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Zeiss ( ; ) is a German manufacturer of optical systems and optoelectronics, founded in
Jena Jena (; ) is a List of cities and towns in Germany, city in Germany and the second largest city in Thuringia. Together with the nearby cities of Erfurt and Weimar, it forms the central metropolitan area of Thuringia with approximately 500,000 in ...
, Germany, in 1846 by
optician An optician is an individual who fits glasses or contact lenses by filling a refractive prescription from an optometrist or ophthalmologist. They are able to translate and adapt ophthalmic prescriptions, dispense products, and work with acces ...
Carl Zeiss Carl Zeiss (; 11 September 1816 – 3 December 1888) was a German scientific instrument maker, optician and businessman. In 1846 he founded his workshop, which is still in business as Zeiss (company), Zeiss. Zeiss gathered a group of gifted p ...
. Together with Ernst Abbe (joined 1866) and
Otto Schott Friedrich Otto Schott (1851–1935) was a German people, German chemist, glass technologist, and the inventor of borosilicate glass. Schott systematically investigated the relationship between the chemical composition of the glass and its properti ...
(joined 1884) he laid the foundation for today's multinational company. The current company emerged from a reunification of Carl Zeiss companies in East and West Germany with a consolidation phase in the 1990s. ZEISS is active in four business segments with approximately equal revenue (Industrial Quality and Research, Medical Technology, Consumer Markets and Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology) in almost 50 countries, has 30 production sites and around 25 development sites worldwide. Carl Zeiss AG is the holding of all subsidiaries within Zeiss Group, of which Carl Zeiss Meditec AG is the only one that is traded at the stock market. Carl Zeiss AG is owned by the foundation
Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung The Carl-Zeiss-Foundation (non-profit)#Germany, Stiftung (Carl Zeiss Foundation), legally located in Heidenheim an der Brenz and Jena, Germany, and with its administrative headquarters in Stuttgart, is the sole shareholder of the two companies C ...
. The Zeiss Group has its headquarters in southern Germany, in the small town of Oberkochen, with its second largest, and founding site, being Jena in eastern Germany. Also controlled by the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung is the glass manufacturer Schott AG, located in
Mainz Mainz (; #Names and etymology, see below) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, and with around 223,000 inhabitants, it is List of cities in Germany by population, Germany's 35th-largest city. It lies in ...
and Jena. Carl Zeiss is one of the oldest existing optics manufacturers in the world.


Corporate history

Carl Zeiss Carl Zeiss (; 11 September 1816 – 3 December 1888) was a German scientific instrument maker, optician and businessman. In 1846 he founded his workshop, which is still in business as Zeiss (company), Zeiss. Zeiss gathered a group of gifted p ...
opened an optics workshop in Jena in 1846. By 1847, he was making microscopes full-time. In 1861, the rapidly growing company had a staff of about 20 and won a gold medal at the
Thuringia Thuringia (; officially the Free State of Thuringia, ) is one of Germany, Germany's 16 States of Germany, states. With 2.1 million people, it is 12th-largest by population, and with 16,171 square kilometers, it is 11th-largest in area. Er ...
n Industrial Exposition. By 1866 Zeiss sold their 1,000th microscope. In 1872
physicist A physicist is a scientist who specializes in the field of physics, which encompasses the interactions of matter and energy at all length and time scales in the physical universe. Physicists generally are interested in the root or ultimate cau ...
Ernst Abbe joined Zeiss, and along with
Otto Schott Friedrich Otto Schott (1851–1935) was a German people, German chemist, glass technologist, and the inventor of borosilicate glass. Schott systematically investigated the relationship between the chemical composition of the glass and its properti ...
designed greatly improved lenses for the optical instruments they were producing. After Carl Zeiss's death in 1888, the business was incorporated as the in 1889. By
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, Zeiss was the world's largest camera-production company. Zeiss Ikon represented a significant part of the production, along with dozens of other brands and factories, including a major works at
Dresden Dresden (; ; Upper Saxon German, Upper Saxon: ''Dräsdn''; , ) is the capital city of the States of Germany, German state of Saxony and its second most populous city after Leipzig. It is the List of cities in Germany by population, 12th most p ...
. In 1928 the Zeiss company acquired Hensoldt AG, which has produced Zeiss binoculars and rifle-scopes since 1964 - this has occasionally resulted in twin products being offered under both the "Hensoldt" and "Zeiss" brand-names. The Hensoldt System Technology division (resulting from a merger of the military-optics operations of Leica and Hensoldt) was continued by Zeiss under the "Hensoldt" name until 2006. As part of
Nazi Germany Nazi Germany, officially known as the German Reich and later the Greater German Reich, was the German Reich, German state between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party controlled the country, transforming it into a Totalit ...
's program, Zeiss used forced labour, including Jews and other minorities during
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. The destruction of the war caused many companies to divide into smaller subcompanies and others to merge. There was great respect for the engineering innovation that came out of Dresden—before the war the world's first 35 mm single-lens reflex camera, the '' Kine Exakta'', and the first miniature camera with good picture-quality were developed there. At the end of the war, Jena was initially occupied by the
United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...
. When Jena and Dresden were incorporated into the Soviet occupation zone, later
East Germany East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe from Foundation of East Germany, its formation on 7 October 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with West Germany (FRG) on ...
, the US Army relocated some parts of Zeiss Jena to the Contessa manufacturing facility in
Stuttgart Stuttgart (; ; Swabian German, Swabian: ; Alemannic German, Alemannic: ; Italian language, Italian: ; ) is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Baden-Württemberg by population, largest city of the States of Germany, German state of ...
, West Germany, while the remainder of Zeiss Jena was reestablished by the (eastern) German Democratic Republic as . The Soviet Army relocated most of the existing Zeiss factories and tooling to the Soviet Union, establishing the
Kiev Kyiv, also Kiev, is the capital and most populous List of cities in Ukraine, city of Ukraine. Located in the north-central part of the country, it straddles both sides of the Dnieper, Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2022, its population was 2, ...
camera-works. In the West,
business Business is the practice of making one's living or making money by producing or Trade, buying and selling Product (business), products (such as goods and Service (economics), services). It is also "any activity or enterprise entered into for ...
activity restarted in Oberkochen in present-day
Baden-Württemberg Baden-Württemberg ( ; ), commonly shortened to BW or BaWü, is a states of Germany, German state () in Southwest Germany, east of the Rhine, which forms the southern part of Germany's western border with France. With more than 11.07 million i ...
(southwestern Germany) as in 1946, which became in 1947, but was soon renamed to "Carl Zeiss". West-German Zeiss products were labelled "Opton" for sale in the Eastern bloc, while East German Zeiss products were labelled "" or simply "" for sale in Western countries. In 1973, the Western Carl Zeiss AG entered into a licensing agreement with the Japanese camera-company
Yashica was a Japanese manufacturer of cameras, lenses, and film editing equipment active from 1949 until 2005 when its then-owner, Kyocera, ceased production. It acquired the lens manufacturer Tomioka (Tomioka Optical Co., Ltd). In 2008, the Yashica ...
to produce a series of high-quality 35 mm film-cameras and lenses bearing the
Contax Contax (stylised as CONTAX in the Yashica/Kyocera era) began as a German camera model in the Zeiss Ikon line in 1932, and later became a brand name. The early cameras were among the finest in the world, typically featuring high quality Carl Zeis ...
and Zeiss brand names. This collaboration continued under Yashica's successor,
Kyocera is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational ceramics and electronics manufacturer headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. It was founded as in 1959 by Kazuo Inamori and renamed in 1982. It manufactures industrial ceramics, solar power genera ...
, until the latter ceased all camera production in 2005. Zeiss later produced lenses for the space industry and, more recently, has again produced high-quality 35 mm camera-lenses. The eastern Zeiss Jena was also well known for producing high-quality products. Following the
German reunification German reunification () was the process of re-establishing Germany as a single sovereign state, which began on 9 November 1989 and culminated on 3 October 1990 with the dissolution of the East Germany, German Democratic Republic and the int ...
of 1989–1991,  — reckoned as one of the few East-German firms that was even potentially able to compete on a global basis — became , which became in 1990. In 1991, was split in two, with taking over the company's divisions for microscopy and other precision optics (effectively reuniting the pre-war Carl Zeiss enterprise) and moving its
microscopy Microscopy is the technical field of using microscopes to view subjects too small to be seen with the naked eye (objects that are not within the resolution range of the normal eye). There are three well-known branches of microscopy: optical mic ...
and planetarium divisions back to Jena. Jenoptik GmbH was split off as a specialty company in the areas of photonics, optoelectronics, and mechatronics. The Hensoldt AG was renamed "Carl Zeiss Sports Optics GmbH" on 1 October 2006. The companies of the in and around Dresden have branched into new technologies: screens and products for the
automotive industry The automotive industry comprises a wide range of company, companies and organizations involved in the design, Business development, development, manufacturing, marketing, selling, Maintenance, repairing, and Custom car, modification of motor ve ...
, for example. there are arguably three companies with primarily "Zeiss Ikon" heritage: , the Finnish/Swedish (which bought the West German ), and the independent eastern . A division called "Carl Zeiss Vision" produces lenses for eyeglasses. In 2005, the eyeglass division merged with U.S. company SOLA, which included the former
American Optical Company The American Optical Company, also known as AO Eyewear, is a luxury American eyewear and sunglass company based in Vernon Hills, Illinois near Chicago. AO designs and manufactures in the United States. History Founded in 1833 by William Beecher, ...
. On 28 June 2013, Carl Zeiss officially announced its plan to rename the brand from "" to simply "". All the products will be standardized under the "Zeiss" brand. In April 2019, Zeiss announced the acquisition of Brunswick-based GOM.


