Voigtländer

After gaining work experience in London, Leipzig and Prague, Johann Christoph Voigtländer received a decree from Maria Theresa in 1763 for the "production of mathematical instruments in unlimited quantities ". (Some Austrian literature considers the year 1757 to be the year of the beginning of his activities.) In 1796, he designed a dividing machine for straight gauges as well as for dividing circles. The production program with astrolabes and quadrants was supplemented by compasses, hand compasses, levelling devices and other fine mechanical products.

His grandson, Peter Wilhelm Friedrich von Voigtländer (he received a knighthood in 1866) thanks to the  introduction of Petzval's lens production and in 1840 the very first metal daguerreotype camera, placed Voigtlaender e. Cie. among the world's most renowned companies. The company operated a lens grinding machine, manufactured a basic instrument for Austrian measuring, the most precise comparator in the monarchy (4.10-4 mm), offered a full range of geodetic and mining measuring instruments. After 1849, the company had a second plant in Braunschweig, where cameras were manufactured. The Viennese company was closed down in 1868. In 1898, Voigtländer & Sohn AG was established, which then further kept changing its structure and ownership. Production priorities included the world's first zoom lens (1959). Since 1999, Voigtländer brand products have been manufactured and marketed by the Japanese optical company Cosina.