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{{Short description|Series of photographic camera lenses}}
{{Infobox lens design
{{Infobox lens design
| name =Biogon
| name =Biogon
| scheme =Biogon-text.svg
| scheme =Biogon-text.svg
| year =1934
| year =1934, 1951
| author =Ludwig Bertele
| author =Ludwig Bertele
| elements =8
| elements =8
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==History==
==History==
===''Biogon'' (I), 1934===
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[[File:Bertele-Zeiss Biogon (1934).svg|thumb|left|Bertele's first ''Biogon'' (1934), from US&nbsp;2,084,309<ref name=US2084309 />]]
<gallery heights=100px widths=150px caption="''Biogon'' (I) and developments">
⚫
The first ''Biogon'' lens (2.8 / 3.5&nbsp;cm, an asymmetric design featuring seven elements in four groups) was designed in 1934 by [[Ludwig Bertele]]<ref name=US2084309>{{cite patent |country=US |number=2084309 |inventor=Bertele, Ludwig |assign=Zeiss Ikon AG |pridate=16 June 1934 |fdate=6 January 1936 |gdate=22 June 1937 |status=patent |title=Photographic lens system|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US2084309A/}}</ref> while he was working for Zeiss, as a modification of his earlier ''[[Sonnar]]'' design (1929).<ref name=Kingslake89>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofphotogr0000king/ |title=A History of the Photographic Lens |author=Kingslake, Rudolf |author-link=Rudolf Kingslake |date=1989 |publisher=Academic Press |location=San Diego, California |isbn=0-12-408640-3}}</ref>{{rp|120}} The ''Biogon'' was assigned to [[Zeiss Ikon]] [[Dresden]] and marketed with the [[Contax]] rangefinder camera. It was produced by Carl Zeiss starting in approximately 1937, first in [[Jena]], then a redesigned version was built in [[Oberkochen]]. Bertele would go on to reuse the design for the [[Wild Heerbrugg|Wild]] ''Aviotar''.<ref name=Kingslake89/>{{rp|120}}
⚫
File:Bertele-Zeiss Biogon (1934).svg|Zeiss ''Biogon'' [I] by Bertele (1934), from US&nbsp;2,084,309<ref name=US2084309 />
File:Bertele US2549159A (Aviotar, 1947).svg|Wild ''Aviotar'' by Bertele (1947), from US&nbsp;2,549,159<ref name=US254915>{{cite patent |country=US |status=Patent |number=2549159A |title=Highly corrected photographic objective having four axially air spaced components |inventor=Ludwig Bertele |assign=Wild Heerbrugg AG |pridate=August 23, 1947 |fdate=July 16, 1948 |pubdate=April 17, 1951}}</ref>
File:Jupiter-12 (Contax-Kiev lens mount).JPG|KMZ ''Jupiter-12'' lens
</gallery>
⚫
The first ''Biogon'' lens (2.8 / 3.5&nbsp;cm, an asymmetric design featuring seven elements in four groups) was designed in 1934 by [[Ludwig Bertele]]<ref name=US2084309>{{cite patent |country=US |number=2084309 |inventor=Bertele, Ludwig |assign=Zeiss Ikon AG |pridate=16 June 1934 |fdate=6 January 1936 |gdate=22 June 1937 |status=patent |title=Photographic lens system|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US2084309A/}}</ref> while he was working for Zeiss, as a modification of his earlier ''[[Sonnar]]'' design (1929).<ref name=Kingslake89>{{Kingslake-lens-history |chapter=8}}</ref>{{rp|120}} The ''Biogon'' was assigned to [[Zeiss Ikon]] [[Dresden]] and marketed with the [[Contax]] rangefinder camera. It was produced by Carl Zeiss starting in approximately 1937, first in [[Jena]], then a redesigned version was built in [[Oberkochen]].