Innovations

The Zeiss company was responsible for many innovations in optical design and engineering in each of their major fields of business. Today this becomes exemplarily visible in the latest EUV lithography systems, the equipment needed to produce the latest generations of semiconductor components. It also includes early high-performance optical microscopes up to today's electron and ion microscopes, which reach a sub-nanometers resolution. It includes technology leadership in the first surgical microscopes and ophthalmic devices. It also includes high-performance contact metrology systems. For many years Zeiss showed innovations in fields as astronomical telescopes, photographic and cinematic lenses. Early on, Carl Zeiss realised that he needed a competent scientist so as to take the firm beyond just being another optical workshop. In 1866, the service of Dr. Ernst Abbe was enlisted. From then on novel products appeared in rapid succession which brought the Zeiss company to the forefront of optical technology. Abbe was instrumental in the development of the famous Jena optical glass. When he was trying to eliminate stigmatism from microscopes, he realized that the range of optical glasses available was insufficient. After some calculations, he realised that performance of optical instruments would dramatically improve if optical glasses of appropriate properties were available. His challenge to glass manufacturers was finally answered by Dr. Otto Schott, who established the famous glassworks at Jena from which new types of optical glass began to appear from 1888 to be employed by Zeiss and other makers. The new Jena optical glass also opened up the possibility of increased performance of photographic lenses. The first use of Jena glass in a photographic lens was by Voigtländer, but as the lens was an old design its performance was not greatly improved. Subsequently, the new glasses would demonstrate their value in correcting astigmatism, and in the production of apochromatic lenses. Abbe started the design of a photographic lens of symmetrical design with five elements, but went no further. Zeiss' domination of photographic lens innovation was due to Dr Paul Rudolph. In 1890, Rudolph designed an asymmetrical lens with a cemented group at each side of the diaphragm, appropriately named "Anastigmat". This lens was made in three series: Series III, IV and V, with maximum apertures of f/7.2, f/12.5, and f/18 respectively. In 1891, Series I, II and IIIa appeared with respective maximum apertures of f/4.5, f/6.3, and f/9 and in 1893 came Series IIa of f/8 maximum aperture. These lenses are now better known by the trademark "Protar", which was first used in 1900. At the time, single combination lenses, which occupy one side of the diaphragm only, were still popular. Rudolph designed one with three cemented elements in 1893, with the option of fitting two of them together in a lens barrel as a compound lens, but it was found to be the same as the Dagor by C.P. Goerz, designed by Emil von Hoegh. Rudolph then came up with a single combination with four cemented elements, which can be considered as having all the elements of the Protar stuck together in one piece. Marketed in 1894, it was called the Protarlinse Series VII, the most highly corrected single combination lens with maximum apertures between f/11 and f/12.5, depending on its focal length. But the important thing about this Protarlinse is that two of these lens units can be mounted in the same lens barrel to form a compound lens of even greater performance and a larger aperture, between f/6.3 and f/7.7. In this configuration, it was called the Double Protar Series VIIa. An immense range of focal lengths can thus be obtained by the various combination of Protarlinse units. Rudolph also investigated the Double-Gauss concept of a symmetrical design with thin positive menisci enclosing negative elements. The result was the Planar Series Ia of 1896, with maximum apertures up to f/3.5, one of the fastest lenses of its time. Whilst it was very sharp, it suffered from
coma A coma is a deep state of prolonged unconsciousness in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to Nociception, respond normally to Pain, painful stimuli, light, or sound, lacks a normal Circadian rhythm, sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate ...
which limited its popularity. However, further developments of this configuration made it the design of choice for high-speed lenses of standard coverage. Probably inspired by the Stigmatic lenses designed by Hugh Aldis for Dallmeyer of London, Rudolph designed a new asymmetrical lens with four thin elements, the Unar Series Ib, with apertures up to f/4.5. Due to its high speed, it was used extensively on hand cameras. The most important Zeiss lens by Rudolph was the Tessar, first sold in 1902 in its Series IIb f/6.3 form. It can be said as a combination of the front half of the Unar with the rear half of the Protar. This proved to be the most valuable and flexible design, with tremendous development potential. Its maximum aperture was increased to f/4.7 in 1917 and reached f/2.7 in 1930. It is probable that every lens manufacturer has produced lenses of the Tessar configurations. Rudolph left Zeiss after World War I, but many other competent designers such as Merté, Wandersleb, etc. kept the firm at the leading edge of photographic lens innovations. One of the most significant designers was the ex-Ernemann man Dr Ludwig Bertele, famed for his Ernostar high-speed lens. With the advent of the
Contax Contax (stylised as CONTAX in the Yashica/Kyocera era) began as a German camera model in the Zeiss Ikon line in 1932, and later became a brand name. The early cameras were among the finest in the world, typically featuring high quality Carl Zeis ...
by Zeiss-Ikon, the first professional 35mm system camera became available. At this stage the Leica was no more than a convenient and portable snapshot camera. However Leitz could see the potential offered by the Contax and rapidly developed a coupled rangefinder and started to introduce additional lenses. As a system camera there was a need for a range of lenses for the Contax. Bertele's Sonnar series of lenses designed for the Contax was the match in every respect for the Leica for at least two decades. Other lenses for the Contax included the Biotar, Biogon, Orthometar, and various Tessars and Triotars. The last important Zeiss innovation before World War II was the technique of applying an anti-reflective coating to lens surfaces invented by Olexander Smakula in 1935. A lens so treated was marked with a red "T", short for "Transparent". The technique of applying multiple layers of coatings was developed from this basis after the war, and known as "T✻" (T-star). After the partitioning of Germany, a new Carl Zeiss optical company was established in Oberkochen, while the original Zeiss firm in Jena continued to operate. At first, both firms produced very similar lines of products, and extensively cooperated in product-sharing, but they drifted apart as time progressed. Jena's new direction was to concentrate on developing lenses for 35 mm single-lens reflex cameras, and many achievements were made, especially in ultra-wide angle designs. In addition to that, Oberkochen also worked on designing lenses for the 35 mm single-lens reflex camera Contarex, for the medium format camera Hasselblad, for large format cameras like the Linhof Technika, interchangeable front element lenses such as for the 35 mm single-lens reflex Contaflex and other types of cameras. Since the beginning of Zeiss as a photographic lens manufacturer, it has had a licensing programme, allowing other manufacturers to produce its lenses. Over the years its licensees included Voigtländer, Bausch & Lomb, Ross, Koristka, Krauss, Kodak. etc. In the 1970s, the western operation of Zeiss-Ikon collaborated with Yashica to produce the new
Contax Contax (stylised as CONTAX in the Yashica/Kyocera era) began as a German camera model in the Zeiss Ikon line in 1932, and later became a brand name. The early cameras were among the finest in the world, typically featuring high quality Carl Zeis ...
cameras, and many of the Zeiss lenses for this camera, among others, were produced by Yashica's optical arm, Tomioka. As Yashica's owner
Kyocera is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational ceramics and electronics manufacturer headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. It was founded as in 1959 by Kazuo Inamori and renamed in 1982. It manufactures industrial ceramics, solar power genera ...
ended camera production in 2006, and Yashica lenses were then made by Cosina, who also manufactured most of the new Zeiss designs for the new Zeiss Ikon coupled rangefinder camera. Another licensee active today is
Sony is a Japanese multinational conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at Sony City in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The Sony Group encompasses various businesses, including Sony Corporation (electronics), Sony Semiconductor Solutions (i ...
who uses the Zeiss name on lenses on its video and digital still cameras.


