ZEISS conducted thorough research and created a total of eight lens models, which were used in the Apollo program. The challenges of using camera lenses in space were addressed by:
- The cavities were opened up on all the lenses
- the apertures and focus rings altered to make them easier to use while wearing the thick gloves of their space suits
- the lenses were not edged to edge coated to prevent outgassing
- A refractive silver coating made the lenses resistant to fluctuating temperature changes outside the spacecraft
- A black coating to prevent reflections when taking photographs of objects on the outside.
Who developed these impressive camera lenses to use in space?
Many of the preeminent achievements are thanks in large part to Dr. Erhard Glatzel, and his team, Johannes Berger and Günther Lange. In the 1960s, he was one of the leading scientists and managers in the lens design department at ZEISS in Oberkochen, Germany. His creations were world-renowned, including the ZEISS Hologon and the ZEISS Planar 0.7/50. In 1966, the ZEISS Planar 0.7/50 was developed to be used in very dark circumstances. The lens was so powerful that it was used later in 1973 to film scenes lit entirely by candlelight in the movie Barry Lyndon, marking the first time in film history that it was possible to shoot without using artificial light.
In honor of the accomplishment in designing special lenses for the moon missions, Dr. Erhard Glatzel received the Apollo Achievement Award. Under his leadership, ZEISS developed more than 100 lens designs.