Bertele would go on to reuse the design for the [[Wild Heerbrugg|Wild]] ''Aviotar''.<ref name=Kingslake89/>{{rp|120}} After World War II, [[Krasnogorsky Zavod|KMZ]] also reused the ''Biogon'' design for the [[Jupiter (lens)#Jupiter-12|''Jupiter-12'']].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://casualphotophile.com/2017/10/11/jupiter-12-35mm-f2-8-lens-review-playing-russian-roulette-with-a-zeiss-copy/ |title=Jupiter-12 35mm F/2.8 Lens Review – Playing Russian Roulette with a Zeiss Copy |author=Solomon, Josh |date=October 11, 2017 |website=Casual Photofile |access-date=3 April 2023}}</ref>
{{clear left}}
{{clear left}}
<gallery heights=100px widths=150px caption="''Biogon'' and antecedents">
===''Biogon'' (II), 1951===
<gallery heights=100px widths=150px caption="''Biogon'' (II) and antecedents">
File:Tronnier US1882530A (Angulon, 1930).svg|[[Schneider Kreuznach|Schneider]] ''Angulon'' by Tronnier (1930), from US&nbsp;1,882,530<ref name=US1882530>{{cite patent |country=US |number=1882530 |inventor=Albrecht Wilhelm Tronnier |assign=Jos. Schneider & Co. |pridate=July 2, 1930 |fdate=October 1, 1930 |gdate=October 11, 1932 |status=patent |title=Spherically chromatically and astigmatically corrected wide-angle lens with high aperture}}</ref>
File:Tronnier US1882530A (Angulon, 1930).svg|[[Schneider Kreuznach|Schneider]] ''Angulon'' by Tronnier (1930), from US&nbsp;1,882,530<ref name=US1882530>{{cite patent |country=US |number=1882530 |inventor=Albrecht Wilhelm Tronnier |assign=Jos. Schneider & Co. |pridate=July 2, 1930 |fdate=October 1, 1930 |gdate=October 11, 1932 |status=patent |title=Spherically chromatically and astigmatically corrected wide-angle lens with high aperture}}</ref>
File:Richter-Zeiss Topogon (1933).svg|Zeiss ''[[Topogon]]'' by Richter (1933), from US&nbsp;2,031,792<ref name=US2031792>{{cite patent |country=US |number=2031792 |inventor=Robert Richter |assign=Carl Zeiss, Jena |pridate=July 26, 1933 |fdate=July 25, 1934 |gdate=February 25, 1936 |status=patent |title=Anastigmatic objective for photography and projection}}</ref>
File:Richter-Zeiss Topogon (1933).svg|Zeiss ''[[Topogon]]'' by Richter (1933), from US&nbsp;2,031,792<ref name=US2031792>{{cite patent |country=US |number=2031792 |inventor=Robert Richter |assign=Carl Zeiss, Jena |pridate=July 26, 1933 |fdate=July 25, 1934 |gdate=February 25, 1936 |status=patent |title=Anastigmatic objective for photography and projection}}</ref>
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File:Bertele US2734424A (Aviogon, 1950).svg|[[Wild Heerbrugg|Wild]] ''Aviogon'' by [[Ludwig Bertele|Bertele]] (1950), from US&nbsp;2,734,424<ref name=US2734424/>
File:Bertele US2734424A (Aviogon, 1950).svg|[[Wild Heerbrugg|Wild]] ''Aviogon'' by [[Ludwig Bertele|Bertele]] (1950), from US&nbsp;2,734,424<ref name=US2734424/>
File:Bertele-Zeiss Biogon (1951, f4.5).svg|Zeiss ''Biogon'' by [[Ludwig Bertele|Bertele]] (1951), from US&nbsp;2,721,499<ref name=US2721499/>
File:Bertele-Zeiss Biogon (1951, f4.5).svg|Zeiss ''Biogon'' by [[Ludwig Bertele|Bertele]] (1951), from US&nbsp;2,721,499<ref name=US2721499/>
⚫
File:Klemt US2781695A (Super Angulon, 1954).svg|[[Schneider Kreuznach]] ''Super-Angulon'' by Klemt (1954), from US&nbsp;2,781,695<ref name=US2781695>{{cite patent |country=US |number=2781695 |inventor=Gunter Klemt |assign=Jos. Schneider & Co. |pridate=August 31, 1954 |fdate=July 29, 1955 |gdate=February 19, 1957 |status=patent |title=Optical system with large effective image angle}}</ref>
</gallery>
</gallery>
Symmetric wide-angle lenses with meniscus elements facing the object and image had been developed in the 1930s, including the [[Schneider Kreuznach]] ''Angulon'' (Tronnier, 1930) with two outer negative menisci,<ref name=US1882530/> derived from the Goerz ''Dagor'' ([[Emil von Höegh]], 1892);<ref name=Kingslake89/>{{rp|92}} and the Zeiss ''[[Topogon]]'' (Richter, 1933) with two outer positive menisci,<ref name=US2031792/> derived from the Goerz ''Hypergon'' (1900).<ref name=Kingslake89/>{{rp|54–55;118–119}} These concepts were combined in a symmetric super-wide angle lens design using mirrored [[Angénieux retrofocus|inverted telephoto lens]]es, as patented by Roosinov in 1946.<ref name=Kingslake89/>{{rp|150}}
Symmetric wide-angle lenses with meniscus elements facing the object and image had been developed in the 1930s, including the [[Schneider Kreuznach]] ''Angulon'' (Tronnier, 1930) with two outer negative menisci,<ref name=US1882530/> derived from the Goerz ''Dagor'' ([[Emil von Höegh]], 1892);<ref name=Kingslake89-6>{{Kingslake-lens-history |chapter=6}}</ref>{{rp|92}} and the Zeiss ''[[Topogon]]'' (Richter, 1933) with two outer positive menisci,<ref name=US2031792/> derived from the Goerz ''Hypergon'' (1900).<ref name=Kingslake89-4>{{Kingslake-lens-history |chapter=4}}</ref>{{rp|54–55}}<ref name=Kingslake89/>{{rp|118–119}} These concepts were combined in a symmetric super-wide angle lens design using mirrored [[Angénieux retrofocus|inverted telephoto lens]]es, as patented by Roosinov in 1946.<ref name=Kingslake89-10>{{Kingslake-lens-history |chapter=10}}</ref>{{rp|150}}