Business relationships

Zeiss has licensed its name or technology to various other companies including Hasselblad, Rollei,
Yashica was a Japanese manufacturer of cameras, lenses, and film editing equipment active from 1949 until 2005 when its then-owner, Kyocera, ceased production. It acquired the lens manufacturer Tomioka (Tomioka Optical Co., Ltd). In 2008, the Yashica ...
,
Sony is a Japanese multinational conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at Sony City in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The Sony Group encompasses various businesses, including Sony Corporation (electronics), Sony Semiconductor Solutions (i ...
, Logitech and Alpa. The nature of the collaboration varies, from co-branding optics designed by another firm (e.g., Sony) to complete optical design and manufacturing (e.g., Hasselblad). On 27 April 2005, the company announced a collaboration with
Nokia Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational corporation, multinational telecommunications industry, telecommunications, technology company, information technology, and consumer electronics corporation, originally established as a pulp mill in 1 ...
in the camera phone market, with Zeiss providing camera optics. The first
smartphone A smartphone is a mobile phone with advanced computing capabilities. It typically has a touchscreen interface, allowing users to access a wide range of applications and services, such as web browsing, email, and social media, as well as multi ...
to be co-engineered with Zeiss optics was the Nokia N90, Zeiss will again provide optics for Nokia products through a collaboration with HMD Global announced on 6 July 2017. On 17 December 2020, Vivo and Zeiss announced a long-term strategic partnership to jointly promote and develop breakthrough innovations in mobile imaging technology. The first “Vivo Zeiss co-engineered imaging system” will be featured in the Vivo X60 series, followed by Vivo X-Fold 3 Pro, and lowered to their V-series. As part of the collaboration agreement, Vivo and Zeiss will establish the Vivo Zeiss Imaging Lab, a joint R&D program to innovate mobile imaging technology for Vivo’s flagship smartphones.


