Zoom lens
Objetivo zoom de focal variable
- Date
- 1946-1959 · confidence low
- Place
- Glen Cove, New York, United States
- Credited to
- Frank G. Back (Zoomar); Roger Angénieux (Pan-Cinor)
- Field
- Communication
⚠️ Disputed: the sources disagree.
What it is
A lens with several moving groups that changes focal length continuously while keeping the image in focus. Back used it in television in 1946 and Angénieux launched the Pan-Cinor for cinema in 1950.
Earlier zooms exist (Bell & Howell, 1932, and Clile Allen's patents of 1902) without commercial success; Back, Angénieux and Voigtländer (1959) made them practical. Priority is disputed.
What it led to
- television and cinema with live variable framing
- still and video cameras with zoom
- sports and news telephoto lenses
Built on
Made possible
- Dolly zoom