In 1950, Bertele designed the Wild ''Aviogon'' as a similar highly-symmetric wide-angle lens with a large angular coverage.<ref name=US2734424>{{cite patent |country=US |number=2734424 |inventor=Ludwig Bertele |assign=Bertele, Ludwig |pridate=13 February 1950 |fdate=7 December 1953 |gdate=14 February 1956 |status=patent |title=Wide angle objectives of six air spaced components}}</ref> The following year, in 1951, Bertele designed a new ''Biogon'' with a 90° [[angle of view]] (Super Wide Angle).<ref name=US2721499>{{cite patent |country=US |number=2721499 |inventor=Bertele, Ludwig |assign=Bertele, Ludwig |pridate=12 July 1951 |fdate=5 July 1952 |gdate=25 October 1955 |status=patent |title=Five component wide-angle objective |url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US2721499A/}}</ref> The ''Biogon'' has been characterized as a simpler ''Aviogon''.<ref name=Kingslake89/>{{rp|151}} Compared to the ''Aviogon'', the ''Biogon'' removed a meniscus element and simplified the group ahead of the aperture.<ref name=US2721499/>
In 1950, Bertele designed the Wild ''Aviogon'' as a similar highly-symmetric wide-angle lens with a large angular coverage.<ref name=US2734424>{{cite patent |country=US |number=2734424 |inventor=Ludwig Bertele |assign=Bertele, Ludwig |pridate=13 February 1950 |fdate=7 December 1953 |gdate=14 February 1956 |status=patent |title=Wide angle objectives of six air spaced components}}</ref> The following year, in 1951, Bertele designed a new ''Biogon'' with a 90° [[angle of view]] (Super Wide Angle).<ref name=US2721499>{{cite patent |country=US |number=2721499 |inventor=Bertele, Ludwig |assign=Bertele, Ludwig |pridate=12 July 1951 |fdate=5 July 1952 |gdate=25 October 1955 |status=patent |title=Five component wide-angle objective |url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US2721499A/}}</ref> The ''Biogon'' has been characterized as a simpler ''Aviogon''.<ref name=Kingslake89-10/>{{rp|151}} Compared to the ''Aviogon'', the ''Biogon'' removed a meniscus element and simplified the group ahead of the aperture.<ref name=US2721499/>


The advent of the ''Biogon'' opened the way to extreme wide-angle lenses. The first examples were produced from 1954 as the 4.5 / 21&nbsp;mm for Contax, in 1954, 4.5 / 38&nbsp;mm for [[Hasselblad]] Super Wide, and from 1955 to 1956 as the 4.5 / 53&nbsp;mm and 4.5 / 75&nbsp;mm for [[Linhof]]. The original patent spanned three different variants, each with a different maximum aperture: {{f/}}6.3, {{f/}}4.5, and {{f/}}3.4 lenses.<ref name=US2721499 />
The first regular production ''Biogon'' lenses were produced from 1954 as the 4.5 / 21&nbsp;mm for Contax, in 1954, 4.5 / 38&nbsp;mm for [[Hasselblad]] Super Wide, and from 1955 to 1956 as the 4.5 / 53&nbsp;mm and 4.5 / 75&nbsp;mm for [[Linhof]]. The original patent spanned three different variants, each with a different maximum aperture: {{f/}}6.3, {{f/}}4.5, and {{f/}}3.4 lenses.<ref name=US2721499 />

<gallery heights=100px widths=150px caption="''Biogon'' (II) retrofocus development">
File:AEG Weitwinkelobjectiv (1932).svg|AEG ''Weitwinkelobjektiv'' (1932), from DRP&nbsp;620,538
File:Merté-Zeiss Sphaerogon (1935, fig 1).svg|Zeiss ''Sphaerogon'' by Merté (1935), from US&nbsp;2,126,126
File:Angénieux - Retrofocus (1950).svg|Angénieux ''Retrofocus'' (1950), from US&nbsp;2,649,022
File:Bertele US2730016A (Biogon 120-deg, 1952).svg|"Wide-angle lens" by Bertele (1952), from US&nbsp;2,730,016<ref name=US2730016A/>
</gallery>

The advent of the ''Biogon'' opened the way to more extreme wide-angle lenses. Bertele continued to develop his design, patenting an asymmetric wide-angle lens in 1952 that covered an astonishing 120° angle of view "and beyond, practically distortion free", by adding a strong negative meniscus front element to the ''Biogon'' design, showing influences from earlier [[fisheye lens]] designs, including the AEG ''Weitwinkelobjektiv'' (1932) and Zeiss ''Sphaerogon'' (1935, {{ill|Willy Merté|de}}), and the [[Angénieux retrofocus]] (1950).<ref name=US2730016A>{{cite patent |country=US |number=2730016A |inventor=Ludwig Bertele |assign=Bertele, Ludwig |pridate=September 8, 1952 |fdate=September 3, 1953 |gdate=January 10, 1956 |status=patent |title=Photographic wide-angle objective}}</ref>


