• Also I missed the last line of the post 5 reference regarding possible omission of serial numbers on late production of the metal models' The earlyphotography site shows a 'First model' Brillant camera with the serial number I599847 1936). So there is considerable overlap of model types and serial numbers.
• Serial numbers for Voigtlander lenses. Binoculars, and telescopes as well as rifle and gun sights. 1899 54,896 Collinear sort lens ('omitted 55-61,000') Some of.
• Welcome to the Pentax Serial Number Database at PentaxForums.com! This database contains an ever-evolving listing of serial numbers for every kind of Pentax photographic item, including cameras, lenses, and accessories.

1. Voigtlander Binoculars Serial Numbers 22
2. Voigtlander Binoculars Serial Numbers 222
3. Voigtlander Binoculars Serial Numbers Chart
4. Voigtlander Binoculars Serial Numbers For Sale

Pair of World War I German military binoculars by Voigtlander, with a green cast metal body, the original leather case with printed paper label on the inner cover, impressed mark 'Voigtlander Braunschweig, Mod.08, No.15205, Dienstglas U.F.' , case 5.5'h x 6.5'w x 3'd.

CameraQuest Home

Thanks for visiting. As a camera dealer, collector and photographer, I've developed my own list of favorite cameras/lenses/accessories. These are some of them. This page is under continual construction and updating. At any one time, at least 10 new pages are under preparation. Older pages are sometimes updated, so if you like one of the profiles, re-visit it occasionally. Stephen Gandy, Los Angeles

IMPORTANT: ALL MATERIAL AT THIS SITE, both images and text ARE COPYRIGHTED. In practical terms this means while you are welcome to use my work for personal use, you can NOT for ANY reason copy and republish this material in any way whatsoever, including any re-use and posting of my materials on the internet for ANY purpose. If you feel a need to refer my material, give a URL saying in effect 'More information can be found at CameraQuest.'

Epson R-D1 Web Repository

May 2011: CameraQuest is the proud new home of the Epson R-D1 Web Repository written by Rich Cutler! CLICK HERE!

35mm Rangefinders in General

• Rangefinder Renaissance
• 2005: The Rangefinder Year that Was by Tom Abrahamsson
• All Format Rangefinder Mailing Listfor users and collectors of ALL RF cameras
• Rangefinder/Viewfinders: More than meets the Eye
• Accessory Viewfinders:Which to USE?

Nikon Rangefinder

• Voigtlander Bessa R2S 50/3.5 Heliar S NHS Commemorative in Classic Nikon Rangefinder Mount Nikon Historical Society - Last Production May 2005
• Voigtlander SL 12/5.6 and 15/4.5 Aspherical widest EVER for NRF
• Voigtlander Nikon Rangefinder SC Mount Lens Intro21/4, 25/4, 35/2.5 intro

• Voigtlander Nikon Rangefinder SC Lenses: SC 21/4, SC 25/4, SC 28/3.5, SC 35/2.5, SC 35/1.2 Prototpe, S 50/1.5, S 50/2.5, S 50/3.5, S 85/3.5

• Voigtlander VC Meter IIsmall compact silicon meter with LED readout for Nikon Rangefinders

• Nikon Rangefinders: Using and IdentifyingWhat are the best choices?
• Nikon One intro to the first Nikon
• Nikon One Garage Sale Treasure once in a lifetime find
• Nikon One 609350 - the 26th Nikon with the 350th top plate?
• Nikon One Mystery - are internal numbers a more accurate indication of production number than the top plate number?
• Nikon M Throwawaydumpster diving
• Nikon Sleast expensive Nikon Rangefinder
• Nikon S2nice shooter
• Nikon S2 Black DialPrototype?
• Nikon S2 Black1st Pro Nikon
• Nikon SP RangefinderSystem Overview
• Nikon SP Blackmost handsome Nikon?
• Tom Abrahamsson's Nikon SP RAPIDWINDER! production of two prototypes
• Nikon SP Illuminatora unique accessory Leica should copy
• Nikon S3M Black Half-frame w/ MotorNikon's rarest regular production camera
• Nikon S4 DDD Was the S4 inspired by famed photog David Douglas Duncan?
• Nikon SPXTTL Prototype
• Nikon S3 2000 Nikon's new classic rangefinder - black or chrome
• Nikon SP 2005 Nikon's best eye candy, amazing! black only
• 21/4 rare and sought after
• 25/4a great little super wide lens
• 35/3.5 STEREO the only Nikon Stereo ever made
• 35/1.8 All Black one of Nikons rarest lenses
• 35/1.8 fastest wide for Nikon RF
• 50/1.1 a most sought after collectible
• 50/1.4 Aluminumsuper rare experimental lens
• 50/1.5 Nikon's rare first 'Super Speed' lens
• 50/3.5 Micro NikkorNikon's 1st Micro lens
• 85/2 Fast Portrait Lens, many mounts and variations
• 85/1.5the SP's fastest telephoto
• 105/4Nikon's version of the Mountain Elmar
• 135/4 almost unknown 523 series
• 180, 350, Reflex Housing soon
• 250/4 Manual Aperture Nikkor Nikon's first Super Tele
• 500/5 Nikon original 'big gun'
• 1000/6.3 Black Mirror Nikkor - the rarest production Nikon Lens
• Nikon Copy Stand PA
• Nikon Rangefinder Rain Protector - collectors never know what they will find!

