Arthur Seibert, lens designs

[Wayne]

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I have, in addition to finding my IIIA and IID my most used Leica cameras, become a bit absorbed by Minox subminiature cameras. The Complan lens used in the Minox B was a design of Aurthur Seibert after he left Leitz. I am having difficulty in verifying whether or not Mr. Seibert played a significant role in any of the LTM lenses of his era. Can anyone verify that he did, or did not, actively participate in design of  any of these lenses?

 

The more I experience use of the Complan, the more I stand in admiration of Arthur Seibert's craft.

 

Thanks,

 

Wayne

Edited September 6, 2018 by Wayne

[UliWer]

Even though the live and work of Max Berek is well documented there is not much to be found about the role of other people involved in lens design during the early Leica times. (The same is true for the „Mandler era“ later). I just found the information that Seibert started to work for Leitz at the age of 14 in 1920 and left in 1947. https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/wizard-of-wetzlar-arthur-seibert.36113/

 

So I presume he had no formal scientific education which would reduce him to a subordinate function, since the „Wissenschaftliche Abteilung“ (scientific department) headed by Berek and mostly occupied with microscope design seems to have had the leading role. There was also the „Rechenbüro“, which did the mathematical calculations for lenses. People who worked there were usually called „calculating servants“ - which illustrates their subordinate role.

 

Though there are also cases that people who started as „calulating servants“ later became genial lens designers: Ludwig Bertele never had a college degree and started as „Rechenknecht“ at Rodenstock, but later became the most important lens designer in the 20th century at Ernemann, Zeiss, Steinheil and Heerbrugg.

 

Perhaps it is no incident that Seibert left Leitz in 1947, when Berek died and Mandler came to Leitz. Could Seibert not attain the role he whished for at Leitz and only find it at Minox? Without further information about the organisation of lens design at Leitz and Seibert‘s role there, we can only presume.

[UliWer]

Reading further in the link I posted above it seems that Seibert mainly was occupied with microscopic optics - no wrong qualification for the Minox. He had his own optical enterprise at Wetzlar „Emo Optics“ which still exists, This indicates that he came from the microscopic branch at Leitz, which would not rule out that he also worked for photographic lenses.

 

One of his lens designs seems to be very interesting for macro photography: http://www.digicamclub.de/showthread.php?t=17447

[Wayne]

Thanks.

 

As I use the Complan (Minox) with lower ISO films (Agfa Copex) and developers (Adox and Spur) with these tiny 8x11 negatives I become more and more impressed with what Seibert accomplished with the lens design. I had read of EMO and recently ordered an Emoscop. It appears to be something just about everybody should have.

 

Best,

 

Wayne

[willeica]

Looking at Richter's book on the early Leicas, it would seem that while Berek did the original optical lens, a lot of the development of the Elmar lens ( and there was a considerable amount in the first 5 years) was under Barnack's direction. This was, presumably, because the lens was so highly integrated with the camera. The person who seems to have been in charge of that work was a man called Zuhlcke, who, according to the available documentation from that period, reported directly to Barnack on such lens development matters. Seibert was only 24 in 1930, but was already 10 years with the company. Presumably he would have been learning from Berek, Zuhlcke and Berek during that time. The person with ultimate authority over all matters relating to Leica cameras during that time was Barnack. However, Berek went on to continue to design lenses after Barnack's death in 1936 up until his own death in 1949. Seibert left shortly before that in 1947 at around the time that Mandler joined the firm. Seibert probably did work on various LTM designs, but this would have been under the direction of both Barnack, initially, and then subsequently Berek. This would have given him considerable knowledge and kudos, of course, and it would not have been surprising if other lens manufacturers came calling.

 

William

[pgk]

Seibert also designed the superb Macromax 5x Loupe which was made in Wetzlar. I have one and its really excellent. In fact it is so good that I have read somewhere that it is in fact the same as the later Leica loupe because Leica licensed the design to manufacture it. I have also owned a Leica loupe and can happily believe this.

[jaapv]

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It's an interesting factoid that he left when Mandler came. Had he been hoping for the position?

[alan mcfall]

Seibert was most likely hired away from Leitz by Richard Jurgens, a financier of Minox. Although the Minostigmat lens had been successful in the pre-war Riga Minox's, a new lens was needed for the new Minox II, to now be made in Wetzlar( reportedly made from aluminum of downed aircraft). The model II was launched in 1948 and Seibert was reportedly the primary designer of the new Pentar lens. This unique lens had 5 elements but depended on intimat contact of the rear element and the film. This quickly turned into a disaster, with dust and dirt significantly scratching the film. Seibert then designed a replacement in the respected Complan lens. Nearly all Model II's returned for service were, without acknowledgement, switched to the Complan. This rescued Minox's reputation. I have 20 Model II's, and about half have been converted to the Complan.  So, Seibert had a rough start, but no doubt, his Leitz microscope training, allowed him to emerge brilliantly.

The Minox histories are detailed in several books by: Scott Young, Morris Moses, and H.E. Heckmann.

[Wayne]

Shot recently with Seiberts five element Pentar. Ektar.

 

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