==Examples==
==Examples==
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* [http://www.zeiss.de/C12567A8003B8B6F/EmbedTitelIntern/Biogon4.5_38mm_CFi_104942_d/$File/Biogon4.5_38mm_CFi_104942_d.pdf Biogon 1:4,5 ''f'' = 38&nbsp;mm CFi] for Hasselblad ([[Medium format (film)|Medium Format]]; PDF-File; 166&nbsp;kB)
* [http://www.zeiss.de/C12567A8003B8B6F/EmbedTitelIntern/Biogon4.5_38mm_CFi_104942_d/$File/Biogon4.5_38mm_CFi_104942_d.pdf Biogon 1:4,5 ''f'' = 38&nbsp;mm CFi] for Hasselblad ([[Medium format (film)|Medium Format]]; PDF-File; 166&nbsp;kB)
* Biogon 1:4,5 ''f'' = 53&nbsp;mm, image diameter of 115&nbsp;mm, for professional cameras up to the 6 × 9&nbsp;cm
* Biogon 1:4,5 ''f'' = 53&nbsp;mm, image diameter of 115&nbsp;mm, for professional cameras up to the 6 × 9&nbsp;cm
* [http://www.zeiss.de/C12567A8003B8B6F/EmbedTitelIntern/Biogon5.6_60mm_104800_d/$File/Biogon5.6_60mm_104800_d.pdf Biogon 1:5,6 ''f'' = 60 mm] for Hasselblad ([[Medium format (film)|Medium Format]], including the [[Apollo program|Apollo moon mission]], PDF file, 857 kB); PDF-File; 857&nbsp;kB)
* [http://www.zeiss.de/C12567A8003B8B6F/EmbedTitelIntern/Biogon5.6_60mm_104800_d/$File/Biogon5.6_60mm_104800_d.pdf Biogon 1:5,6 ''f'' = 60 mm] for Hasselblad ([[Medium format (film)|Medium Format]], including the [[Apollo program|Apollo Moon mission]], PDF file, 857 kB); PDF-File; 857&nbsp;kB)
* Biogon 1:4,5 ''f'' = 75&nbsp;mm, image diameter of 153&nbsp;mm, 92° angle, for [[Large format (photography)|large-format]] professional cameras up to 4 × 5 inches
* Biogon 1:4,5 ''f'' = 75&nbsp;mm, image diameter of 153&nbsp;mm, 92° angle, for [[Large format (photography)|large-format]] professional cameras up to 4 × 5 inches