• Use classic Nikon RF Lenses on Leica RF rare Orion Lens Adapter
• Voigtlander Prominent 50mm Lens Adapter to Nikon or Contax Rangefinder

Contax Rangefinder

• Zeiss Contax 1 -- 1932 first 35 system competitor to Leica
• Zeiss Contax II and III:worthy prewar Leica adversaries
• Leica Vs Contax35's Prewar Great Debate
• Zeiss Contax IIa/IIIa Rangefinders Great lenses and workmanship
• Russian No Name Kiev 4A - 3rd version - 'World's finest 35mm Rangefinder Camera'
• Zeiss 21 Biogon historic super wide
• Cantax 28/3.5Believe it or not, a Canon 28/3.5 in Contax mount, or is it Nikon????
• Zeiss 180/2.8 Olympia post war with Flektoskop reflex housing

• Voigtlander Prominent 50mm Lens Adapter to Nikon or Contax Rangefinder

Nikon SLRs

Uli Koch's Nikon F Trilogy, by FAR the best reference book on the Nikon F EVER. If you are a serious Nikon collector, BUY IT!

• Nikon Film SLR Used Buying GuideMy Not so Objective Picks and Pans

• Nikon F Collector's BookRare Japanese Nikon F Book $125 + shipping!
• Nikon F HistoryAn important milestone in 35mm
• Early Nikon F'sVery well made, different features than later F's
• Black 64 Fwhat's the big deal?
• Nikon F? What's that? When Nikon NY did not know their new camera
• Early Nikon F Motor with Early REMOPAK cordless battery pack
• Nikon F VariationsThe books don't show all of them
• Nikkor F's for the German market
• Nikon F KS-80A/81AUS Navy special Nikon F Motor drives for the Vietnam War
• Nikon F KE-48C US Air Force Nikon F
• Nikon F US GOVT PROPERTYNikon F
• Nikon F Spy CameraNewly discovered F!
• Nikon F High Speed 250 7 fpsthe only one known!
• Nikon F 'Apollo'late Nikon F with F2 Cosmetics
• Nikon F # 7451261 very late production
• Nikon's 1st Electronic Flash Units: SB-1 & SR-1 1971`
• Nikon F2 High Speed 10 fps
• Nikon F2 R Leica R mount F2
• Nikkormat FTN mechanical little brother to the F and F2
• Gold Nikon FAEuropean Gran Prix 1984 Camera of the Year
• Gold Nikon FM 60th Anniversaryof Nippon Kogaku
• Nikon FEA Underwater Camerafor National Geographic
• Nikon FM2 Titanium Year of the Dog Total Production only 300!
• Nikon F3 NASA Space Camera
• Nikon F5 50th Anniversaryonly 3000 world wide!

• Nikon F TICK MARK Lenses -- early rare F Lenses
• 21/4 Auto Nikkor Japan's 1st SLR Super Wide
• 105/4.5 UV Nikkor rare special purpose lens
• 200/5.6 Medical Nikkor with built in ringlight and modeling lamps
• 300/2 Nikkor fastest 300 Ever!
• 1000/11Mirror Nikkor
• 1000/6.3 Mirror Nikkor for Nikon F - incredibly rare
• 8.5cm-25cm/4-4.5 Nikkor Zoom 1st production 35mm Telephoto Zoom

• US Military 35mm Cameras especially Nikon
• Nikon Non-AI, AI, AI'd and AIS LensesWhat Difference does it Make?
• Calypso Underwater Camerathe French design bought by Nikon

Leica Rangefinder M and Screw Mount Serial Numbers

LEICA SERIAL NUMBERS: Leica Serial Number data is courtesy of Leica. I've organized it in several ways, editing and color coding the tables to enhance clarity.

