Ernemann Anastigmat Ernostar

[Deborah]

Hello,

 

I have an Ernomann Anastigmat 'Ernostar' lens - can anyone tell me a bit more about it please?

 

Many thanks.

[Dom Jaeger]

Hi Deborah,

 

one of the forum rules here is that you need to use your full name.

 

Ernemann were one of a number of photographic firms active in Dresden in the early 20th century, many of which merged in 1926 to form the legendary Zeiss Ikon. They made a few early movie cameras and projectors for amateur use, in 17.5mm and 35mm gauges, and many plate and folding cameras. In the early 20's they released what would become their greatest legacy, the Ernamox, a smallish camera taking 4.5 x 6 cm plates. What was revolutionary was not the camera but the lens, a 100mm f/2 Ernostar (very soon improved to f/1.8), which was astonishingly fast and sharp for the time. A range of focal lengths followed.

 

The Ernostar was a variation on the Cooke triplet, designed by Ernemann's precocious young lens designer Ludwig Bertele when he was only 23. He went on to work for Zeiss Ikon and produced many other great lens designs, including the Zeiss Sonnar, which was a refinement of the Ernostar. The high speed allowed candid photography that was impossible previously, and probably marks the beginnings of what we'd now call photo-journalism. The manufacture of Ernostars continued under Zeiss Ikon until the early 30s, branded Zeiss Jena.

 

The only movie cameras I know of that used Ernostars were Ernemann's Kinnette, and Ica or Zeiss Ikon Kinamos. I've seen pictures of earlier Ernemann 17.5mm 'Kino' cameras retro-fitted with them, and also certain Debrie Parvos which could take virtually any cine lens re-mounted in the Debrie mount.

[Deborah]

Hi Dom,

 

Thanks, this is fascinating, it's not that easy to find information on the lens. I have the f/1.8.

 

Deborah