===Influence===
===Influence===
<gallery mode=packed heights=150px widths=200px caption="Similar symmetric super-wide angle lenses">
<gallery mode=packed heights=150px widths=200px caption="Symmetric super-wide angle lenses similar to ''Biogon'' (II)">
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File:Klemt US2781695A (Super Angulon, 1954).svg|[[Schneider Kreuznach]] ''Super-Angulon'' by Klemt (1954), from US&nbsp;2,781,695<ref name=US2781695>{{cite patent |country=US |number=2781695 |inventor=Gunter Klemt |assign=Jos. Schneider & Co. |pridate=August 31, 1954 |fdate=July 29, 1955 |gdate=February 19, 1957 |status=patent |title=Optical system with large effective image angle}}</ref>
File:Schneider-Kreuznach Super-Angulon 1-8-65 (7528585730).jpg|[[Schneider Kreuznach]] ''Super-Angulon'' 65&nbsp;mm {{f/|8}} for [[Linhof]] cameras
File:Schneider-Kreuznach Super-Angulon 1-8-65 (7528585730).jpg|[[Schneider Kreuznach]] ''Super-Angulon'' 65&nbsp;mm {{f/|8}} for [[Linhof]] cameras
File:Leica Super Angulon 21mm f-4 1959 (32170504403).jpg|Licensed ''Super-Angulon'' 21&nbsp;mm {{f/|4}} for [[Leica Camera|Leica]] [[M39 lens mount|thread mount]] rangefinders
File:Leica Super Angulon 21mm f-4 1959 (32170504403).jpg|Licensed ''Super-Angulon'' 21&nbsp;mm {{f/|4}} for [[Leica Camera|Leica]] [[M39 lens mount|thread mount]] rangefinders
File:Minolta W.ROKKOR-PI 21mm f4.5 (2).jpg|''W.Rokkor-PI'' 21&nbsp;mm {{f/|4.5}} for [[Minolta SR-mount]] SLRs
File:0555 Nikkor SW 65mm f4 (9121968965).jpg|''Nikkor-SW'' 65&nbsp;mm {{f/|4}} for large format cameras
File:0555 Nikkor SW 65mm f4 (9121968965).jpg|''Nikkor-SW'' 65&nbsp;mm {{f/|4}} for large format cameras
</gallery>
</gallery>
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* ''Grandagon'', sold by [[Rodenstock Photo Optics|Rodenstock]] for large format cameras<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/rl/00863/00863.pdf |title=View Camera Lenses |website=Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library |publisher=Rodenstock Optical Works |access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Grandagon'', sold by [[Rodenstock Photo Optics|Rodenstock]] for large format cameras<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/rl/00863/00863.pdf |title=View Camera Lenses |website=Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library |publisher=Rodenstock Optical Works |access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Nikkor-O'' 2.1&nbsp;cm {{f/|4}}, sold by [[Nikon]] in both [[Nikon S-mount|S rangefinder]] and [[Nikon F mount|F SLR mounts]]; with the Nikon F, the lens must be used with the mirror locked up.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://imaging.nikon.com/history/story/0001/index.htm |title=NIKKOR-O 2.1cm F4 (No.1) |author=Sato, Haruo |website=NIKKOR - The Thousand and One Nights |publisher=Nikon Imaging |access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref> This was replaced for the SLRs by the ''Nikkor-UD'' 20&nbsp;mm {{f/|3.5}} retrofocus lens.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://imaging.nikon.com/history/story/0020/index.htm |title=NIKKOR Auto 20mmf/4 from (New) NIKKOR-UD Auto 20mm f/3.5 (No.20) |author=Ohshita, Kouichi |website=NIKKOR - The Thousand and One Nights |publisher=Nikon Imaging |access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref> Nikon also sold the ''Nikkor-SW'' line of highly symmetric super-wide angle lenses for large format cameras.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mr-alvandi.com/downloads/large-format/nikon-large-format-lenses.pdf |title=Nikkor lenses for Large-Format Cameras |publisher=Nikon Imaging |date=April 2001 |access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.graflex.org/lenses/lens-spec.html |title=Large-Format Lens Specifications |author=Gudzinowicz, Michael |website=Graflex.org |access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Nikkor-O'' 2.1&nbsp;cm {{f/|4}}, sold by [[Nikon]] in both [[Nikon S-mount|S rangefinder]] and [[Nikon F mount|F SLR mounts]]; with the Nikon F, the lens must be used with the mirror locked up.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://imaging.nikon.com/history/story/0001/index.htm |title=NIKKOR-O 2.1cm F4 (No.1) |author=Sato, Haruo |website=NIKKOR - The Thousand and One Nights |publisher=Nikon Imaging |access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref> This was replaced for the SLRs by the ''Nikkor-UD'' 20&nbsp;mm {{f/|3.5}} retrofocus lens.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://imaging.nikon.com/history/story/0020/index.htm |title=NIKKOR Auto 20mmf/4 from (New) NIKKOR-UD Auto 20mm f/3.5 (No.20) |author=Ohshita, Kouichi |website=NIKKOR - The Thousand and One Nights |publisher=Nikon Imaging |access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref> Nikon also sold the ''Nikkor-SW'' line of highly symmetric super-wide angle lenses for large format cameras.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mr-alvandi.com/downloads/large-format/nikon-large-format-lenses.pdf |title=Nikkor lenses for Large-Format Cameras |publisher=Nikon Imaging |date=April 2001 |access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.graflex.org/lenses/lens-spec.html |title=Large-Format Lens Specifications |author=Gudzinowicz, Michael |website=Graflex.org |access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''W.Rokkor-PI'' {{f/|4.5}} and ''W.Rokkor-QH'' {{f/|4}} 21&nbsp;mm lenses, sold by [[Minolta]] in [[Minolta SR mount|SR mount]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lens-db.com/minolta-wrokkor-pi-21mm-f45-1962/ |title=Minolta W.ROKKOR-PI 21mm F/4.5 |website=Lens-DB |access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://lens-db.com/minolta-wrokkor-qh-21mm-f4-1963/ |title=Minolta W.ROKKOR-QH 21mm F/4 |website=Lens-DB |access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref> These were succeeded by the ''W.Rokkor-NL'' retrofocus lens, which did not require mirror lock-up.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.subclub.org/minman/2028.htm |title=Minolta 20mm & 21mm Lenses |website=subclub.org |access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref>
* [[Minolta W Rokkor 21mm lenses|''W.Rokkor-PI'' {{f/|4.5}} and ''W.Rokkor-QH'' {{f/|4}} 21&nbsp;mm lenses]], sold by [[Minolta]] in [[Minolta SR mount|SR mount]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lens-db.com/minolta-wrokkor-pi-21mm-f45-1962/ |title=Minolta W.ROKKOR-PI 21mm F/4.5 |website=Lens-DB |access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://lens-db.com/minolta-wrokkor-qh-21mm-f4-1963/ |title=Minolta W.ROKKOR-QH 21mm F/4 |website=Lens-DB |access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref> These were succeeded by the ''W.Rokkor-NL'' retrofocus lens, which did not require mirror lock-up.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.subclub.org/minman/2028.htm |title=Minolta 20mm & 21mm Lenses |website=subclub.org |access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Fujinon-SW'', a six-element, four-group design similar to the ''Super Angulon'' sold by [[Fujifilm]] for both its line of [[Fujica]] medium format rangefinder cameras (G690/BL, GM670, GSW6xx)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lallement.com/pictures/lenses.htm |title=Fujica G690 Lenses |website=The 6x9 Photography Online Resource |access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref> and large format cameras; an improved version (8e/4g) for large format cameras with slightly greater coverage was sold as the ''Fujinon-SWD''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/rl/00886/00886.pdf |title=Fujinon Professional Lenses |website=Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library |publisher=Fujifilm |date=November 1969 |access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref>
* ''Fujinon-SW'', a six-element, four-group design similar to the ''Super Angulon'' sold by [[Fujifilm]] for both its line of [[Fujica]] medium format rangefinder cameras (G690/BL, GM670, GSW6xx)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lallement.com/pictures/lenses.htm |title=Fujica G690 Lenses |website=The 6x9 Photography Online Resource |access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref> and large format cameras; an improved version (8e/4g) for large format cameras with slightly greater coverage was sold as the ''Fujinon-SWD''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/rl/00886/00886.pdf |title=Fujinon Professional Lenses |website=Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library |publisher=Fujifilm |date=November 1969 |access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref>


