Voigtlander Zoomar and Bessamatic Deluxe (best viewed large)

The Voigtlander Zoomar 36-82mm / f2.8, introduced in 1959, was the world's first production zoom lens for a 35mm SLR. It was available in lensmounts for Voigtlander's own leaf-shutter SLRs, like this Bessamatic Deluxe, and for Exakta cameras. This lens is a serious chunk of glass -- the camera and lens together weigh about 3 pounds.

You control the zoom via a push-pull arrangement, with the focal lengths inscribed on the barrel. Focusing is done via the ribbed ring near the front of the lens. Like a lot of "two touch" zooms it's a little awkward to use without a tripod, but given that it was the only choice at the time I'm sure lots of photographers managed just fine.

Optically speaking it's not as good as the prime lenses of the day (which were very good) but it's not bad considering the design challenges involved. There's some edge distortion at certain focal lengths, especially wide open. The constant f2.8 aperture is a convenience that many later zooms would sacrifice.

Photo taken with a Pentax SMC Takumar 35/3.5 lens.

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Taken on: August 16, 2008

Tags:

Voigtlander

Zoomar

cameraportrait

lens

equipment

Bessamatic

Bessamatic Deluxe

zoom

Takumar 35/3.5

manualfocus

camera

m42

deckel

cameraporn

Exakta

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Sets appears in: • Most Interesting (automated) • Cameras and Photo Equipment

Groups appears in: • Your Camera Collection • Equipment more » • Tributes to Film Cameras • Takumar lenses m42 - film cameras only • OLD CAMERAS (NO CAMERAS) • Camera-wiki.org « less

Camera: Canon EOS 40D, 1/160 sec, ISO 640 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 40D
Exposure Time:	0.006 sec (1/160)
ISO:	640
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Partial
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop CS3 Windows
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