Zeiss cameras


Zeiss Ikon film cameras

Zeiss Ikon was an independent camera company related to Carl Zeiss, formed by the merger of four camera makers (Contessa-Nettel, Ernemann, Goerz and ICA) in Dresden on September 15, 1926. Much of the capital came from Zeiss which also provided components for the cameras, including lenses and shutters through its subsidiaries such as Deckel. One of the four merged companies, (ICA AG), had been founded in 1909 shortly after Carl Zeiss Palmos, which had been co-founded by Zeiss lens designer Paul Rudolph and Curt Bentzin from Görlitz in 1899, went out of business. Another founding company, Contessa-Nettel, was operated by August Nagel, who left the company in 1928 to form the Nagel Works; in 1932, his company was bought by Kodak, which continued to produce cameras in Germany under the
Retina The retina (; or retinas) is the innermost, photosensitivity, light-sensitive layer of tissue (biology), tissue of the eye of most vertebrates and some Mollusca, molluscs. The optics of the eye create a focus (optics), focused two-dimensional ...
brand. The earliest Zeiss Ikon cameras were a range of medium and large format folding cameras badged as ''Nettar'', ''Ikonta'', and ''Super Ikonta'', for film and glass plate photography. The most expensive was the ''Universal Juwel'' (Jewel), a glass plate camera originally designed by ICA in 1909. This was a favorite of both
Ansel Adams Ansel Easton Adams (February 20, 1902 – April 22, 1984) was an American landscape photographer and environmentalist known for his Monochrome photography, black-and-white images of the American West. He helped found Group f/64, an association ...
and Dorothea Lange. Other models produced by Zeiss Ikon prior to World War II included the ''Baldur'', named for
Baldur von Schirach Baldur Benedikt von Schirach (; 9 May 1907 – 8 August 1974) was a German politician who was the leader of the Hitler Youth from 1931 to 1940. From 1940 to 1945, he was the '' Gauleiter'' (district leader) and '' Reichsstatthalter'' (Reich gov ...
; the ''Contaflex'', a twin-lens reflex; and the ''Tengor'', a box camera derived from an earlier Goerz design. Despite German production, the folding Super Ikonta was among the mainstays of British Army photographers during World War II. In 1932 Zeiss Ikon introduced the
Contax Contax (stylised as CONTAX in the Yashica/Kyocera era) began as a German camera model in the Zeiss Ikon line in 1932, and later became a brand name. The early cameras were among the finest in the world, typically featuring high quality Carl Zeis ...
line of 35mm
rangefinder camera A rangefinder camera is a camera fitted with a rangefinder, typically a split-image rangefinder: a range-finding focusing mechanism allowing the photographer to measure the subject distance and take photographs that are in sharp focus. Most v ...
s, having recognised the potential for a system camera using 35mm film. The Contax I was introduced with a wide range of lenses and accessories for scientific and professional use. In 1936, an improved model, the Contax II, was introduced and became the favorite of many renowned photographers and journalists, including Robert Capa and Margaret Bourke-White. A second 35mm camera, the Contax III, was mechanically identical with a light meter grafted to the top of the camera. File:ZI Super Ikonta (2186902025).jpg, ''Super Ikonta'' folding rollfilm camera File:Zeiss Ikon Contaflex TLR Ans 00651.tif, ''Contaflex'' TLR File:Ab Box (385406699).jpg, ''Box Tengor'' Model 54, File:Contax img 0768.jpg, ''Contax I''
rangefinder camera A rangefinder camera is a camera fitted with a rangefinder, typically a split-image rangefinder: a range-finding focusing mechanism allowing the photographer to measure the subject distance and take photographs that are in sharp focus. Most v ...
(1932–36) File:Vintage Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Super 35mm Leaf Shuttered SLR Film Camera, Made In Germany, Circa 1959 (21249392306).jpg, ''Contaflex'' SLR File:Zeiss Ikon Icarex 35 mit Carl Zeiss Tessar 2.8 50mm - Foto 2019 Wolfgang Pehlemann DSC04878.jpg, ''Icarex 35'' SLR File:Zeiss Ikon Contarex 1 (bullseye) (14118573205).jpg, ''Contarex 1'' ("Bullseye") SLR File:Vintage Voightlander Bessamatic 35mm SLR Film Camera, Made In West Germany, Circa 1959 (35816912145).jpg, Voigtländer ''Bessamatic'' SLR File:Kiev 4A black (365-239) (6091574502).jpg, Kiev ''4A'' rangefinder File:Vintage Zeiss Ikon Contessamat 35mm Film Viewfinder Camera, Color-Pantar 45mm f2.8 Lens, Prontor-Matic 125 Shutter, Made In West Germany, Circa 1964 - 1965 (34221467512).jpg, ''Contessamat'' compact
After World War II, the Dresden factory was dismantled and the Soviet Union forcibly relocated the Contax factory to Kiev as war reparations, where the pre-war Contax II and III camera designs were produced under the Kiev brand. The first Kiev cameras were identical except for logos. The United States also relocated Zeiss from Jena to Heidenheim (Oberkochen) in 1945, but Zeiss Ikon were without designs or facilities for making the Contax and set about producing an improved replacement. These were named the Contax IIa and IIIa, and were smaller and lighter than the original designs. But by the time the IIa and IIIa hit the market, they faced strong competition from many European and Asian brands, notably the visually similar Nikon produced by Nippon Kogaku, which was a high quality camera sharing the same lens-mount and most of the features. Zeiss Ikon prevented some European distribution under the theory that "Nikon" was an infringement on their brand name. Starting in the mid-1950s, Zeiss Ikon shifted its focus to market single-lens reflex cameras in three distinct lines: the Contaflex line (1953) for amateurs with leaf shutters, the high-end Contarex line (1959) with film magazine backs and superb optics, and the mid-range Icarex line (1967) with focal plane shutters and either the popular M42 lens mount or a proprietary bayonet mount. While these designs were initially competitive with SLRs produced by Japanese brands including Canon, Yashica, Minolta, and Nikon, Zeiss Ikon failed to keep pace by adding features and Zeiss Ikon camera production ceased in 1971.


Voigtländer

Zeiss also acquired the Voigtländer brand in 1956, putting it in the curious position of offering competing cameras in the same market segments, including professional rangefinders ( Prominent (135), in competition with the Contax), amateur SLRs ( Bessamatic/Ultramatic, competing with the Contaflex), and numerous compact and folding cameras through at least 1967, when the Icarex, a Voigtländer design released under the Zeiss Ikon brand, was released to consolidate the competing SLR lines. After Zeiss Ikon stopped producing cameras, the Voigtländer brand and Icarex designs were acquired by Rollei, which released variations of the Icarex under both Voigtländer and Rollei as the Rolleiflex SL35 M.


Cameras produced under Zeiss licenses

File:Contax RTS2.JPG, Contax ''RTS II'' (Yashica/Kyocera) File:Contax T.jpg, Contax ''T'' (Yashica/Kyocera) File:Contax G1 Rangefinder.jpg, Contax ''G1'' (Yashica/Kyocera) File:Contax 645.tif, Contax ''645'' (Yashica/Kyocera) File:Kyocera Contax SL300RT black.jpg, Contax ''SL300RT'' digital (Yashica/Kyocera) File:Zeiss Ikon ZM 35 mm rangefinder camera with Planar T* 50mm F2 lens and silver Abrahamsson soft release.jpg, ''Zeiss Ikon'' rangefinder (Cosina) Since 1972, some 35mm cameras have been marketed under the "Contax" and "Zeiss Ikon" brands. The "Contax" brand was licensed to Yashica in 1974, which later was acquired by
Kyocera is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational ceramics and electronics manufacturer headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. It was founded as in 1959 by Kazuo Inamori and renamed in 1982. It manufactures industrial ceramics, solar power genera ...
; Contax marketed several lines of SLR, rangefinder, compact, and digital cameras with Zeiss lenses and Japanese-built bodies. The most recent "Zeiss Ikon" rangefinder camera was an M mount camera with automatic exposure, introduced by Zeiss in 2004 and manufactured in Japan by Cosina; it was discontinued in 2012.


ZX1 digital

The Zeiss ZX1 full-frame 35mm F/2 large-sensor compact camera was announced during Photokina 2018 with the slogan 'Shoot – Edit – Share'. The camera incorporates Adobe Lightroom Mobile editing capacities, and an internal 512GB SSD affording 6,800 DNG-format RAW images or 50,000 JPEG-format compressed images. The ZX1, which was one of only a few cameras to use the Android operating system, was discontinued in 2023.