It answers many questions, but like all Leica lists, does not answer everything. In what may be a first, most Leica Birthdays are listed too -- another reason to have a party!

• Leica Screw Mount Serial Numbers Sorted by Serial Number 1923-1960

Leica Ponderings

• FAKE Leicas? expertly done for the rich collector

Leica M Rangefinder

• CameraQuest M2/M3 film rewind crank - the best?
• Leica M Collectible Investment GuideNot So Objective Picks and Pans
• Leica M User's Buyer's Guide:Not So Objective Picks and Pans
• Leica M Used Buyer's Check List Don't Get Taken
• Leica M a la carte Buying Guide Poor choices can mean lower resale value!
• Leica M Motors Don't Bother
• Leica M Used Market Place Things Change
• Leica M Shooting Tips Some Ways are Better than Others
• Rangefinder/Viewfinders: More than meets the Eye
• Accessory Viewfinders:Which to USE?

• M3 Black with black paint 50/2 and MC meter
• Garry Winogrand's M4Garry's last M4
• M4 Black Enamel without Self Timer, the M4 (MDa)s
• M4-P 70th AnniversaryHow Walter Kluck saved the Leica M system and Leica itself
• M5 overlooked greatness?
• Leica / Minolta CLThe Smallest M! replacement front caps and shades now available
• Minolta CLE Advanced M replacement front caps and shades now available
• M4-2 GoldOskar Barnack
• M6's Early Vs Late VariationsThe 21st Production M6
• M6 Cutawaystudent project
• M6 Platinum 150 Years of Photography1989
• M6 Columbo 921992
• M6 Panda1992- 3?
• M6 Royal-Foto Austria1993
• M6J 40th Anniversary Leica M 1994
• M6 Dragon1995
• M6 Historica1995
• M6 Royal Danish Wedding1995
• M6 Gold Thailand1996 the prettiest Leica ?
• M6 Platinum Bruckner1996
• M6 Partner Aktion1996
• M6 Benelux1996
• M6 Ein Stock1996
• M6 Jaguar XK 501998
• M6 TTL Millennium Black Paint2000 black paint returns to the M
• M6 TTL Green Paint 2001 'Millennium Safari' special order
• M6 TTL Dragon 2000 Black Paint 2000
• M6 TTL Black Paint ICS 2000
• M6 TTL LHSA Black Paint 2000
• M6 TTL Black Paint Oresund Bridge 2000
• M6 TTL Japanese Market 2000 Leica script returns on standard camera
• MP 2003 new high level mechanical M
• MP LHSA grey hammertone MP

• M Compact Street Shooterthe collapsed 50/3.5 Elmar is as small as it gets
• Zeiss 15/8 Hologon Who needs $10,000 when you have a hacksaw?
• Leitz 50/2 Summicron Dual Range close-ups to about 19'

Leica Accessories

• Voigtlander VC Meter II wonderful compact LED add on meter for non metered cameras
• Leica M Eye Glasses Scratch Protectors sold out
• Rapidwinder, son of LeicavitCanadian made Trigger Winder better than any Leica factory trigger advance
• Tom Abrahamsson's Leica Uncollectibles
• 1.25x Eyepiece Magnifier wonderful new accessory

Leica Screw Mount 'Barnack Cameras'

• Leica II 35's first system camera of 1932
• Leica IIIc K: wartime camera for cold weather
• Leica IIIf BD ST: the camera that does not exist
• Leitz' First SLR (well, almost)The Writing on the Wall

• Use Leica Screw Mount Lenses on your Leica MScrew mount to M Adapters
• Visoflex 4? Replace your antique Visoflex with a modern SLR
• Use your Visoflex Lenses & Accessories on other SLRswith new adapter

Pre-Leica 35mm Cameras

• 1914 Simplex the first 35mm still camera sold to the public - designed, produced, and sold in New York City!
• 1922 Swiss Sico pretty wooden 35

