[Leica] Computer at Leica

[merlitz at gmx.de (Holger Merlitz)]

Since there exists a recent thread concerning the Noctilux and whether it 
was already done using ray-tracing on electronic computer: The answer is yes.

Leica introduced its first computer in 1952, a Zuse Z5:
http://user.cs.tu-berlin.de/%7Ezuse/Konrad_Zuse/en/rechner_z5.html

It was featuring a CPU clock speed of 40 Hz! Weight: 2 tons. The
dual range 2/50 Summicron, the Elmar 2.8/50 and the Summilux 
1.4/50 (first version) were all computed on the Z5.

On a German discussion board I found some additional information:

In Midland, the first computer was an IBM 604, purchased in 1954. They 
consumed 150.000 punch cards per month (about 10 cards were needed
to compute a single lens surface). From 1958, an IBM 650 took over, 
which was leased at IBM in Toronto. In the same year, Wetzlar purchased 
a British  Elliott 402F for its ray tracing. The same machine was 
then obtained for Midland as well and the Wetzlar one remained in 
use until 1970. It is obvious that the Noctilux was developed using
this Elliot computer.

Best regards,
Holger




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