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Photographic lens manufacturers from Europe
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 26, 2024 9:09 pm    Post subject: Photographic lens manufacturers from Europe Reply with quote

I've started a list of (historical) optical manufacturers from Europe on another forum and would be really grateful, if the knowledgable folks of this place would take a look as well and perhaps add their thoughts, corrections and additional suggestions to the list.

I've added the well-known ones from Germany, the UK and France as well, but what I'm mainly interested in, is adding in all the small-scale manufacturers and optical laboratories, which are often neglected or forgotten.

I feel like there must be more... so many countries still missing, like Norway, Greece, Denmark, Ireland, Finnland etc.

I would really appreciate your help!

Here's what I found so far:

----------------------------

EDIT (updated list!):

AUSTRIA
Eumig
Carl Dietzler
Gerstendörfer
Goerz Wien
(seem to have designed their own lenses)
Karl Kahles
K. Fritsch & Prokesch
Reichert Wien
Schwarzbauer
Swarovski Optik
Voigtlaender
(early)
Weingartshofer

BELGIUM
OIP Gand

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Zrak Sarajavo (lenses?)

CROATIA
Ghetaldus Zagreb

CZECH REPUBLIC
Druopta
Eta Praha
Kolar
Meopta


FRANCE
AFR
Angenieux
Benoist Berthiot
Boyer
Cindo
Clement et Gilmer
Darlot
Demaria-Lapierre
Derogy
Dupluich
D. Degen
E. Français
F. Faliez
Gallus
Hermagis
Huet
Itier
Kengott
Kinoptik
Krauss
Lumiere
Optique & Précision de Levallois = Foca
Pathe Freres
Pulligny et Puyo
Roussel
Som Berthiot
Ugo Lantz
Zion


GERMANY
A. Schacht
Agfa
Askania-Werke
Astro Berlin
Badische Optik GmbH
Bantner & Co.
Bauer & Söhne
Berliner Optische Industrieanstalt
Biedermann & Czarnikow
Bittner AG
BOPA - Berliner Optische Präzisionsanstalt
Borg
Bünger
C. Friedrich München
Docter Optics
Emil Busch
Enna
Ernemann
F.A. Berner
Feinmess
Finetta
Gerlach
Goerz
Guthe & Thorsch
Guido Feiks Charlottenburg
Hess & Sattler Wiesbaden
Iloca
ISCO Optik
Kilfitt
Koehler
Laack
Leidolf
Leitmeyr
Leitz
Liesegang
Ludwig
Meyer Optik Goerlitz
Meyer F.F.
(Ferdinand Franz, not Hugo/Goerlitz)
Moeller J.D
Montanus
Muller & Wetzig
Noris
(projection lenses only?)
Oehler J.
OMFA
Otto Graichen Chemnitz
Piesker
Plaubel
Potthoff & Abbenthern Hannover
Rietzschel
Rodenstock
Roeschlein Kreuznach
Ruo Optik
Schneider Kreuznach
Schulze & Billerbeck
Simon
Staeble
Steinheil
Steiner Optik
TeWe Berlin
Voigtlaender
Wachter
Will Wetzlar
Wirgin
Wittmann Dresden
Zeiss
Zwierzina


HUNGARY
Finommechanikai és Acélárugyár
Forte
Gamma
MOM (Magyar Optikai Művek)
Pontos Optikai Lencsegyár


ITALY
Ballerio
Capelli
Chinaglia Domenico
Comi
Durst
(possibly 3rd party lenses only?)
Ducati
FAF
Filotecnica Salmoiraghi
Ganzini
GNM
Grilli
GPM
Industria Scientifica Ottica
Ligny
Korstika
Officine Galileo
OMI
PEB
Photoalpha
San Giorgio
SCAT
SEDE
SIRIO
Torrani


LATVIA
Minox

THE NETHERLANDS
Nedinsco
Nedoptifa
Old Delft
Philips


NORWAY
(?)

PORTUGAL
Leica Portugal (any lens development?)

POLAND
ŁZK

ROMANIA
IOR

RUSSIA
GOI - Gosudarstvennyi opticheskii institut
KMZ
KOMZ
LOMO (former GOMZ)
LZOS - Lytkarino Optical Glass Factory
MMZ


SLOVENIA
Vega

SPAIN
Curz Optical (projection lenses only?)

