The Evolution Of Camera Glass Lenses: In-House Innovations

The history of the 35mm camera is a long and complex one, with many companies contributing to its development over the years. Some of the early 35mm camera companies that made their own glass lenses include:

- Minolta: One of the few camera companies that manufactured its own optical glass and lenses for its cameras.

- Nikon: One of the few remaining companies that makes most of its optical glass in-house through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Hikari Glass.

- Zeiss: Founded the Glastechnische Laboratorium Schott & Genossen in 1884, which produced optical glasses for microscopes and telescopes.

- Leica: The first 35mm film Leica prototypes were built by Oskar Barnack at Ernst Leitz Optische Werke in 1913.

- Olympus: Used Ohara glass almost exclusively, according to some sources.

- Canon: One of the major manufacturers that sourced glass from third parties to make their own lenses.

Minolta made their own lenses and optical glass

Minolta was a Japanese manufacturer of cameras, camera accessories, photocopiers, fax machines, and laser printers. The company was founded in Osaka, Japan, in 1928 as Nichi-Doku Shashinki Shoten ("Japanese-German photo company"). In 1931, the company adopted its final name, an acronym for "Mechanism, Instruments, Optics, and Lenses by Tashima".

Minolta was one of the few camera companies that manufactured its own optical glass and lenses for its cameras. The company's first camera, the "Nifcarette", was marketed in 1929 and relied on imported German technology. However, by the 1950s, Minolta was producing its own lenses and optical glass, with the introduction of the Minolta SR-2, the company's first single-lens reflex camera.

Minolta continued to innovate in the camera industry, becoming the first company to introduce a bayonet lens mount instead of a screw mount in the late 1950s. They also introduced the first commercially successful autofocus SLR line with the Maxxum series. In 1985, Minolta launched the Maxxum 7000, the world's first autofocus 35mm SLR with an in-camera autofocus motor.

In 2003, Minolta merged with Konica to form Konica Minolta, and in 2006, the company announced its withdrawal from the camera and photo business. Sony acquired a portion of its SLR camera business, including the technology for its autofocus lenses.

Nikon made their own lenses and optical glass

Nikon is a Japanese optics and photography equipment manufacturer and is the world's second-largest manufacturer of such equipment. The company was founded in 1917 as Nippon Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushikigaisha ("Japan Optical Industries Co., Ltd.") and was renamed to Nikon Corporation in 1988.

Nikon is one of the few remaining companies that makes most of its optical glass in-house, through the wholly-owned subsidiary Hikari Glass. Nikon has been headquartered in Nishi-Ōi, Shinagawa, Tokyo, where the plant has been located since 1918. The company also has a factory in Ayuthaya, Thailand, which was constructed in 1991 and has been responsible for the production of a wider range of Nikon products since 2004.

Nikon's main competitors in camera and lens manufacturing include Canon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic, Pentax, and Olympus.

Zeiss made lenses for other companies

Zeiss has a long history of manufacturing optical products and is one of the oldest and most recognisable brands of consumer cameras and lenses. The company was founded in 1846 by Carl Zeiss as a small workshop in Jena, Germany, originally producing high-quality microscopes. Over the years, Zeiss has expanded its product offerings to include premium-quality D-SLR cameras, mirrorless cameras, film cameras, photography lenses, cinematography lenses, smartphone lenses, binoculars, monoculars, riflescopes, spotting scopes, range finders, microscopes, and personal vision-care products.

In the early days, Zeiss collaborated with other companies and individuals to develop innovative products. For example, Ernst Abbe, a physics lecturer, joined the company in 1866, followed by Otto Schott, a renowned glass technologist, in 1884. Together, they worked on creating apochromatic lenses and the popular Abbe-Koenig roof prism. Zeiss has also licensed its name or technology to various other companies, including Hasselblad, Rollei, Yashica, Sony, Logitech, and Alpa.

In terms of lens manufacturing, Zeiss has had a licensing programme in place since its early days, allowing other manufacturers to produce its lenses. Over the years, its licensees have included Voigtländer, Bausch & Lomb, Ross, Koristka, Krauss, and Kodak, among others. Zeiss has also produced lenses for other camera brands, such as Hasselblad and Rollei. Additionally, Zeiss lenses have been used in camera phones, with collaborations with companies like Nokia and Vivo.

While Zeiss has a strong presence in lens manufacturing, it is worth noting that the company's largest source of revenue comes from its Semiconductor Manufacturing Technologies division, which produces lithographic systems for the semiconductor industry. Zeiss's involvement in this industry highlights its diverse capabilities and its ability to adapt to changing market demands.

Leica made their own lenses

Leica Camera AG is a German company that manufactures cameras, optical lenses, photographic lenses, binoculars, and rifle scopes. The company was founded by Ernst Leitz in 1869 in Wetzlar, Germany. The name Leica is derived from the first three letters of the founder's surname (Leitz) and the first two of the word camera: lei-ca (LEItz CAmera).

Leica continued to innovate in the field of lens design, with the Leitz APO-Telyt-R 180mm f/3.4 lens released in 1975, which was the first apochromatic lens for consumer cameras. This type of lens offers twice the strictness of anastigmatic correction, requiring rare earth or fluorite glasses with very high refractive indices and/or very low dispersion.

In addition to their pioneering work with apochromatic lenses, Leica has also been responsible for numerous other optical innovations, such as aspherical production lenses and multicoated lenses. The company's commitment to producing high-quality lenses has made them a well-known and respected brand in the world of photography.

Miranda made their own lenses

Miranda Camera Company did make their own lenses, but it is unclear whether they manufactured their own optical glass. Some sources suggest that Miranda used in-house designers but had third-party companies make their lenses. However, one source mentions that Miranda may have started manufacturing lenses towards the end of their run.

Miranda was owned by the American company AIC, which also owned the lens manufacturer Soligor. Miranda's early models came with a Soligor 50mm lens, and later models were made by Cosina and Tokina.

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