Leica SLRs

• Nikon F2 R Leica R mount F2

Cosina Voigtlander Cameras, Lenses and Accessories

• Voigtlander 35mm Rangefinder System Overview Amazing innovation, quality, low price
• Voigtlander 35mm Bessa Comparison Chart 1 Voigtlander Bessa L, Bessa R, Bessa T, Bessa R2
• Voigtlander 35mm Bessa Comparison Chart 2 Voigtlander Bessa R2A, R2M, R3A, R3M, R4A, R4M
• Voigtlander Leica Mount Lens Chart all past and current Voigtlander Leica Mount Lenses
• Voigtlander Bessa R2A, R3A AE Exposure cameras
• Voigtlander Bessa R2 Leica M Mount
• Voigtlander Bessa T 101st Heliar Anniversary Set with 50/3.5 Heliar
• Voigtlander Bessa T Profile low priced M mount rangefinder
• Voigtlander Bessa T Intro1st look at prototypes
• Voigtlander T or Voigtlander IIIf ?is the T really a IIIf update?
• Voigtlander Bessa R Rangefinder1st non Leica, M quality finder
• Voigtlander Bessa LTTL Leica Screw Mount Camera
• Voigtlander Screw Mount Lensesadd Bayonet Adapter to Use on Leica M
• Voigtlander 15/4.5 VM Leica M Mount - now rangefinder coupled!
• Voigtlander 15-35 Zoom Multi-Format Viewfinder
• Voigtlander 35/1.2 Aspherical fastest standard production full frame 35mm lens ever!
• Voigtlander 40/1.4 fastest 40mm Leica mount lens ever
• Voigtlander 50/1.1 Knock Your Socks Off Nokton! M Lens
• Voigtlander Accessoriesviewfinders, cases, grips, unique low angle finder
• Voigtlander VC Meter Imeter for non-metered classic cameras
• Voigtlander VC Meter II wonderful compact LED add on meter for non metered cameras
• Voigtlander LH-1 21/25 Shade
• Abrahamsson Rapidwinder MiniSoftRelease improve your shutter release
• Voigtlander Bessa R2S 50/3.5 Heliar S NHS Commemorative in Classic Nikon Rangefinder Mount Nikon Historical Society - Last Production May 2005
• Voigtlander SL 12/5.6 and 15/4.5 Aspherical widest EVER for NRF
• Voigtlander Nikon Rangefinder SC Mount Lens Intro21/4, 25/4, 35/2.5 intro

• Voigtlander Nikon Rangefinder SC Lenses: SC 21/4, SC 25/4, SC 28/3.5, SC 35/2.5, SC 35/1.2 Prototpe, S 50/1.5, S 50/2.5, S 50/3.5, S 85/3.5

• Voigtlander VC Meter IIsmall compact silicon meter with LED readout for Nikon Rangefinders

• Prominent 50mm Lens Adapter rare discontinued adapter to use classic Prominent 50mm rangefinder lenses on classic Nikon Rangefinder or Contax Rangefinder bodies
• Voigtlander Bessaflex TM - 42mm 'Pentax' Screw Mount SLR
• Voigtlander SL SLR Lenses 12/5.6, 15/4.5, 40/2, 58/1.4, 75/2.5, 90/3.5, 125/2.5, 180/4
• Voigtlander SL II SLR Lenses for Nikon, Canon EOS and Pentax 20/3.5, 28/2.8, 40/2, 58/1.4, 90/3.5

New Japanese Leica Screw Mount and M Mount Cameras / Lenses

• Konica 60/1.2 rare and fast Leica screw mount lens
• Yasuhara T981 Leica Screw Mount camera! - 1st production Leica Screw Mount camera with TTL metering
• Phenix JG-50a Yasuhara by any other name

• Kobalux 21/2.8Leica Screw Mount
• Kobalux 28/3.5Leica Screw Mount

Lens Adapters

• Visoflex 4? Replace your antique Visoflex with a modern SLR
• Use your Visoflex Lenses & Accessories on other SLRswith new adapter
• Use Contax RF or Nikon RF Lenses on Leica Bodies with full RF coupling!
• Classic SLR lens Adapters useful, but usually discontinued and hard to find adapters
• Voigtlander Prominent 50mm Lens Adapter to Nikon or Contax Rangefinder

Classic pre-1972 Leica Copies and Lenses

• Canon 7/7s/7sZ:Most Advanced Classic Leica Screw Mount bodies
• NEW Canon VI-L Black
• Canon VT family of innovative rangefinders
• Canon S-II Bridge of past and future
• Leotax D IV Leica CopyMade In Occupied Japan
• Nicca 5L -- Best Small Leica Type Body? Oskar Barnack's ideal camera?
• Nicca Yashica YF Little known Leica Screw Mount copy -- with improvements
• Steinheil Casca II:amazing M3 ancestor?