SWEDEN
AB Fritz Weist & Co
AGA (Aktiebolaget Gasaccumulator)


SWITZERLAND
Kern Aarau
(Kern) Paillard
Suter
Spectros
Wild Heerbrugg


UK
Adam Hilger Limited
Aldis
Beck
Bender Optical Works
Chadwick
Cooke (formerly Taylor, Taylor, & Hobson)
Corfield
Dallmeyer
Grubb
Hailer Adam
Hall
Houghton & Butcher
Kershaw
Kodak Ltd.
Lancaster
Leech Optics
Marion
Optomax
Perken Son and Rayment
Pullin Optical
Ross
Sutton
Swift and Son
Taylor, Taylor & Hobson/Cooke Optics
Watson
Wray
Zeiss London - Mill Hill


Ukraine
FED
Kiev Arsenal (Arax)


Last edited by simple.joy on Mon Dec 02, 2024 2:36 pm; edited 14 times in total


PostPosted: Tue Nov 26, 2024 11:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Like 1 Excellent work, thanks.


PostPosted: Wed Nov 27, 2024 9:36 am    Post subject: Re: Historical lens manufacturers from Europe Reply with quote

That's a nice list!

Another one from Sweden is AGA (Aktiebolaget Gasaccumulator) most commonly known for being in gas industry.

They seem to have made a very strange ultra wide angle for kodak projectors, and a few other photo related stuff: https://www.aga-museum.nl/aga-camera/



Then maybe ŁZK from Poland?


PostPosted: Wed Nov 27, 2024 10:20 am    Post subject: Re: Historical lens manufacturers from Europe Reply with quote

blotafton wrote:
That's a nice list!

Another one from Sweden is AGA (Aktiebolaget Gasaccumulator) most commonly known for being in gas industry.

They seem to have made a very strange ultra wide angle for kodak projectors, and a few other photo related stuff: https://www.aga-museum.nl/aga-camera/

Then maybe ŁZK from Poland?


Thank you very much! That's an interesting addition. I've added them in the first post. I knew about ŁZK but forgot to include it... I'm suspecting there might be a couple more from Poland and hope someone here knows.


PostPosted: Wed Nov 27, 2024 10:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Kiev Arsenal from Ukraine. They made both the cameras and lenses right?


PostPosted: Wed Nov 27, 2024 11:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great list, thank you!! Like 1 small

A very obvious one I can spot missing is Swarovski (Austria):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swarovski


And another one to add for the UK: Adam Hilger Limited (UK):

https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/people/ap24647/adam-hilger-limited

This is where F. Twyman was employed when he wrote his seminal work "Prism And Lens Making", 1943 (1952 second edition), describing the optical fabrication methods and instruments used at this optics manufacturer.
This manufacturer is known for the Hilger Interferometer.

In 1948 Adam Hilger Limited became Hilger & Watts after merging with instrument maker Messrs E. R. Watts and Son.: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilger_%26_Watts


PostPosted: Wed Nov 27, 2024 12:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Irix is officially swiss I believe, although a Polish company is behind it and they are probably made in Korea.

This is a list of historical dutch camera brands, some of their lenses may have been produced locally https://www.nederlandsecamera.nl/


PostPosted: Wed Nov 27, 2024 1:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

blotafton wrote:
Kiev Arsenal from Ukraine. They made both the cameras and lenses right?

Arax is the successor http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Arax .

D1N0 wrote:
Irix is officially swiss I believe, although a Polish company is behind it and they are probably made in Korea.

This is a list of historical dutch camera brands, some of their lenses may have been produced locally https://www.nederlandsecamera.nl/

I am pretty sure some Irix lenses were made in China as I saw them when I visit a factory in China. Wink


PostPosted: Wed Nov 27, 2024 1:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nothing from Russia?
MTO, Гелиос and Юпитер come to mind Very Happy


PostPosted: Wed Nov 27, 2024 1:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Himself wrote:
Nothing from Russia?
MTO, Гелиос and Юпитер come to mind Very Happy


Only if they are in European part Smile

And in that case it would be KMZ, MMZ etc. Those are the factory names.


PostPosted: Wed Nov 27, 2024 2:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

blotafton wrote:
Himself wrote:
Nothing from Russia?
MTO, Гелиос and Юпитер come to mind Very Happy


Only if they are in European part Smile

And in that case it would be KMZ, MMZ etc. Those are the factory names.


European part is up to Ural river.
I doubt there is a lens manufacturer in Siberia.