Günter Klemt patented the ''Super-Angulon'' for Schneider in 1954, citing Roosinov's 1946 patent; neither of Bertele's Wild or Zeiss patents were cited;<ref name=US2781695/> The ''Super Angulon'' design shares the same six-element, four-group construction with inner cemented doublets flanked by large negative meniscus elements with the Roosinov patent, diverging significantly from Bertele's ''Aviogon''/''Biogon'' designs. The ''Super-Angulon'' bears more similarities to the prior ''Angulon'', designed by Albrecht Tronnier for Schneider in 1930 as another highly symmetric wide-angle lens with two cemented triplets.<ref name=US1882530/> A later 1957 patent by Klemt in collaboration with Karl Heinrich Macher, refining the ''Super Angulon'' design for Schneider, added citations to Bertele's patents.<ref>{{cite patent |country=US |number=2897725 |title=Optical system with large effective image angle |inventor=Günter Klemt |invent2=Karl Heinrich Macher |assign=Jos. Schneider & Co. |pridate=February 14, 1957 |fdate=February 3, 1958 |status=patent |pubdate=August 4, 1959}}</ref>
Günter Klemt patented the ''Super-Angulon'' for Schneider in 1954, citing Roosinov's 1946 patent; neither the Wild or Zeiss patents by Bertele were cited;<ref name=US2781695/> The ''Super Angulon'' design shares the same six-element, four-group construction with inner cemented doublets flanked by large negative meniscus elements with the Roosinov patent, diverging significantly from Bertele's ''Aviogon''/''Biogon'' designs. The ''Super-Angulon'' bears more similarities to the prior ''Angulon'', designed by Albrecht Tronnier for Schneider in 1930 as another highly symmetric wide-angle lens with two cemented triplets.<ref name=US1882530/> A later 1957 patent by Klemt in collaboration with Karl Heinrich Macher, refining the ''Super Angulon'' design for Schneider, added citations to Bertele's patents.<ref>{{cite patent |country=US |number=2897725 |title=Optical system with large effective image angle |inventor=Günter Klemt |invent2=Karl Heinrich Macher |assign=Jos. Schneider & Co. |pridate=February 14, 1957 |fdate=February 3, 1958 |status=patent |pubdate=August 4, 1959}}</ref>


Wild continued to refine the ''Aviogon'' and filed for a patent on a simplified design in 1952;<ref>{{cite patent |country=GB |number=733308A |title=Improvements in wide angle objectives |pridate=December 16, 1952 |fdate=December 15, 1953 |pubdate=July 6, 1955 |status=patent |assign=Wild Heerbrugg AG}}</ref> that patent, in turn, was cited by Drs. Erhard Glatzel and Hans Schulz in their 1966 patent for the ''[[Hologon]]''.<ref>{{cite patent |country=DE |number=1241637B |title=Dreilinsiges Weitwinkelobjektiv [Three-element wide-angle lens] |pridate=September 28, 1966 |fdate=September 28, 1966 |pubdate=June 1, 1967 |status=patent |assign=Carl Zeiss AG |inventor=Dr Erhard Glatzel |invent2=Dr Hans Schulz}}</ref>
Wild continued to refine the ''Aviogon'' and filed for a patent on a simplified design in 1952;<ref>{{cite patent |country=GB |number=733308A |title=Improvements in wide angle objectives |pridate=December 16, 1952 |fdate=December 15, 1953 |pubdate=July 6, 1955 |status=patent |assign=Wild Heerbrugg AG}}</ref> that patent, in turn, was cited by Drs. Erhard Glatzel and Hans Schulz in their 1966 patent for the ''[[Hologon]]''.<ref>{{cite patent |country=DE |number=1241637B |title=Dreilinsiges Weitwinkelobjektiv [Three-element wide-angle lens] |pridate=September 28, 1966 |fdate=September 28, 1966 |pubdate=June 1, 1967 |status=patent |assign=Carl Zeiss AG |inventor=Dr Erhard Glatzel |invent2=Dr Hans Schulz}}</ref>

Latest revision as of 16:11, 24 July 2024

Biogon
Introduced in1934, 1951
AuthorLudwig Bertele
Construction8 elements in 5 groups
Aperture4.5

Biogon is the brand name of Carl Zeiss for a series of photographic camera lenses, first introduced in 1934. Biogons are typically wide-angle lenses.

History

[edit]

Biogon (I), 1934

[edit]
  • Biogon (I) and developments
  • Zeiss Biogon [I] by Bertele (1934), from US 2,084,309[1]
    Zeiss Biogon [I] by Bertele (1934), from US 2,084,309[1]
  • Wild Aviotar by Bertele (1947), from US 2,549,159[2]
    Wild Aviotar by Bertele (1947), from US 2,549,159[2]
  • KMZ Jupiter-12 lens
    KMZ Jupiter-12 lens

The first Biogon lens (2.8 / 3.5 cm, an asymmetric design featuring seven elements in four groups) was designed in 1934 by Ludwig Bertele[1] while he was working for Zeiss, as a modification of his earlier Sonnar design (1929).[3]: 120  The Biogon was assigned to Zeiss Ikon Dresden and marketed with the Contax rangefinder camera. It was produced by Carl Zeiss starting in approximately 1937, first in Jena, then a redesigned version was built in Oberkochen.

