ZEISS/IKON ROBRA LENS

Does anyone have information about ZEISS 105 mm 3.5 ANASTIGMAT ROBRA?

The information I have is that "Robra-Anastigmat" is just a rebranded lens, perhaps made by Rodenstock. It's not a Zeiss lens, and probably a simple triplet.

Thank you

"Robra" was a tradename used by Rodenstock for 3 cameras (35mm to 6x9) and the 3 respective lenses.

Some cameras were exported with no lenses fitted and the dealer then fitted the lens of the customers choice, this was particularly true of 6.5x9 and 9x12 Avus style cameras which were offered with a various lenses.

Rodenstock sold the Trinar as a fixed lens or with a front focussing cell from quite early on, I'm wondering if the Robra like my Voigtlander Avus lens is a 4 element anastigmat lens to compete with the Tessar, not quite Tessar design. I have the data for my Avus and while it's 4 elements in 3 groups (one cemented pair) it's not a Tessar type lens



The Voigtlander Skopar replaced the Avus, only when the Patent expired for the Tessar design, and was joined by the Rodenstock Ysar, Schneider Xenar and many other Tessar copies.

Rodenstock also made the Eurynar a particularly sharp Dialyte lens available in more than one speed (f3.5 and f4.5), like all uncoated Dialytes the down side is a significant drop in contrast compared to a Triplet, Tessar or other lens with 4 internal air glass surfaces..

Ian.

Ian

Ian Grant said:

Some cameras were exported with no lenses fitted and the dealer then fitted the lens of the customers choice, this was particularly true of 6.5x9 and 9x12 Avus style cameras which were offered with a various lenses.

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These thennthough were nameless camras ar cameras that got the dealer's name or brand.

Robra cameras though were made by Rodenstock and got lenses of same brand. I could not find Robra lenses listed on their own, seemingly these only were offered mounted in Robra cameras.

It's not clear if the "Robra" lenses were made by Rodenstock. They are not marked as such. Other Rodenstock branded cameras (they didn't make the cameras themselves) had Rodenstock lenses like the Eurynar, Ysar and Trinar. It's possible that some cameras had lenses from other makers that were given the "Robra" name, just as the Novars got theirs on Zeiss Ikon cameras. Rodenstock probably wanted to have a good selection of cameras under their brand, from plate cameras to smaller rollfilm cameras. Many Robra lenses have serial numbers, and it would be interesting to compare these numbers to Rodenstock lenses of the same period.

My Rodenstock 9x12. Avus style camera is actually made by Welta, but obviously made for Rodenstock rather than simply re-badged, it has a Trinar lens.

Ian

JPD said:

It's not clear if the "Robra" lenses were made by Rodenstock. They are not marked as such. Other Rodenstock branded cameras (they didn't make the cameras themselves) had Rodenstock lenses like the Eurynar, Ysar and Trinar. It's possible that some cameras had lenses from other makers that were given the "Robra" name, just as the Novars got theirs on Zeiss Ikon cameras. Rodenstock probably wanted to have a good selection of cameras under their brand, from plate cameras to smaller rollfilm cameras. Many Robra lenses have serial numbers, and it would be interesting to compare these numbers to Rodenstock lenses of the same period.

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-) Are you sure Rodenstock did not manufacture cameras themselves ? (They are listed as manufacturer of 48 models; could be toll-manufactured for them though.)

-) Being branded at least as Rodenstock cameras, why as optical work they would put /have put lenses of other manufacturers on them ?

AgX said:

-) Are you sure Rodenstock did not manufacture cameras themselves ? (They are listed as manufacturer of 48 models; could be toll-manufactured for them though.)

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All the Rodenstock cameras I have seen were made by companies like Balda, Welta and Zeh, but if you find any that were made in-house by Rodenstock I will happily accept it.

-) Being branded at least as Rodenstock cameras, why as optical work they would put /have put lenses of other manufacturers on them ?

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To have a broad repertoir in the catalog. If you took a catalog home and thought that the Clarovid with Rodenstock Ysar was too expensive, but the little Robra was cheaper and would fit more easily in the pocket, and you bought one, Rodenstock would still benefit from it.

I'm not sure if the Robra-Anastigmat lenses were made by Rodenstock or not, but if they were, why not mark them as Rodenstocks? If they were four element lenses, Rodenstock had their renowned Ysar, and they had their well known triplet Trinar. Zeiss lenses on Zeiss Ikon cameras were always marked as such, except for the Novar and Nettar lenses that were bought in from other makers.

Now when I compare the serial numbers on the Robra-Anastigmat lenses, they don't fit in the Rodenstock range. They would have been made in the 1910's. But the serial number would have fitted a lens maker like C. Friedrich nicely.

With this serial number and looks, the lens might well be a 2,9/75 C. Friedrich Corygon: https://thumbs.worthpoint.com/zoom/...olding_1_e2c294905aba6143a847dad801bac537.jpg

Rodenstock camera ad, "All price classes, all makes..."

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/...k7lJ7JS2glFrhctWQj52LFF3PVmRTHFM0ixl0Z9XFn32w