03e/$File/CLN3.pdf

 

[mfogiel]

Jari,
I've forund this quote on the internet among the Hasselblad historical pages, but I think it comes from Nordin's book "The Hasselblad Compendium".