Carl Zeiss Jena 75cm f/6 Telikon Lens for RB-75/30 Aerial Camera WWII-Era

Large-format Carl Zeiss Jena Telikon aerial reconnaissance lens, 75 cm f/6, originally designed for use in the RB-75/30 high-altitude aerial camera system. These cameras were used for aerial mapping and reconnaissance photography on 30 × 30 cm film, producing highly detailed images from significant altitude. The design reflects Zeiss’s advanced optical engineering from the late 1930s through the 1940s, a period in which such lenses were integral to Luftwaffe and Allied aerial survey operations.

This example retains its original heavy black alloy mount and precise ground optics, with engraved “Bauart: Blo 1:6.3 f=75 cm” marking. It is accompanied by a vintage Mallinckrodt Chemical Works fiber drum—repurposed as protective storage, with period labeling intact. A rare and historically significant optical assembly seldom seen outside of institutional collections.

CONDITION:

In good overall condition with moderate surface wear consistent with age and handling. The lens housing shows scattered scuffs and minor finish loss at edges. Optics appear largely clear, with no evident cracks or separation; light internal dust present. The fiber drum shows aging, scuffing, and label wear but remains intact and structurally sound.

DIMENSIONS:

Lens: approximately 10 in. length × 8 in. diameter
Shipping drum: approximately 14 in. height × 13 in. diameter
Please Note: Soup for Scale in Photo

SUMMARY:

A documented example of Carl Zeiss Jena’s long-focus Telikon objective, as used in the RB-75/30 aerial reconnaissance camera. An impressive optical artifact of mid-20th-century engineering—ideal for collectors of military optics, Zeiss instruments, or museum display.