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Re: [OM] unusual 135f2.8

Subject: Re: [OM] unusual 135f2.8
From: "John A. Lind" <jlind@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2002 12:28:31 +0000
At 14:24 1/27/02, Alan pondered:

Anyone know much about this lens -- I guess Carson is the candian distributor
if I remember correctly. Not really interested in buying it just curious...

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1325112254

If it is what I think it is . . .
These surface occasionally, and they are NOT Carl Zeiss lenses!!!!!
They were marketed by VEB Carl Zeiss Jena in the GDR (East Germany). The record of this state-owned company is "spotty." Some lenses, especially some based on pre-war designs and patents were excellent if build quality was maintained. These lenses are NOT based on pre-war designs or patents.

VEB Carl Zeiss Jena could have been rebuilt into a company that rivaled Carl Zeiss in West Germany, but for a variety of reasons never was. With severe economic problems (late 1970's to early 1980's??) VEB Carl Zeiss Jena prostituted its name by badging its name on lenses designed and built by other manufacturers in the Pacific Rim, much like Olympus did with Cosina regarding the OM-2000 and a couple of zoom lenses specifically made for it.

**** While some of these lenses are not necessarily "bad" they are most certainly NOT worthy of the Carl Zeiss reputation (similar to an Olympus badged Cosina lens; it is not a Zuiko). ****

These lenses could *not* be exported into the U.S. with "Zeiss" or a Zeiss logo on them. Some did slip in with people buying them overseas duirng their travels or while living briefly in Europe, and bringing them back as personal property (and Customs not catching it).

--- Post-War "Zeiss" Events ---
Before WWII, the Zeiss Stiftung (foundation) was centered around Dresden and Jena. There were some facilities in and near Stuttgart that were acquired years before when Zeiss Ikon was formed out of several other camera companies. After WWII, The Zeiss Stiftung (Foundation) was moved to these facilities in the Stuttgart area to keep it out of Soviet hands. This included Schott Glass, Zeiss Ikon and Carl Zeiss. Not everything could be moved including many of the factory workers. What remained in the Jena area that wasn't moved to Stuttgart or carted off by the Soviets as war reparation became state owned VEB Carl Zeiss Jena within the GDR (East Germany).

Trademark and patent lawsuits ensued and took years to resolve. Within the U.S., the East German VEB Carl Zeiss Jena was prohibited from using the "Zeiss" name or its logos in any form. Other names such as "Jenoptik" were used instead. This was not the case within other countries; I believe France among them. In those cases, Carl Zeiss Jena was commonly used. (Pre-war patents could be used.)

After the reunification of Germany there was some thought the Zeiss Stiftung would acquire VEB Carl Zeiss Jena and bring them back into the foundation. IIRC there was some very limited asset acquisition, but for the most part it wasn't economically feasible (part of it was how the "state-owned" method of doing things structured them). Do a Google search for "Jenoptik," one of the names used by VEB Carl Zeiss Jena before Germany's reunification. It still exists as a company. Perhaps, some day, it may build itself into a respectable rival to Carl Zeiss.

-- John


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