Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/07/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Well, I surrender for the time being on this point. I vividly recall an authoritative source stating that Leitz contracted with Zuse in the late 1940's and worked with them to develop a computer specifically intended for lens design, and that Leitz installed such a machine (I recalled it being a Z-4 but, per Brian, I guess not) at Wetzlar shortly thereafter and used it for all lens designs following the 2/50 collapsible Summicron. Apparently, one of the driving forces behind this was Dr Walter Mandler, who insisted that a computer for lens design use be installed at Midland and this was done in 1955. As I further recall, other optical houses were a bit dismissive of Leitz' efforts and even Zeiss derogated the use of computers in the early 1950's. While I can find shards of this in Laney, Rogliatti, and Keller, I cannot put my hands on the main source at the moment. When I run across it, I'll post it. Marc Marc James Small FAX: +540/343-7315 Thalla, a Bhallagair!