• Fake Russian 'Leicas'incredible innovation
• Russian 20/5.6 LTM LensSmall, Compact, Great Finder & Price
• From Russia with HumorThere's no telling what awaits in your inbox each morning.

• Nikkor Rigid 50/3.5 Close Focusalmost unknown Nikkor

• Minolta 21/4 SRT lens for your Leica
• Yashica 21/3.3nice forgotten superwide, usable on your Leica

Compact 35's

• Compact 35's of the 70'sOverview

• Konica Hexar AF Modern fast lensed camera in the 70's tradition
• Konica's Gold Hexar Special 120th Anniversary Camera
• Fuji Natura AF with 24/1.9 Lens! fast fixed lens film Point N Shoot!

• Canon G-III 17 advanced well made compact 35
• Konica S3 nice RF/VF and unique flash system
• Minolta 7sIIwell finished, average features for its class
• Olympus Pen D2f/1.9 lens and 72 shots
• Olympus RDhard to find compact RF with fast lens
• Olympus 35 RC, smallest Rangefinder 35 with AE and manual over-ride?
• Olympus 35SPunique dual metering rangefinder
• Olympus XA and XA4: Super Compact full frame 35's
• Petri Color 35 Family outstanding super compact full frame 35 design
• Rollei 35 Family and the 35 SE the last of a great line
• Yashica 35 Electro CC compact RF with great 35/1.8 lens
• Yashica 35GX hard to find RF with parallax correction
• Yashica Lynx 14E Historic AE camera design
• Yashica Lynx 14 metered manual

• Agfa Karat IV forgotten quality folder
• Agfa Ambi Silette the 'Poor Man's Leica'
• Braun Super II World's cutest interchangeable lens 35 mm rangefinder?
• Kodak Retina III Big Cover-rated?
• Kodak Retina IIIS, Surprising, modest cost Rangefinder
• Voigtlander Vitessa L most elegant 50's folder?
• Voigtlander Prominent Strange design, Super Quality leaf shutter 35 Rangefinder
• Voigtlander Prominent 50mm Lens Adapter to Nikon or Contax Rangefinder
• Zeiss Contessa a jewel of a folding 35

American Cameras

• Argus A Gold the Argus Luxus
• Argus A:the 2nd Most Important 35 of all Time
• Argus C-3'Dad Owned a C-3'
• Argus C-33the brick that wanted to be a Leica
• Argus C-4 Geiss Modifiedbest performing Argus rangefinder
• Argus C-44/R worst bayonet mount?
• Bell & Howell Foton, 1948's 6 fps high speed camerafastest mechanical motor drive
• Kodak Bantam Specialprettiest camera ever?

35mm SLRs

• Aperture Priority AE with any Pentax Screw Mount 42mm Lens

• Cosina C1s -- compact lightweight mechanical Pentax K mount
• Canon F1 High Speed 9 fps Pellicle for the 1972 Munich Olympics
• Canon T90The Best Canon Ever??
• Konica Auto-Reflexhistoric half & full frame AE exposure SLR
• Mamiya XTL advanced forgotten SLR
• Miranda Orion historic Japanese SLR and rarest Miranda
• Minolta SR-2Minolta's 1st SLR
• Olympus OM-1 GOLD
• Olympus Mystery Polaroid BackWho made it?
• Pentax Original Landmark 1957 35 mm SLR design
• Pentax Asahiflex H2my favorite Asahiflex
• Pentax Spotmatic IIahard to find outside the US
• Rollei 2000 / 3003 unheralded huge System 35
• Voigtlander Bessamatic TM - new 42mm 'Pentax' Screw Mount SLR
• Zeiss Voigtlander Icarex S 'Pro'in 42mm 'Pentax' Screw Mount
• Zunow innovative Japanese lens companyAdvanced 35 SLR and Super Fast Lenses

Exakta: inventor of the modern 35 SLR

• Exa OriginalExakta's smart marketing little brother
• Exakta 500: last and best Exa
• Exakta 66 KriegsmarineRarest Military Exakta?
• Strangest Exakta Finder?Upside down Exakta
• 36-82/2.8 Zoomar 35's 1st Zoom lens
• 40/2.8 Kilfitt Makro-Kilar1955's first 35mm SLR Macro Lens
• 60/1.5 Carl Meyer Speed-Anastigmat

Classic and Unusual 35mm Lenses

• Lomography Petzval 85mm f/2.2 new production Portrait lens - CameraQuest is a Lomography USA Art Lens Distributor
• Enna 85-250/4 Zoomrare, very well made zoom
• Kilfitt and Zoomar Lenses:Great Independent Lens Line
• Questar 700/8 Super sharp mirror lens
• Vivitar Gold 50th Anniversary Lensesonly 50 matched and numbered sets
• Zeiss 180/2.8 Sonnarpost war SLR version
• Zoomar 180/1.3 Fastest longer than 100 glass lens?