PostPosted: Wed Nov 27, 2024 2:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

RokkorDoctor wrote:
Great list, thank you!! Like 1 small

A very obvious one I can spot missing is Swarovski (Austria):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swarovski

And another one to add for the UK: Adam Hilger Limited (UK):

https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/people/ap24647/adam-hilger-limited

This is where F. Twyman was employed when he wrote his seminal work "Prism And Lens Making", 1943 (1952 second edition), describing the optical fabrication methods and instruments used at this optics manufacturer.
This manufacturer is known for the Hilger Interferometer.

In 1948 Adam Hilger Limited became Hilger & Watts after merging with instrument maker Messrs E. R. Watts and Son.: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilger_%26_Watts


Thank you very much! Indeed, Swarovski Optik is one I forgot - would love to try one of their lenses. While they're mainly built for hunting/bird watching, I'm sure they're pretty good optics for anything if properly adapted. Unfortunately they're expensive as well...

D1N0 wrote:
Irix is officially swiss I believe, although a Polish company is behind it and they are probably made in Korea.

This is a list of historical dutch camera brands, some of their lenses may have been produced locally https://www.nederlandsecamera.nl/


Thanks a lot! I still need to take a closer look at that website. I think I've checked a number of those manufacturers already and they all seem to have used 3rd party lenses, but there might be a couple which I've not yet taken a closer look.

Himself wrote:
blotafton wrote:
Himself wrote:
Nothing from Russia?
MTO, Гелиос and Юпитер come to mind Very Happy


Only if they are in European part Smile

And in that case it would be KMZ, MMZ etc. Those are the factory names.


European part is up to Ural river.
I doubt there is a lens manufacturer in Siberia.


Thank you both! I've added Russia and a couple of manufacturers I've heard of before... I'm sure there are more. I'm not so certain where to draw the line here in geographic terms, but if something is clearly off, please let me know. The reason I left out Russia as a whole until now, is because I know there are very knowledgeable people on the topic around, which might be able to give a more thorough overview than I'll be able to. So I view this a s a start - of course there will be errors - but I'm happy to fix them, if someone has more/better information.

BTW. does someone know if Leica Portugal does some of their lens design on location? I would view this as the defining factor if a manufacturer is listed in another country or not.


PostPosted: Wed Nov 27, 2024 2:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

unclear what is intended as timespan for "old optics". Kinoptik in france might qualify and Spctros in Switzerland made optics licenced by Oude Delft.

p.


PostPosted: Wed Nov 27, 2024 2:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

paulhofseth wrote:
unclear what is intended as timespan for "old optics". Kinoptik in france might qualify and Spctros in Switzerland made optics licenced by Oude Delft.

p.

Kinoptik is 100% qualified!


PostPosted: Wed Nov 27, 2024 3:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

simple.joy wrote:
Thank you very much! Indeed, Swarovski Optik is one I forgot - would love to try one of their lenses. While they're mainly built for hunting/bird watching, I'm sure they're pretty good optics for anything if properly adapted. Unfortunately they're expensive as well...


They are very good optics. Funny anecdote: a few years a go I visited a restaurant on one of the top floors in London's The Shard building. In their waiting area they had a large aperture Swarovski scope set up on a tripod for the customers to have a look at London from above. Couldn't get a well-focused image out of that thing no matter what I tried, until it dawned on me: it was set up looking through an almost one-inch thick pane of not very flat float glass!

No point spending £££ on a large aperture Swarovski scope if you are going to be looking through a very thick pane of undulating float glass. Laughing


PostPosted: Wed Nov 27, 2024 3:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

calvin83 wrote:
paulhofseth wrote:
unclear what is intended as timespan for "old optics". Kinoptik in france might qualify and Spctros in Switzerland made optics licenced by Oude Delft.

p.

Kinoptik is 100% qualified!


Thanks a lot for the additional suggestions. I've deleted "Spyr" from Switzerland and added "Spectros" because if the latter is a manufacturer of lenses the one Spyr-labeled lens I've found was likely made by Spectros as well. Kinoptik is another great one.

RokkorDoctor wrote:
simple.joy wrote:
Thank you very much! Indeed, Swarovski Optik is one I forgot - would love to try one of their lenses. While they're mainly built for hunting/bird watching, I'm sure they're pretty good optics for anything if properly adapted. Unfortunately they're expensive as well...