Camera lenses


Cinema lenses

Carl Zeiss AG has long produced motion picture lenses. Zeiss manufactures prime and zoom lenses for 35mm, 16mm, and 65mm film production. They also make lenses for digital cinema and high definition video, and has maintained an association with the German camera manufacturer
Arri Arri Group () (stylized as "ARRI") is a German manufacturer of motion picture film equipment. Based in Munich, the company was founded in 1917. It produces professional motion picture cameras, lenses, lighting and post-production equipment. It ...
for whom they currently produce lenses. Current models of Zeiss cinema lenses are:
* Master Prime T✻XP Distagon 14 mm T1.3 * Master Prime T✻XP Distagon 16 mm T1.3 * Master Prime T✻XP Distagon 18 mm T1.3 * Master Prime T✻XP Distagon 21 mm T1.3 * Master Prime T✻XP Distagon 25 mm T1.3 * Master Prime T✻XP Distagon 27 mm T1.3 * Master Prime T✻XP Distagon 32 mm T1.3 * Master Prime T✻XP Distagon 35 mm T1.3 * Master Prime T✻XP Distagon 40 mm T1.3 * Master Prime T✻XP Planar 50 mm T1.3 * Master Prime T✻XP Planar 65 mm T1.3 * Master Prime T✻XP Sonnar 75 mm T1.3 * Master Prime T✻XP Sonnar 100 mm T1.3 * Master Prime T✻XP Sonnar 150 mm T1.3 * Master Zoom T✻XP 16.5–110 mm T2.6 * Master Macro T✻XP Makro-Planar 100 mm T2.0/T4.3 * Lightweight Zoom LWZ.2 T✻XP Vario-Sonnar 15.5–45 mm T2.6 * Ultra Prime 8R T✻ Distagon 8 mm T2.8 * Ultra Prime T✻ Distagon 10 mm T2.1 * Ultra Prime T✻ Distagon 12 mm T1.9 * Ultra Prime T✻ Distagon 14 mm T1.9 * Ultra Prime T✻ Distagon 16 mm T1.9 * Ultra Prime T✻ Distagon 20 mm T1.9 * Ultra Prime T✻ Distagon 24 mm T1.9 * Ultra Prime T✻ Distagon 28 mm T1.9 * Ultra Prime T✻ Distagon 32 mm T1.9 * Ultra Prime T✻ Distagon 40 mm T1.9 * Ultra Prime T✻ Planar 50 mm T1.9 * Ultra Prime T✻ Planar 65 mm T1.9 * Ultra Prime T✻ Planar 85 mm T1.9 * Ultra Prime T✻ Sonnar 100 mm T1.9 * Ultra Prime T✻ Sonnar 135 mm T1.9 * Ultra Prime T✻ Sonnar 180 mm T1.9
* Compact Prime CP.2 T✻ Distagon 18 mm T3.6 * Compact Prime CP.2 T✻XP Distagon 21 mm T2.9 * Compact Prime CP.2 T✻XP Distagon 25 mm T2.9 * Compact Prime CP.2 T✻XP Distagon 28 mm T2.1 * Compact Prime CP.2 T✻XP Distagon 35 mm T2.1 * Compact Prime CP.2 T✻XP Distagon 50 mm T2.1 * Compact Prime CP.2 T✻ Planar 50 mm T2.1 Macro * Compact Prime CP.2 T✻ Planar 85 mm T2.1 * Compact Prime CP.2 T✻ Makro-Planar 100 mm T2.1 CF * Ultra 16 T✻XP Distagon 6 mm T1.3 * Ultra 16 T✻XP Distagon 8 mm T1.3 * Ultra 16 T✻XP Distagon 9.5 mm T1.3 * Ultra 16 T✻XP Distagon 12 mm T1.3 * Ultra 16 T✻XP Distagon 14 mm T1.3 * Ultra 16 T✻XP Distagon 18 mm T1.3 * Ultra 16 T✻XP Distagon 25 mm T1.3 * Ultra 16 T✻XP Planar 35 mm T1.3 * Ultra 16 T✻XP Planar 50 mm T1.3 * DigiPrime T✻ 3.9 mm T1.9 * DigiPrime T✻ 5 mm T1.9 * DigiPrime T✻ 7 mm T1.6 * DigiPrime T✻ 10 mm T1.6 * DigiPrime T✻ 14 mm T1.6 * DigiPrime T✻ 20 mm T1.6 * DigiPrime T✻ 28 mm T1.6 * DigiPrime T✻ 40 mm T1.6 * DigiPrime T✻ 52 mm T1.6 * DigiPrime T✻ 70 mm T1.6 * DigiPrime T✻ 135 mm T1.9 * DigiZoom T✻ Vario-Sonnar 6–24 mm T1.9 * DigiZoom T✻ Vario-Sonnar 17–112 mm T1.9


Medium-format lenses

Carl Zeiss AG has produced lenses for Hasselblad and Rollei cameras, including:
* CFi/CFE-Lenses for Hasselblad 500 (V System) ** F-Distagon T✻ 30mm ƒ/3.5 ** Distagon T✻ 40mm ƒ/4 ** Distagon T✻ 50mm ƒ/4 ** Distagon T✻ 50mm ƒ/4 ZV ** Distagon T✻ 60mm ƒ/3.5 ** Planar T✻ 80mm ƒ/2,8 ** Planar T✻ 100mm ƒ/3.5 ** Makro-Planar T✻ 120mm ƒ/4 ** Makro-Planar T✻ 120mm ƒ/4 ZV ** Sonnar T✻ 150mm ƒ/4 ** Sonnar T✻ 180mm ƒ/4 ** Sonnar T✻ 250mm ƒ/5.6 ** Tele-Superachromat T✻ 350mm ƒ/5,6 * FE-Lenses for Hasselblad 200 ** Distagon T✻ 50mm ƒ/2,8 FE ** Planar T✻ 110mm ƒ/2 FE
* Hasselblad SWC Biogon 38mm ƒ/4.5 * Rollei 6000 system ** F-Distagon 30mm ƒ/3.5 HFT PQ ** Distagon 40mm ƒ/4 FLE HFT ** Distagon 50mm ƒ/4 FLE HFT ** Distagon 60mm ƒ/3.5 HFT PQ ** Planar 80mm ƒ/2.8 HFT PQS ** Planar 110mm ƒ/2 HFT PQ ** Sonnar 150mm ƒ/4 HFT PQS ** Sonnar 250mm ƒ/5.6 HFT PQS ** Makro-Planar 120mm ƒ/4 HFT PQS * Rolleiflex TLR ** Tessar 75mm ƒ/3.5 ** Planar 80mm ƒ/2.8 ** Distagon 55mm ƒ/4