Submini: half-frame and smaller

• Ducati: Italian half frame 'mini Leica'
• Olympus Pen D2f/1.9 lens and 72 shots
• Olympus Pen F/FThalf frame SLR system
• Olympus Gastro Camera: Going where no Camera had gone before
• Pentax 110 SLRs the smallest TTL SLR's ever made & 110's largest camera system
• Robot 1:Amazing 1934 Motorized 35
• Tessina GoldAmazing 35mm twin lens reflex

120 and Larger Format

• Bronica Dvastly under-rated landmark 2 1/4 SLR
• Bronica S the D's simplified successor
• Bronica EC-TLlast of the line
• Bronica ECa great buy in medium format SLRs
• Bronica 180/2.5 Nikkorfast telephoto from Nikon Rangefinder system
• Hasselblad SWC Low Angle Finder by Voigtlander
• Rolleiflex 2.8 GX Royal Urushi -- last of the line
• Zoomar 170-320/4 ZoomRare Medium Format Zoom

• Combat Graphic 4x5 1942 GI Combat proven touch
• Dallmeyer 1000/8large format Tele
• Ernemann Klapp Tropical rare and beautiful 1904 Tropical camera
• Goerz Hypergon Legendary Super Wide Lens
• Linhof 4x5 TechnikasIf Leica built a 4x5, this would be it
• Linhof Technika Vs Speed Graphic:Both is better
• Linhof Technika V 5x7 with more features, a better 4x5 Tech than the 4x5 Tech?
• Speed Graphic Nude:What's underneath their clothes?
• Super Graphic: Best Buy in 4x5 Field Cameras
• Super Graphic Conversion to Technical Camera
• Voigtlander 80/2.3 Portrait Lens What Was It Made For?
• Voigtlander 80/2.3 Portrait Lens What Was It Made For?

Digital Cameras - OK, its a small section, but I'm not all that sure digital will last ...

• Fuji Big Job- specialized for tough construction site use

Collector's and User's Groups

• Cosina Voigtlander Users Group CVUG innovative new Cosina Voigtlander products
• Leica Users and Collectors Leica User Collector Mailing List (LUC)
• Rangefinders: Rangefinder All Format User and Collector's Mailing List
• SLRs: Manual Focus SLR User and Collector's Mailing List
• Early 35's -- Pre W.W. II 35mm Cameras Early 35mm History
• Camera Show FAQ What's a Camera Show? Ebay without the computer
• Southern California Camera Shows visit Los Angeles and buy cameras too!
• Nikon Historical Society -- become a member
• Zeiss Historica Society -- become a member

On Photography

• Combat Photography Experiencesfour wars, too many bullets
• Lens Tester's Anonymous-- Improving by Consuming
• 'Pecker': A must see Movie for Photogs

CameraQuest Home

Revised: July 18, 2020. Copyright © 1998-2017 Stephen Gandy. All rights reserved. This means you may NOT copy and re-use the text or the pictures in ANY other internet or printed publication of ANY kind. Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or mark holders.

Voigtländer (Germ. pronunciation 'FOYKT-lender') was one of the the world's longest-lived camera and lens makers. The brand is still used by other firms.

Company history

Voigtländer was founded in 1756 in Vienna, Austria by Johann Christoph Voigtländer, as a scientific instrument maker. Voigtländer was an optician and inventor, noted for his work on mathematical instruments, and held letters patent (a state-protected monopoly, the forerunner of a Patent) from the Austrian government, granting an exclusive right to carry on that business. For example, Voigtländer invented instruments for linear and circular measure (i.e. to measure and divide distances and angles with great precision) which were used for calibrating surveying and navigational instruments including astrolabes.^[1]

Voigtländer died in 1797, and the company passed to his widow and two eldest sons, Wilhelm and Siegmund. Another son, Friedrich Voigtländer, took control in 1808.

