It's true! The first true zoom lens was patented in 1902! But, no successful
working prototype was ever made.
The first 35mm Zoom lens was the Bell & Howell Cooke VARO, 40~120mm zoom for
35mm movie cameras, in 1932.
The 36-82/2.8 Zoomar was the world's first production zoom for 35mm STILL
cameras. Designed by Dr. Frank G. Back (of Zoomar, Long Island, New York), it
was produced by Kilfit, for Voigtlander (both of Germany) and introduced in
May of 1959, though it was not available until mid-1960. From the beginning it
was also made available in the Exakta mount, though most histories ignore this
and laud the Voigtlander version. Dr. Back is also credited with coining the
word "Zoom".
But, it was the 43~86 Nikkor Zoom -- first introduced in the Nikkorex Zoom-35
in 1963 and then, in 1964, as a separate lens in Nikon "F" mount - that made
zoom lenses a force in photography. It was inexpensive and available in
quantity but, sadly, many say also qualified as one of the worst lenses ever
made.
My first camera was the Nikkorex 35/2
(http://www.furnfeather.ca/Reviews/Nikkorex35-2.html) and oh, how I lusted
after the Zoom-35!
The Angenieux (for the Leicaflex) and later Minolta zooms that Philippe
mentions were for the "R" series. Peter is speaking of the "M" bodies, for
which, to my knowledge, the Tri-Elmars and Konica 21-335 Dual were the only
"adjustable" focal length lenses ever made.
David.
Wow, Peter, zoom lenses (the earlier leicas were either Angenieux or------
Minoltas) have been on long before man landed on the moon ;-)
No harm intended Peter, just joke/jest, David and Howard will confirm my
status, in case there's a doubt :-)
Amities
Philippe
Le 12 déc. 2018 à 12:06, Peter Stevens (Redacted sender "fritzj3" for
DMARC) <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> a écrit :
I had no idea that any manufacturer other than Leica had put multiple
focal lengths into a single lens barrel.