They are very good optics. Funny anecdote: a few years a go I visited a restaurant on one of the top floors in London's The Shard building. In their waiting area they had a large aperture Swarovski scope set up on a tripod for the customers to have a look at London from above. Couldn't get a well-focused image out of that thing no matter what I tried, until it dawned on me: it was set up looking through an almost one-inch thick pane of not very flat float glass!

No point spending £££ on a large aperture Swarovski scope if you are going to be looking through a very thick pane of undulating float glass. Laughing


Indeed - that doesn't seem to make a lot of sense. Perhaps you can convince them to send that thing my way instead... Wink

I also changed the title and removed the "historical" aspect cause I‘m also interested in current manufacturers.


PostPosted: Wed Nov 27, 2024 4:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Himself wrote:
blotafton wrote:
Himself wrote:
Nothing from Russia?
MTO, Гелиос and Юпитер come to mind Very Happy


Only if they are in European part Smile

And in that case it would be KMZ, MMZ etc. Those are the factory names.


European part is up to Ural river.
I doubt there is a lens manufacturer in Siberia.


Yeah, I have no idea where the factories actually are located!


PostPosted: Wed Nov 27, 2024 4:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
RUSSIA
KMZ
KOMZ
LOMO (former GOMZ)
MMZ

Since you include these, you should include Lytkarino Optical Glass Factory(LZOS) and GOI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vavilov_State_Optical_Institute and http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Valdai etc... There are too many names LOL.

Also, FED http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/FED was located in Kharkov in Ukraine .


PostPosted: Wed Nov 27, 2024 9:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

calvin83 wrote:
Quote:
RUSSIA
KMZ
KOMZ
LOMO (former GOMZ)
MMZ

Since you include these, you should include Lytkarino Optical Glass Factory(LZOS) and GOI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vavilov_State_Optical_Institute and http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Valdai etc... There are too many names LOL.

Also, FED http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/FED was located in Kharkov in Ukraine .


Many thanks - excellent additions!


PostPosted: Wed Nov 27, 2024 9:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

"Leica Just Recorded the Highest Revenue in Its Entire 100-Year History" https://petapixel.com/2024/11/20/leica-just-recorded-the-highest-revenue-in-its-entire-100-year-history/

Quote:
“Our products ‘Made in Germany’...


PostPosted: Wed Nov 27, 2024 9:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

How about Schott, Zeiss' sister? I know they make optical glass only but a lot of the names in your list that are making high quality lenses are buying the glass from Schott.
Maybe a very, very honorary member Very Happy


PostPosted: Thu Nov 28, 2024 8:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

visualopsins wrote:
"Leica Just Recorded the Highest Revenue in Its Entire 100-Year History" https://petapixel.com/2024/11/20/leica-just-recorded-the-highest-revenue-in-its-entire-100-year-history/

Quote:
“Our products ‘Made in Germany’...


That's great! It certainly is a company with impressive achievements and great lenses. I really got to appreciate some of their older lenses for the wonderful look they produce.

Himself wrote:
How about Schott, Zeiss' sister? I know they make optical glass only but a lot of the names in your list that are making high quality lenses are buying the glass from Schott.
Maybe a very, very honorary member Very Happy


I fully agree that Schott must be given a lot of credit, however in the context of this particular list, it just doesn't fit, I'm afraid. But they would certainly deserve a honorary member spot, along with some of the most notable shutter makers etc.


PostPosted: Thu Nov 28, 2024 5:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://stichtinghistorischemicroscopie.nl/en/category/oip-gand-en/

Belgium: microscopes, cameras, army equipement.

https://fotohandeldelfshaven.nl/product/oip-gand-labor-4-5-250mm-soft-focus-lens/


PostPosted: Thu Nov 28, 2024 9:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ernst Dinkla wrote:
https://stichtinghistorischemicroscopie.nl/en/category/oip-gand-en/

Belgium: microscopes, cameras, army equipement.

https://fotohandeldelfshaven.nl/product/oip-gand-labor-4-5-250mm-soft-focus-lens/


Thank you so much - that's excellent! Now there's one for Belgium as well.


PostPosted: Fri Nov 29, 2024 8:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Croatia - Ghetaldus Zagreb (Ghenar lens on King Regula IIIa camera)
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Zrak Sarajavo (not quite sure if they actually did photographic lenses, but there was one series of Altix camera made/assembled there)