Zeiss Biogon 75mm/f4.5 fit 4x5, Opton

[Jac@stafford.net]

Does anyone know how the Opton version of the Zeiss Biogon 75mm /F4.5 differs from the other versions?

See the big auction site Item number: 280948422757

I have searched and searched without luck. Thank you in advance,

Jac

[Dan Fromm]

Carl Zeiss (BRD) used the Opton trade name while engaged in litigation with Carl Zeiss (DDR) over rights to the Zeiss name. If you look at the engraving on the lens' trim ring, you'll see no sign of "Zeiss."

Between the time litigation started and the two firms settled Carl Zeiss (DDR) used the trade name aus Jena. After the settlement all that changed was the text engraved on lenses. 280948422757 is a perfectly normal Linhof selected 75/4.5 Biogon.

[Gem Singer]

I was told the the Zeiss products labeled "Opton" were made in West Germany to be sold in East Germany (before the wall came down).

If so, that 75 Biogon Opton was probably purchased new in East Germany in the late 1970's, or early 1980's.

[Jac@stafford.net]

Thanks, Dan, for clarifying that. Nothing special about the Opton, except perhaps to collectors.
.

[Dan Fromm]

Gem, the lens' serial number is 2552187. That spells 1958-9.

Jac, there are Planars, Sonnars, Tessars, ... engraved Opton. If you're not a stamp collector who wants to have the complete set, an Opton should be worth no more to you than the equivalent lens bearing its own trade name.

[IanG]

Maybe Dan can clarify a little more (or Arne Croell) as to the dates this covers. There were Carl Zeiss Jena lenses being sold alongside Zeiss-Opton in the early 1950's and then the plain Optons, how do the latter fit in. When did Zeiss in West Germany drop the Opton name in the west and how long did they use if for exports to the East ?

Ian

[Dan Fromm]

Ian, I can't add much more. The VM says that Opton was used into the '70s for lenses shipped to the east bloc. Not relevant to this discussion, since the lens that started it was sold to Linhof in the BRD.

[David Lindquist]

Ian, I can't add much more. The VM says that Opton was used into the '70s for lenses shipped to the east bloc. Not relevant to this discussion, since the lens that started it was sold to Linhof in the BRD.

Maybe a high ranking apparatchik seriously in to large format photography bought a full bore Linhof kit including some Linhof select lenses. Maybe there's Linhof select Opton labeled 135 mm Planar out there too? I'm semi-serious about this suggested explanation.
David

[Bob Salomon]

Maybe a high ranking apparatchik seriously in to large format photography bought a full bore Linhof kit including some Linhof select lenses. Maybe there's Linhof select Opton labeled 135 mm Planar out there too? I'm semi-serious about this suggested explanation.
David

Linhof had a very active business into the East as well as into the Western block countries during that time. So did most, if not all, the other camera manufacturers. So this could be a Linhof tested lens that was sent East with an outfit.

Many of the cameras, if not all, that went East were purchased by the state to equip photographers in those countries. I was shown some export orders for Technika outfits that the factory had received and where in the USA, the common order for a Technika was a camera and lens and maybe a lens or two with and a case and Fresnel the orders from the East were mostly the same:
Camera with 3 lenses a few Super Rollex backs, aluminum case, Multifocus finder, Anatomical grip and Fresnel. When the Eastern block bought cameras they bought complete outfits and several at a time.

[David Lindquist]

Linhof had a very active business into the East as well as into the Western block countries during that time. So did most, if not all, the other camera manufacturers. So this could be a Linhof tested lens that was sent East with an outfit.

Many of the cameras, if not all, that went East were purchased by the state to equip photographers in those countries. I was shown some export orders for Technika outfits that the factory had received and where in the USA, the common order for a Technika was a camera and lens and maybe a lens or two with and a case and Fresnel the orders from the East were mostly the same:
Camera with 3 lenses a few Super Rollex backs, aluminum case, Multifocus finder, Anatomical grip and Fresnel. When the Eastern block bought cameras they bought complete outfits and several at a time.

Thank you Bob for this very interesting bit of history.
David