Carl Zeiss and Sinar Establish a New Strategic Cooperation

for Digital High-End Photography

Oberkochen / Feuerthalen / Cologne, September 28, 2004

The change-over from chemical film photography to direct digital exposures already makes it possible to achieve an image quality on medium format image sensors that until recently was reserved to large format cameras for chemical film. The digital medium format is thus elevated to the highest class of photography, be it as an adaptation of view cameras in studio photography or mobile with medium-format single-lens-reflex cameras. At photokina, Carl Zeiss, with its traditionally strong line of lenses for serious hobby photographers and for professional photographers who use medium format cameras, introduces the Swiss camera manufacturer Sinar as a new cooperation partner in this segment.

The program of Carl Zeiss lenses for Sinar will begin with four new Sinaron Digital AF lenses. The optical design of these lenses has been optimized for digital high-end photography, which will create a performance combination without compromises with Sinar digital cameras and Sinar digital backs with the resolution of 22 megapixels and dimensions of 49 x 37 mm (approximately 1 ¹⁵/₁₆ x 1 ⁷/₁₆ inches).

Carl J. Koch from Sinar says: "Our demanding customers have been asking for ever better high-performance lenses for their challenging shootings on location. To approach Carl Zeiss was a logical reaction for us. We are extremely pleased to be able to offer a line of products in the future that satisfies the highest professional demands, ranging from the lens to the digital image sensor, including in a compact professional camera system like the Sinar m camera."

For Christian Bannert, research and development manager of the line of business for photographic lenses at Carl Zeiss, this cooperation has an almost natural dimension: “When Sinar first approached us at photokina two years ago, we had the spontaneous impression that two related mentalities were about to create an auspicious partnership. The cultures of both companies were remarkably well matched with respect to the quest for precision and the clear policy of seeking to provide the very best equipment for professional photographers."

Along with Hasselblad, Rollei, Alpa and Kyocera with the Contax 645, Sinar is the fifth partner of Carl Zeiss in the medium format segment. Dr. Winfried Scherle, manager of the line of business for photographic lenses at Carl Zeiss is convinced that "with the cooperation with Sinar we are further expanding our strong position in the medium format segment. The Sinar platform offers excellent opportunities for growth. Deliveries of the new lenses will begin in the spring of 2005."

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