Ferrari/Pininfarina designed lenses?

[JohnBar]

I read ages ago that some Schneider lenses were designed by Pininfarina in the 60s, I cant find the info so my question is

1 Is it true?
2 Which models?

[Ema90]

[iangreenhalgh1]

Schneider have made many lenses for 35mm, including a series for Kodak Retina, a series for Rollei QBM mount, an M42 series for Edixa, plus lenses for rf cameras like the Voss Diax.

[Oldhand]

I have no idea if Pininfarina was involved in this lens' genesis or not, but the Edixa-Xenar is a really lovely piece of design.
Not noticeable at first glance is the dynamic depth of field scale that is represented by the red lines under the plastic cover. These two rotate in and out with the aperture setting to show depth of field for any given aperture.
......and they are Ferrari red........
Cheers
OH

[JohnBar]

A shameful display of wealth in public

[Oldhand]

[philslizzy]

Porsche designed the Contax RTS in the 70's, a nice shape but otherwise a normal camera (except for the Zeiss lenses). And look at the state of them now with that horrible rubber composite covering.

Pinifarina shminifarina. It means nowt.

[Oldhand]

[JohnBar]

If you take a look at the photos of Schneider lenses over at Capt Jacks place, there are some early 60s models with the red DOF window scale and zebra, which kinda evoke Formula 1 visions of checkered flags, pit stops and the pungent smell of high octane fuel. But these may not be the ones....

If I recall the article correctly, it was more to do with Schneider feeling the pinch from Japan and wanting to redesign their range to be more compact looking like their Japanese competitors and therefore the more angular/edgy compact form with the leather trim is more consistent with the design change in respect of the article.

But who really knows for sure?

[cambug]

Years ago when Nikon first introduced their flagship F3 camera, in their brochure, it was described as designed by an Italian house. I am able to recall if it is Pinifarina or somebody else. I believe they refered only to the camera body, nothing to do with their optics. One day when you can buy the latest lenses from a boutique, it would be a designer lens...

[DR.JUAN]

Porsche designed the 35 mm camera samsung ECX-1 at the end of 80's.

[enzodm]

[Mos6502]

[JohnBar]

Yes they seem to be the compact design from the 60s.

[DR.JUAN]

In M 42 they produced 28/4, 35/2,8, 50/2,8, 50/1,9 and 135/4.

Don't remember if were also the 200 mm.

[Orio]

I don't know about Pininfarina and lenses. I have some Contaxes designed by Porsche and they
are really beautiful objects - and I disagree that they are normal cameras. They are solid rock, super
precise, and well, if you consider the AX a normal camera... then don't know what can be the boundaries of normal...

[JohnBar]

Maybe this is the one? Too subtle red maybe

[barryreid]

It's fascinating what emerges when Industrial Design houses are let loose on cameras.

From the Porsche/Contax tie up (nice) through Giugiaro / Nikon and, Colani / Canon on the T90 and on to the Porsche / Samsung effort mentioned before. I hope the Pentax / Marc Newson K-01 debacle hasn't killed this approach. I also recently re-discovered a late 80s article about the just came across a magazine article from the late 80s with an interview with Nick Butler of BIB Design who worked with Minolta to realise the original Minolta (Maxxum) 7000 AF camera which seems to be a less well known tie-up.

[philslizzy]

[JohnBar]

I guess we be waiting for the one with Go-faster stripes and the obligatory furry dice

[barryreid]