Large-format lenses

Zeiss has produced lenses for
large format Large format photography refers to any imaging format of or larger. Large format is larger than "medium format", the or size of Hasselblad, Mamiya, Rollei, Kowa, and Pentax cameras (using 120 film, 120- and 220-roll film), and much la ...
and press cameras, including:
* Tessar lenses (4 elements in 3 groups) ** Tessar 100mm ƒ/3.5 (6.5×9 cm format) ** Tessar 105mm ƒ/3.5 (6.5×9 cm fmt) ** Tessar 150mm ƒ/4.5 (9×12 cm fmt) * Planar lenses (5 elements in 4 groups) ** Planar 80mm ƒ/2.8 (6×7 cm fmt) ** Planar 100mm ƒ/2.8 (6.5×9 cm fmt) ** Planar 135mm ƒ/3.5 ** Planar 135mm ƒ/3.5 T✻ ** Planar 150mm ƒ/2.8 * Sonnar lenses ** Sonnar 180mm ƒ/4.8 ** Sonnar 250mm ƒ/5.6
* Biogon lenses ** Biogon 45mm ƒ/4.5 (6×7 cm fmt) ** Biogon 53mm ƒ/4.5 (6.5×9 cm fmt) ** Biogon 75mm ƒ/4.5 (9×12 cm fmt) * Lenses for Linhof cameras ** Biogon 53mm ƒ/4.5 ** Hologon 110mm ƒ/8 ** Planar 135mm ƒ/3.5 ** Sonnar 250mm ƒ/5.6
Zeiss has departed the large-format optics field along with
Nikon (, ; ) is a Japanese optics and photographic equipment manufacturer. Nikon's products include cameras, camera lenses, binoculars, microscopes, ophthalmic lenses, measurement instruments, rifle scopes, spotting scopes, and equipment related to S ...
, leaving Schneider and Rodenstock as the primary makers of such lenses today.


ZM lenses

Zeiss ZM lenses fit Leica M mount cameras, including Leica M series, the
Ricoh GXR The Ricoh GXR is a compact digital camera first announced by Ricoh, Ricoh Company, Ltd, Tokyo on November 10, 2009. Unlike conventional cameras which either have a fixed Lens (optics), lens and Image sensor, sensor or interchangeable lens and a fi ...
A12, and many mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras through the use of adapters. Some ZM lenses are manufactured in Germany by Zeiss, others in Japan by Cosina. Lenses designated "C" are considered ''compact'' or ''classic'' lenses.
* Distagon T✻ 15mm ƒ/2.8 (Made in Germany) * Distagon T✻ 18mm ƒ/4 * Distagon T✻ 21mm ƒ/2.8 * C Biogon T✻ 21mm ƒ/4.5 * Biogon T✻ 25mm ƒ/2.8 * Biogon T✻ 28mm ƒ/2.8
* Distagon T✻ 35mm ƒ/1.4 * Biogon T✻ 35mm ƒ/2 * C Biogon T✻ 35mm ƒ/2.8 * C Sonnar T✻ 50mm ƒ/1.5 * Planar T✻ 50mm ƒ/2 * Tele-Tessar T✻ 85mm ƒ/4 * Sonnar T✻ 85mm ƒ/2 (Made in Germany)
Zeiss claims that the 25mm ƒ/2.8 ZM achieves a resolution of 400 lp/mm in the center of the image at ƒ/4, which is equal to the calculated
diffraction limit In optics, any optical instrument or systema microscope, telescope, or camerahas a principal limit to its resolution due to the physics of diffraction. An optical instrument is said to be diffraction-limited if it has reached this limit of res ...
for this aperture.


Z-series SLR lenses

Zeiss produces optically identical manual-focus lenses for multiple SLR lens mounts under the ZE, ZF, ZK, and ZS lines, manufactured in Japan by Cosina to Zeiss specifications. ZE lenses fit the
Canon EF lens mount The EF lens mount is the standard lens mount on the Canon EOS family of SLR film and digital cameras. EF stands for "Electro-Focus": automatic focusing on EF lenses is handled by a dedicated electric motor built into the lens. Mechanically, it i ...
. They feature electronic contacts allowing for focus-confirmation, and electric aperture operation as with standard Canon EF lenses. ZF series lenses fit the Nikon F-mount. Four design variations are designated ZF, ZF.2, ZF-I, and ZF-IR. All are manual-focus designs with Nikon AI-S type aperture indexing. * ZF lenses have AI-S aperture indexing, half-stop aperture ring detents, and no electronic features. * ZF.2 lenses are like ZF lenses, with the addition CPU functionality, similar to Nikon AI-P lenses. They allow electronic focus confirmation, full metering compatibility, and electronic aperture control with Nikon SLR cameras which require CPU lenses. * ZF-I lenses feature mechanical locks for focus and aperture, and additional environmental sealing, for industrial applications. * ZF-IR lenses are adapted to
infrared Infrared (IR; sometimes called infrared light) is electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with wavelengths longer than that of visible light but shorter than microwaves. The infrared spectral band begins with the waves that are just longer than those ...
imaging, with coatings that transmit wavelengths up to 1100 nm, and focus scales marked for infrared. ZK lenses fit the Pentax K-mount. They have no electronics, are manual focus only, KA couplers. Zeiss announced the discontinuation of the ZK line in September 2010. ZS lenses fit the M42 lens mount (Pentacon/Practica/Pentax screw mount). By use of mount adapters they can be adapted to most 35 mm bayonet camera mounts including Canon FD and EF, Pentax K, Minolta SR and Sony/Konica Minolta/Minolta A mounts (with the exception of Nikon F mount), usually losing open-aperture-metering, multi-segment metering, focus confirmation, automatic flash zoom capabilities as well as some built-in shake reduction performance and Exif data accuracy.


Otus lenses

Zeiss produces manual focus Otus lenses for the Nikon F-mount and Canon EF mount, with electronic features equivalent to Zeiss ZF.2 and ZE lenses respectively. Otus lenses are complex no-compromise designs which Zeiss refers to as the "best in the world" in the normal lens and short telephoto categories. They cover the 35 mm format. * Otus APO-Distagon T✻ 28mm ƒ/1.4 * Otus APO-Distagon T✻ 55mm ƒ/1.4 * Otus APO-Planar T✻ 85mm ƒ/1.4 * Otus APO-Sonnar T✻ 100mm ƒ/1.4


Batis lenses

Zeiss produces autofocus Batis lenses for the
Sony E-mount The E-mount is a lens mount designed by Sony for their NEX ("New E-mount eXperience") and Sony ILCE camera, ILCE series of camcorders and mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, mirrorless cameras. The E-mount supplements Sony's Sony α, α mount ...
. Like Sony "FE" lenses, they cover the 35mm format. * Batis Distagon T✻ 18mm f/2.8 * Batis Distagon T✻ 25mm f/2 * Batis Distagon T✻ 40mm f/2 Close-Focus * Batis Sonnar T✻ 85mm f/1.8 * Batis Sonnar T✻ 135mm f/2.8


Loxia lenses

Zeiss produces manual focus Loxia lenses for the Sony E-mount. Like Sony "FE" lenses, they cover the 35mm format. The 35/2 and 50/2 are carried over from the existing ZM line. * Loxia Distagon T✻ 21mm f/2.8 * Loxia Distagon T✻ 25mm f/2.4 * Loxia Biogon T✻ 35mm f/2.0 * Loxia Planar T✻ 50mm f/2.0 * Loxia Sonnar T✻ 85mm f/2.4