Bertele would go on to reuse the design for the Wild Aviotar.[3]: 120  After World War II, KMZ also reused the Biogon design for the Jupiter-12.[4]

Biogon (II), 1951

[edit]
  • Biogon (II) and antecedents
  • Schneider Angulon by Tronnier (1930), from US 1,882,530[5]
    Schneider Angulon by Tronnier (1930), from US 1,882,530[5]
  • Zeiss Topogon by Richter (1933), from US 2,031,792[6]
    Zeiss Topogon by Richter (1933), from US 2,031,792[6]
  • Roosinov (1946), from US 2,516,724[7]
    Roosinov (1946), from US 2,516,724[7]
  • Wild Aviogon by Bertele (1950), from US 2,734,424[8]
    Wild Aviogon by Bertele (1950), from US 2,734,424[8]
  • Zeiss Biogon by Bertele (1951), from US 2,721,499[9]
    Zeiss Biogon by Bertele (1951), from US 2,721,499[9]

Symmetric wide-angle lenses with meniscus elements facing the object and image had been developed in the 1930s, including the Schneider Kreuznach Angulon (Tronnier, 1930) with two outer negative menisci,[5] derived from the Goerz Dagor (Emil von Höegh, 1892);[10]: 92  and the Zeiss Topogon (Richter, 1933) with two outer positive menisci,[6] derived from the Goerz Hypergon (1900).[11]: 54–55 [3]: 118–119  These concepts were combined in a symmetric super-wide angle lens design using mirrored inverted telephoto lenses, as patented by Roosinov in 1946.[12]: 150 

In 1950, Bertele designed the Wild Aviogon as a similar highly-symmetric wide-angle lens with a large angular coverage.[8] The following year, in 1951, Bertele designed a new Biogon with a 90° angle of view (Super Wide Angle).[9] The Biogon has been characterized as a simpler Aviogon.[12]: 151  Compared to the Aviogon, the Biogon removed a meniscus element and simplified the group ahead of the aperture.[9]

The first regular production Biogon lenses were produced from 1954 as the 4.5 / 21 mm for Contax, in 1954, 4.5 / 38 mm for Hasselblad Super Wide, and from 1955 to 1956 as the 4.5 / 53 mm and 4.5 / 75 mm for Linhof. The original patent spanned three different variants, each with a different maximum aperture: f/6.3, f/4.5, and f/3.4 lenses.[9]

  • Biogon (II) retrofocus development
  • AEG Weitwinkelobjektiv (1932), from DRP 620,538
    AEG Weitwinkelobjektiv (1932), from DRP 620,538
  • Zeiss Sphaerogon by Merté (1935), from US 2,126,126
    Zeiss Sphaerogon by Merté (1935), from US 2,126,126
  • Angénieux Retrofocus (1950), from US 2,649,022
    Angénieux Retrofocus (1950), from US 2,649,022
  • "Wide-angle lens" by Bertele (1952), from US 2,730,016[13]
    "Wide-angle lens" by Bertele (1952), from US 2,730,016[13]

The advent of the Biogon opened the way to more extreme wide-angle lenses. Bertele continued to develop his design, patenting an asymmetric wide-angle lens in 1952 that covered an astonishing 120° angle of view "and beyond, practically distortion free", by adding a strong negative meniscus front element to the Biogon design, showing influences from earlier fisheye lens designs, including the AEG Weitwinkelobjektiv (1932) and Zeiss Sphaerogon (1935, Willy Merté [de]), and the Angénieux retrofocus (1950).[13]

Examples

[edit]
Leica CL with Carl Zeiss Biogon 2,8 / 28 mm lens
Zeiss Biogon 2,8 / 21 mm lens

Since their introduction, lenses branded Biogon are usually approximately symmetrical ("semi-symmetrical") wide-angle design with a usable angle of view of 90° or more. At 90° the focal length is approximately half as long as the format's diagonal.

Well known camera manufacturers like Hasselblad have or had Biogon derived lenses to offer.

Influence

[edit]

Several companies developed and sold highly symmetric super-wide angle lenses similar to the Biogon, including:

Günter Klemt patented the Super-Angulon for Schneider in 1954, citing Roosinov's 1946 patent; neither the Wild or Zeiss patents by Bertele were cited;[14] The Super Angulon design shares the same six-element, four-group construction with inner cemented doublets flanked by large negative meniscus elements with the Roosinov patent, diverging significantly from Bertele's Aviogon/Biogon designs. The Super-Angulon bears more similarities to the prior Angulon, designed by Albrecht Tronnier for Schneider in 1930 as another highly symmetric wide-angle lens with two cemented triplets.[5] A later 1957 patent by Klemt in collaboration with Karl Heinrich Macher, refining the Super Angulon design for Schneider, added citations to Bertele's patents.[31]

