World's First Production Zoom For 35mm, Modern Photography - 1959

[RonVol]

Amazing how, what we now take for granted, was such a radical innovation back in the 1950s.
Designed by Dr. Frank G. Back of Zoomar in Long Island New York and produced by Voigtlander in Germany, the circa-1959 36-82mm f/2.8 Zoomar was the world's first production zoom for 35mm still-cameras.

"Imagine, an f/2.8 lens for 35mm reflex cameras which zooms continuously from 36 to 82mm!"

"Sensational Optical Achievement - ZOOM LENS FOR 35mm"

"Voigtlander and Zoomar combined forces and skills to produce first variable focal length optic for use on single-lens reflex cameras"

Images below are scans from an edition of Modern Photography, 1959 - which was one of the first news articles about the new and radical lens.

More info here - https://www.cameraquest.com/ekzoom.htm

Original scans from here - https://www.flickr.com/photos/38552878@N02/albums/72157676393711334

[Peter Forsell]

Awesome! Thanks. This was so interesting that whenever you happen to come by around here I'll get you a glass (or a pint) of your favorite grown-up beverage. 

[Hugh_3170]

Ron, great post and links - many thanks.  Sadly Modern Photography and their long serving boffin Jason Schneider are now long since gone.

This would make for a great photographic quiz question:  name the nationality of the person that designed the first photographic zoom lens?  Most would opt for a Japanese or German designer.

[RonVol]

Awesome! Thanks. This was so interesting that whenever you happen to come by around here I'll get you a glass (or a pint) of your favorite grown-up beverage. 

You're welcome and thanks for the invite over a pint. Please don't let it be a Fosters!

[RonVol]

Ron, great post and links - many thanks.  Sadly Modern Photography and their long serving boffin Jason Schneider are now long since gone.

This would make for a great photographic quiz question:  name the nationality of the person that designed the first photographic zoom lens?  Most would opt for a Japanese or German designer.

You're welcome, thanks for the feedback.
You make a good point about that quiz question. I would have answered a Japanese design, one of the early Nikkors perhaps?

[Roland Vink]

This lens was followed soon after by the Nikkor 8.5-25cm (85-250mm) f/4-4.5 zoom, the world's second zoom lens for photography, and the world's first telephoto zoom. It has the dubious distinction of being the the world's first variable aperture zoom, although it is only variable wide open due to the limited diameter of some elements at telephoto setting, stopped down beyond f/4.5 is becomes a constant aperture zoom.

Nikon also had a prototype 3.5-8.5cm (35-85mm) f/2.8-4 zoom with similar focal length as the Zoomar: http://photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/Zoom_Wide/35_85.html
The main difference was the adoption of a modern two-group zoom configuration, with a variable aperture losing one stop towards the telephoto end. This allowed the lens to be smaller than the Zoomar, although it is still quite big.

[atpaula]

Thank you for sharing it.

[RonVol]

Thank you for sharing it.

You're welcome, thanks for the feedback 

[Erik Lund]

I have see this lens at reasonable prices from time to time A true piece of history! Thanks for sharing.

[RonVol]

I have see this lens at reasonable prices from time to time A true piece of history! Thanks for sharing.

When doing the research, I too was surprised to see how cheap they are, it'd be interesting to know how well they perform.

[PedroS]

Another great post
Thanks

[Erik Lund]

Prices seems to be around 400€ - Could be fun to convert one for Nikon F mount

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Most seem to be dependent on a leaf shutter unit on the camera side? seems this provides the aperture setting as well.

Maybe if the register distance suffices, one could add an F-mount bayonet to the lens, though.

Apparently these lenses are not very rare as eBay carries a handful some of which are decently priced too.

I would not expect optical wonders to manifest themselves with the zoom 36-82, but nevertheless would be an entertaining project for a rainy day.

Oops, now talking like a gear head but then I'm only human.

[Erik Lund]

Yes they seem to be around 250€ on eBay. Indeed - Great for a rainy day

Flange focal distance for Bessamatic is 45.7mm (Nikon F is 46.5) so 0.8mm needs to be cut + the thickness of donor F-Mount so definitely doable.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

I have a 35 cm f/4.5 Nikkor-T to change into F-mount as well ... Perhaps we should join forces and share a Zoomar workshop etc. just for the fun of it?