In the 19th century, Voigtländer made optical products including opera glasses and periscopic lenses. In 1840, the Hungarian Josef Petzval designed the innovative Petzval lens for Voigtländer. The lens, with the widest relative aperture of any then made (about f/3), was very successful for its intended purpose: the making of daguerreotype portraits.^[2] The wide aperture allowed a very considerable reduction in exposure times. The lens' main limitation (it only covers a narrow field of view) prevented it being adapted for other uses (landscape, for example), but does not matter for portraiture. The design was widely adopted, and Petzval lenses were made for about the next century. Voigtländer also made cameras, including the first all-metal daguerrotype camera.

In 1849 Voigtländer built a branch factory in Braunschweig (Brunswick) in Germany under the name Voigtländer & Sohn, Optical Institute, and in 1862 the company moved its headquarters to Braunschweig. In 1898 the company, until then family-owned, became a public company (i.e. sold shares on the stock market, becoming Voigtländer AG).^[3] By 1915 the company had outgrown its buildings and moved to new premises in another part of Braunschweig. Unsurprisingly, the company made some military products during the First World War.^[4]

Voigtländer remained independent after the War, when hard times (due in part to the effects of War reparations on Germany's economy) caused some other firms to enter mergers. In 1920, Rudolf Heidecke and Paul Franke, employees of Voigtländer, left the firm to form Franke & Heidecke (their first camera, the Heidoscop, bears a striking similarity to Voigtländer's Stereflektoskop; Heidecke was a designer, and it seems likely that he either had rights to this design, or had Voigtländer's blessing to use it). In 1925, Schering AG (a chemicals company) bought a majority share in Voigtländer. The company expanded its premises again in 1929. It was in the period of Schering's ownership that many of the familiar Voigtländer cameras were made, including the first Bessa. Voigtländer again made military equipment (including but not limited to aerial reconnaissance cameras, binoculars and rifle scopes) for Germany's rearmament and the Second World War, but continued development of cameras at least up to shortly before the War itself; the Bessa 466 was designed around 1938 (Voigtländer's British patent for this innovative camera was finalised in 1940, actually during the War)! During this time parts of production were moved to the Wolfenbüttel district (still on the outskirts of Braunschweig), where prisoners of war were employed.

In 1956 Schering sold its shares in Voigtländer to Carl Zeiss.

Lenses

Despite the successful early metal camera designed by Voigtländer, lenses were the company's main contribution to photography in the 19th century, and the success of Voigtländer's camera lines of the 20th century was based on the quality of its lenses. At the turn of the 20th century, Voigtländer had a branch office in New York, Voigtlander & Son Optical Co. (with no umlaut), advertising Voigtländer lenses like the Dynar for use with the better Kodak cameras.

While still in Austria, Voigtländer introduced the Petzval lens, which became a standard lens for portrait photography: Voigtländer's Petzval lenses were fitted to cameras of many makers. The lens has four elements, divided in two groups, the two front elements cemented, the two back elements just placed close to each other. The lens has a characteristic vignetting and curvature of field, but it made images which were very sharp in the centre. This and its wide aperture make it ideal for portraiture, though of little use for other photography; portrait photography was a big business, however.In 1900 Carl August Hans Harting, working for Voigtländer produced another fast lens, the Heliar, a symmetric lens, improved by him as an asymmetric design in 1902. Other fine lens designs of that time were the Dynar and Kollinear (later Collinear) lenses. During the 20th century the Skopar and Color Skopar lenses became the standard lenses for Voigtländer's own cameras. Voigtländer also made the Zoomar, the world's first interchangeable zoom lens, in 1959.^[5]

The Voigtländer camera and lens age can be determined by the serial number on the lens. See this Voigtländer lens serial-number reference to date the original production year.

Voigtlander Binoculars Serial Numbers 22

Lenses

• Collinear / Kollinear f/6.3
• Color Skopar
• Dynar f/5.5
• Dynaron
• Heliar f/4.5
• Lanthar
• Petzval portrait lens
• Radiar
• Skopar
• Skoparon
• Tele-Dynar f/6.3
• Voigtar f/6.3
• Zoomar

See here for dating the serial numbers of Voigtländer lenses.