Touit lenses

Zeiss produces autofocus Touit lenses for the Fujifilm X-mount and Sony E-mount. They cover the APS-C format. * Touit 1.8/32 * Touit Distagon T✻ 12mm f/2.8 * Touit Planar T✻ 32mm f/1.8 * Touit Makro Planar T✻ 50mm f/2.8 Macro


Milvus lenses

Zeiss produces manual focus Milvus lenses for the Nikon F-mount (ZF.2) and Canon EF lens mount (ZE), covering the 35mm format. The 15/2.8, 21/2.8, 35/2, 50/2, 100/2, and 135/2 are carried over from the previous Z-series (now referred to as Zeiss Classic). * Milvus Distagon T✻ 15mm ƒ/2.8 * Milvus Distagon T✻ 18mm ƒ/2.8 * Milvus Distagon T✻ 21mm ƒ/2.8 * Milvus Distagon T✻ 25mm ƒ/1.4 * Milvus Distagon T✻ 35mm ƒ/1.4 * Milvus Distagon T✻ 35mm ƒ/2 * Milvus Distagon T✻ 50mm ƒ/1.4 * Milvus Makro-Planar T✻ 50mm ƒ/2 * Milvus Planar T✻ 85mm ƒ/1.4 * Milvus Makro-Planar T✻ 100mm ƒ/2 * Milvus APO-Sonnar T✻ 135mm ƒ/2


Super-rotator lenses

These are 360° tilt/shift lenses (based on Zeiss medium format lens designs) for 35 mm format including full-frame digital. Available mounts: Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony Alpha/Konica Minolta/Minolta A mount. Other mounts on request. Manual focus only, no electronics. Manufactured in Germany and Ukraine. * Hartblei Superrotator Carl Zeiss Distagon T✻ IF 1:4.0 40 mm * Hartblei Superrotator Carl Zeiss Planar T✻ 1:2.8 80 mm * Hartblei Superrotator Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T✻ 1:4.0 120 mm


NASA

Zeiss designed the optical components for the
James Webb Space Telescope The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a space telescope designed to conduct infrared astronomy. As the largest telescope in space, it is equipped with high-resolution and high-sensitivity instruments, allowing it to view objects too old, Lis ...
. A unique triplet of ultra-fast 50 mm lenses originally created by Zeiss for NASA's lunar program had the distinction of being reused by
Stanley Kubrick Stanley Kubrick (; July 26, 1928 – March 7, 1999) was an American filmmaker and photographer. Widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Stanley Kubrick filmography, his films were nearly all adaptations of novels or sho ...
in the filming of his historical drama '' Barry Lyndon''. The period atmosphere of the film demanded that several indoor scenes be filmed by candlelight. To facilitate this, Kubrick had the lenses modified to mount onto a cinema camera and two of them subsequently further modified in separate ways to give wider angles of view.


Smartphone lenses

Zeiss worked with
Nokia Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational corporation, multinational telecommunications industry, telecommunications, technology company, information technology, and consumer electronics corporation, originally established as a pulp mill in 1 ...
, and later with Microsoft Mobile as they continued production of the Lumia series. The Nokia 808 PureView features a lens custom-developed by Zeiss for its 1/1.2 inch sensor; as did its successor, the Nokia Lumia 1020. The Nokia N90 and Nokia N8 also used Zeiss optics. In 2017, Zeiss again provided optics for Nokia products through a collaboration with HMD Global, beginning with the Nokia 8.


ZA lenses

ZA ("Zeiss Alpha") lenses are designed and manufactured by Sony in Japan, and co-branded with the Zeiss name. Sony and Zeiss collaboratively set design and quality parameters for ZA lenses. * A-mount ZA-lenses fit the Sony Alpha/
Konica Minolta is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational technology company headquartered in Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Chiyoda, Tokyo, with offices in 49 countries worldwide. The company manufactures business and industrial imaging products, in ...
/ Minolta A-mount system. They are fully dedicated autofocus lenses with eight electrical contacts, ROM-IC, and distance encoder ("(D)-function" to support ADI flash). All except for the DT lens are full-frame lenses. ** Sony α Carl Zeiss Distagon T✻ 1:2 24 mm ZA SSM (SAL-24F20Z) ** Sony α Carl Zeiss Planar T✻ 1:1.4 50 mm ZA SSM (SAL-50F14Z) ** Sony α Carl Zeiss Planar T✻ 1:1.4 85 mm ZA (SAL-85F14Z) ** Sony α Carl Zeiss Sonnar T✻ 1:1.8 135 mm ZA (SAL-135F18Z) ** Sony α Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T✻ 1:2.8 16–35 mm ZA SSM (SAL-1635Z) ** Sony α Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T✻ 1:2.8 16–35 mm ZA SSM II (SAL-1635Z2) ** Sony α Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T✻ DT 1:3.5–1:4.5 16–80 mm ZA (SAL-1680Z) ** Sony α Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T✻ 1:2.8 24–70 mm ZA SSM (SAL-2470Z) ** Sony α Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T✻ 1:2.8 24–70 mm ZA SSM II (SAL-2470Z2) * E-mount ZA-lenses are fully dedicated Sony E-mount autofocus lenses. Lenses carrying the E designation cover the APS-C format, while lenses designated FE cover 35mm format. ** Sony α Carl Zeiss Sonnar T✻ E 1:1.8 24 mm ZA ( SEL-24F18Z) ** Sony α Zeiss Distagon T✻ FE 1:1.4 35 mm ZA ( SEL-35F14Z) ** Sony α Carl Zeiss Sonnar T✻ FE 1:2.8 35 mm ZA ( SEL-35F28Z) ** Sony α Zeiss Planar T✻ FE 1:1.4 50 mm ZA ( SEL-50F14Z) ** Sony α Carl Zeiss Sonnar T✻ FE 1:1.8 55 mm ZA ( SEL-55F18Z) ** Sony α Zeiss Vario-Tessar T✻ FE 1:4 16–35 mm ZA OSS ( SEL-1635Z) ** Sony α Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar T✻ E 1:4 16–70 mm ZA OSS ( SEL-1670Z) ** Sony α Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar T✻ FE 1:4 24–70 mm ZA OSS ( SEL-2470Z) In addition to these Sony collaboration lenses, Zeiss offers Touit ( APS-C format), Loxia (35mm format) and Batis (35mm format) lenses for E-mount.