Wild continued to refine the Aviogon and filed for a patent on a simplified design in 1952;[32] that patent, in turn, was cited by Drs. Erhard Glatzel and Hans Schulz in their 1966 patent for the Hologon.[33]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b US patent 2084309, Bertele, Ludwig, "Photographic lens system", issued 22 June 1937, assigned to Zeiss Ikon AG 
  2. ^ US Patent 2549159A, Ludwig Bertele, "Highly corrected photographic objective having four axially air spaced components", published April 17, 1951, assigned to Wild Heerbrugg AG 
  3. ^ a b c Kingslake, Rudolf (1989). "8. Meniscus Anastigmats". A History of the Photographic Lens. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 117–130. ISBN 0-12-408640-3. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  4. ^ Solomon, Josh (October 11, 2017). "Jupiter-12 35mm F/2.8 Lens Review – Playing Russian Roulette with a Zeiss Copy". Casual Photofile. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  5. ^ a b c US patent 1882530, Albrecht Wilhelm Tronnier, "Spherically chromatically and astigmatically corrected wide-angle lens with high aperture", issued October 11, 1932, assigned to Jos. Schneider & Co. 
  6. ^ a b US patent 2031792, Robert Richter, "Anastigmatic objective for photography and projection", issued February 25, 1936, assigned to Carl Zeiss, Jena 
  7. ^ US patent 2516724, Michael Michaelovitch Roosinov, "Wide angle orthoscopic anastigmatic photographic objective", issued July 25, 1950 
  8. ^ a b US patent 2734424, Ludwig Bertele, "Wide angle objectives of six air spaced components", issued 14 February 1956, assigned to Bertele, Ludwig 
  9. ^ a b c d US patent 2721499, Bertele, Ludwig, "Five component wide-angle objective", issued 25 October 1955, assigned to Bertele, Ludwig 
  10. ^ Kingslake, Rudolf (1989). "6. The First Anastigmats". A History of the Photographic Lens. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 81–102. ISBN 0-12-408640-3. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  11. ^ Kingslake, Rudolf (1989). "4. Early Double Objectives". A History of the Photographic Lens. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 49–68. ISBN 0-12-408640-3. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  12. ^ a b Kingslake, Rudolf (1989). "10. Reversed Telephoto Lenses". A History of the Photographic Lens. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 141–152. ISBN 0-12-408640-3. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  13. ^ a b US patent 2730016A, Ludwig Bertele, "Photographic wide-angle objective", issued January 10, 1956, assigned to Bertele, Ludwig 
  14. ^ a b US patent 2781695, Gunter Klemt, "Optical system with large effective image angle", issued February 19, 1957, assigned to Jos. Schneider & Co. 
  15. ^ "SCHNEIDER lenses" (PDF). Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library. Burleigh Brooks Inc. 1961. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  16. ^ "Leitz Wetzlar SUPER-ANGULON 21mm F/4". Lens-DB. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  17. ^ "Leitz Photographic Equipment" (PDF). Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library. E. Leitz Inc. November 1969. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  18. ^ "Leitz Wetzlar SUPER-ANGULON 21mm F/3.4". Lens-DB. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  19. ^ "Leitz Wetzlar SUPER-ANGULON-R 21mm F/3.4". Lens-DB. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  20. ^ "Leitz Wetzlar SUPER-ANGULON-R 21mm F/4". Lens-DB. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  21. ^ "View Camera Lenses" (PDF). Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library. Rodenstock Optical Works. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  22. ^ Sato, Haruo. "NIKKOR-O 2.1cm F4 (No.1)". NIKKOR - The Thousand and One Nights. Nikon Imaging. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  23. ^ Ohshita, Kouichi. "NIKKOR Auto 20mmf/4 from (New) NIKKOR-UD Auto 20mm f/3.5 (No.20)". NIKKOR - The Thousand and One Nights. Nikon Imaging. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  24. ^ "Nikkor lenses for Large-Format Cameras" (PDF). Nikon Imaging. April 2001. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  25. ^ Gudzinowicz, Michael. "Large-Format Lens Specifications". Graflex.org. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  26. ^ "Minolta W.ROKKOR-PI 21mm F/4.5". Lens-DB. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  27. ^ "Minolta W.ROKKOR-QH 21mm F/4". Lens-DB. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  28. ^ "Minolta 20mm & 21mm Lenses". subclub.org. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  29. ^ "Fujica G690 Lenses". The 6x9 Photography Online Resource. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  30. ^ "Fujinon Professional Lenses" (PDF). Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library. Fujifilm. November 1969. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  31. ^ US patent 2897725, Günter Klemt & Karl Heinrich Macher, "Optical system with large effective image angle", published August 4, 1959, assigned to Jos. Schneider & Co. 
  32. ^ GB patent 733308A, "Improvements in wide angle objectives", published July 6, 1955, assigned to Wild Heerbrugg AG 
  33. ^ DE patent 1241637B, Dr Erhard Glatzel & Dr Hans Schulz, "Dreilinsiges Weitwinkelobjektiv [Three-element wide-angle lens]", published June 1, 1967, assigned to Carl Zeiss AG 

Bibliography

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[edit]
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