Shutters

• Verschluss (1890), one of the first modern leaf shutters, with 4 blades

Cameras

Early cameras

• 1840: Daguerreotyp-Apparat zum Portraitiren
• 1890: Reisekamera
• 1900: Reisekamera Typ A
• Reisekamera Tropical

35mm SLR

35mm RF, interchangeable lens

35mm folding

35mm fixed lens

* Vito B, small or big finder

120 box

120 folding

• Inos I (6×9)
• Inos II (6×9) (6.5x11)
• Jubilar (6x9)
• Virtus (4.5×6)
• Prominent (6×9)
• Bessa (prewar) (6×9)
• Bessa RF (6×9)
• Bessa I (6×9)
• Bessa II (6×9)
• Bessa 46 (4.5×6)
• Bessa 66 (6×6)
• Perkeo (6×6)
• Perkeo II (6×6)
• Perkeo E (6×6)
• Rollfilmkamera (6×9)

120 TLR

127 folding

• Perkeo (3×4)

Folding plate cameras

• Alpin (9x12 and 10x15) (1906-1928)
• Alpin Rapid (9x12) (1925)
• Metall-Heliar-Kamera (9x12) (1903-1920)
• VAG

Reflex cameras

• 1905 onward: Spiegel-Reflex-Kamera (various models and sizes, 1905-1925). Some of these were also named the Heliar Reflex
• 1908: Bijou ('Miniatur-Reflex-Kamera'; 4.5x6 cm)

Stereo cameras

• 1902: Stereoskop
• 1904: Stereophotoskop (4.5×10.7 cm plates)
• 1905: Stereo and Panorama Kamera (9×14)
• 1911: Alpin Stereo (10×15)
• 1912: Spiegelreflex-Stereo
• 1914: Stereflektoskop (4.5×10.7 and 6×13 cm)

Other plate cameras

• 1903: Scheren-Camera; 9x12 cm scissor-strut hand-and-stand camera

Zeiss Ikon / Voigtländer

35mm SLR

For the Icarex line, see Zeiss Ikon.

35mm fixed lens

• Vitessa 500 L / 500 S / 500 AE electronic / 500 SE electronic / 1000 SR

126 film viewfinder

• Bessy k/ak/as/s
• Vitessa 126 CS / 126 electronic / 126 S electronic

Voigtländer (Rollei)

35mm SLR

Voigtlander Binoculars Serial Numbers 222

With 42mm screw lenses:

• VSL 2CX automatic (prototypes)

With Rolleiflex SL35 lenses:

• Vitoflex E (prototypes)

35mm rangefinder

• VF 101 (1974–76)
• VF 102 (1974, prototype)
• VF 135 (1976–80)
• VF 35F (1981)
• XF 35 (1981)

Intermediate period

35mm

• Vito

• Vito CS
• Vito C-AF

110 film pocket camera

• Vitoret 110 (1976–81)
• Vitoret 110 EL (1976–81)

Cosina and Ringfoto

Long after the demise of the original Voigtländer company, the brand was re-used by Ringfoto and Cosina.

Notes

1. ↑For example, Christie's in London sold a brass alidade by W. Voigtländer of Vienna (one of J.C. Voigtländer's sons) in June 2000. An alidade is a surveying instrument for measuring or marking the horizontal angle of sighted landmarks.
2. ↑Greenleaf, Allen R. Photographic Optics. Macmillan, New York, 1950. p67-8.
3. ↑Thus British Patent 18157 of 1897, Improvements in Photographic Objectives, is in the name of Friedrich, Ritter von Voigtländer, while US Patent 716035 of 1902, Lens, is in that of Voigtländer & Sohn Aktien Gesellschaft; both patents at Espacenet, the patent search facility of the European Patent Office.
4. ↑For example, Voigtländer binoculars at PBase.
5. ↑US Patent 2902901, Reflex camera varifocal lens, filed June 1958 and granted September 1959 to Frank Back personally, and German Patent 1094480, Pankratisches Objektiv für Aufnahme- und Wiedergabe-Zwecke (A Pancratic Objective for Taking and Projection), filed January 1959 and granted December 1960 to Voigtländer AG, citing Frank Back as the inventor; at Espacenet.

Links

• Voigtländer.de Manufacturer's site (German & English)
• Voigtländer Cameras Price Guide at CollectiBlend
• Extensive list of Voigtlander instruction manuals, PDF format, color - English at Orphancameras.com
• Voigtländer Camera Collection Good Overview, English & French

In French :

Voigtlander Binoculars Serial Numbers Chart

• Voigtländer page at Collection G. Even's site.

In German :

• lenses of Voigtländer on taunusreiter.de [1]
• Meine Voigtländer-Sammlung by Hans Lißberger
• Voigtländer on the German Wikipedia.

Voigtlander Binoculars Serial Numbers For Sale