Other products

Zeiss offers a wide range of products related to optics and vision. These include camera and cine lenses, microscopes and microscopy software, binoculars and spotting scopes, eyeglasses and lenses, planetariums and dome video-systems, optical sensors, industrial metrology systems and
ophthalmology Ophthalmology (, ) is the branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and surgery of eye diseases and disorders. An ophthalmologist is a physician who undergoes subspecialty training in medical and surgical eye care. Following a ...
products. Even video glasses belong to the product range. In the summer of 2012, the new video glasses Cinemizer OLED were to come on the market. In addition to the viewing of 2D and 3D movies, it will be possible to play
computer games A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...
when fitted with the equipment. The largest part of Carl Zeiss AG's revenue is generated by its Semiconductor Manufacturing Technologies division, which produces lithographic systems for the semiconductor industry, as well as process control solutions (electron microscopes, mask repair tools, helium ion microscopes).Slides of Half-Year Press Conference for fiscal year 2007/08, 29 May 2008


Sports optics

Carl Zeiss Sports Optics division produces rifle
telescopic sight A telescopic sight, commonly called a scope informally, is an optical sighting device based on a refracting telescope. It is equipped with some form of a referencing pattern – known as a ''reticle'' – mounted in a focally appropriate p ...
s, spotting scopes, binoculars, and distance measuring devices for outdoors enthusiasts. The three main product lines are the Conquest line, which is manufactured in Germany and assembled in the United States, and Victory line, which is produced entirely in Germany, and the Terra line, which is made in Asia. Since 2019 the following Zeiss sport optics products series are in production:


Binoculars

* Terra * Conquest HD * SFL * Victory HT * Victory SF * Victory RF range finding binoculars * 20 x 60 T* S


Spotting scopes

* Dialyt * Conquest Gavia * Victory Harpia


Rifle scopes

* Conquest V4 * Conquest V6 * Victory HT * Victory V8


Medical solutions

This branch of Carl Zeiss is managed by '' Carl Zeiss Meditec''. It is divided in Ophthalmology/Optometry, Neurosurgery, ENT, Spine, P&R, Dentistry, Radiotherapy and Gynecology.


Vision care

Carl Zeiss Vision Care division develops, manufactures and distributes ophthalmic lenses,
optical coating An optical coating is one or more thin-film optics, thin layers of material deposited on an optical component such as a lens (optics), lens, prism (optics), prism or mirror, which alters the way in which the optic reflection (physics), reflects a ...
s, and dispensary technologies and services. Zeiss is known for ophthalmic lenses made from high
refractive index In optics, the refractive index (or refraction index) of an optical medium is the ratio of the apparent speed of light in the air or vacuum to the speed in the medium. The refractive index determines how much the path of light is bent, or refrac ...
glass, allowing stronger prescription lenses to be thinner. Their progressive lens ZEISS Progressive Individual has won multiple awards including the OLA awards in 2009 presented at Washington, D.C., and the VisionPlus or VP Awards in 2014 at Mumbai, India.


Virtual reality

Sold throug
VR Optician
(previousl
vr-lens.eu
as 'Virtual Reality Headset Prescription Lens Adapters', Carl Zeiss Vision is the lens provider for VR Optician's aftermarket prescription lens adaptors. These lens adaptors are sold for a wide variety of Virtual Reality headsets, like the Apple Vision Pro, allowing those with visual impairments to use them without wearing glasses or contact lenses.


Industrial metrology

Zeiss Industrial Metrology specializes in high-accuracy measurement systems, including coordinate-measuring machines (CMMs),
computed tomography A computed tomography scan (CT scan), formerly called computed axial tomography scan (CAT scan), is a medical imaging technique used to obtain detailed internal images of the body. The personnel that perform CT scans are called radiographers or ...
measurement machines (non-medical), optical measuring equipment, metrology software and measurement sensor systems. The Industrial Metrology subsidiary provides this equipment to a wide range of manufacturing facilities worldwide. Zeiss has manufactured coordinate measuring machines since 1919, offering very basic manually operated CMMs. In 1973, Zeiss introduced the UMM 500, using a Zeiss sensor system and
Hewlett-Packard The Hewlett-Packard Company, commonly shortened to Hewlett-Packard ( ) or HP, was an American multinational information technology company. It was founded by Bill Hewlett and David Packard in 1939 in a one-car garage in Palo Alto, California ...
computer. Zeiss has since vastly improved and diversified their product line and now feature many high accuracy CMMs, the Metrotom, a CT x-ray scanning measuring machine, with the ability to quickly and completely measure a part in 3 dimensions without ever touching the part, and the O-INSPECT, a combination optical-tactile measurement machine. Zeiss is currently a member of the International Association of CMM Manufacturers (IACMM). Many of the sensor systems produced by Zeiss are proprietary technologies, using technologies exclusively patented by Zeiss, and therefore can offer better accuracy and repeatability than its competitors. Zeiss was the first manufacturer of coordinate measurement machines to introduce
computer numerical control Computer numerical control (CNC) or CNC machining is the Automation, automated control of machine tools by a computer. It is an evolution of numerical control (NC), where machine tools are directly managed by data storage media such as punched ...
(CNC) technology to a coordinate measurement machine and was the first company to offer CNC stylus changer capability for these machines.


Semiconductor manufacturing technology

Carl Zeiss SMT systems for DUV and EUV electromagnetic radiation are used in chip-lithography machines for focusing the extremely short wavelengths. Together with the company ASML and its subsidiaries and partners Zeiss is the sole supplier of the lithography systems that are able to manufacture core layers of the latest semiconductor chips.


Microscopes

Zeiss offers different types of microscopes: *
Optical microscope The optical microscope, also referred to as a light microscope, is a type of microscope that commonly uses visible light and a system of lenses to generate magnified images of small objects. Optical microscopes are the oldest design of micros ...
s (LMs) * Laser scanning microscopes (LSMs) *
Scanning electron microscope A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is a type of electron microscope that produces images of a sample by scanning the surface with a focused beam of electrons. The electrons interact with atoms in the sample, producing various signals that ...
s (SEMs) * Scanning helium ion microscopes (SHIMs) * X-ray Microscopes (XRMs)


Fire doors

The name Zeiss Ikon can also be found in old cinemas, on fire shutters on the projection windows. These had heat fuses that melted and dropped the shutter over the hole if the film caught fire in the projection booth.


See also

* Carl Pulfrich *
Telescopic sight A telescopic sight, commonly called a scope informally, is an optical sighting device based on a refracting telescope. It is equipped with some form of a referencing pattern – known as a ''reticle'' – mounted in a focally appropriate p ...
* Walther Bauersfeld *
Zeiss projector A Zeiss projector is one of a line of planetarium projectors manufactured by the Carl Zeiss AG, Carl Zeiss Company. Main models include Copernican (1924), Model I (1925), Model II (1926), Model III (1957), Model IV (1957), Model V (1965), M ...
* Internationale Camera Actiengesellschaft


References


Further reading


Zeiss Company Timeline starting 1973

Carl Zeiss Company Timeline starting 1909


* Dierk Hobbie (2010), "The development of photogrammetric instruments and methods at Carl Zeiss in Oberkochen", Deutsche Geodätische Kommission, Reihe E, Nr. 30, Munich, Germany 2010


External links

* {{Authority control Carl Zeiss AG, 1846 establishments in the German Confederation Companies based in Baden-Württemberg Companies based in Thuringia Manufacturing companies established in 1846 German brands Lens manufacturers Optics manufacturing companies of Germany Defence companies of Germany Eyewear companies of Germany Photography equipment manufacturers of Germany *