Carl Zeiss Lens Division Will Assume Responsibility for Global Distribution of its Products

Carl Zeiss Press Release Summary:
Oberkochen, 16.03.2006.
Starting April 2006, the Carl Zeiss Camera Lens Division will assume full responsibility for the global distribution of its products. The division is implementing this measure in preparation for the launch of the new ZF lenses for Nikon SLR cameras and other future product lines. The company's new sales department will also be responsible for the Zeiss Ikon camera system previously distributed by a partner. The product line available for this rangefinder camera includes ZM lenses, a unique line of premium ZEISS M-mount lenses. Dr. Winfried Scherle, Vice President and General Manager in the Camera Lens Division of Carl Zeiss AG, expects significant progress to be made through this development: "Our own sales department will allow us to be considerably closer to developments on the market. We will be able to convey the benefits of our products more directly and effectively to dealers and photographers. And from them we will receive straight, truthful comments that will help us develop even more impressive products in the future."

The sales department for camera lenses will have its first branches in the key markets Europe, North America and Asia. From these locations, it will primarily utilize the expertise of experienced local and regional specialist dealers who already market Carl Zeiss lenses with such camera brands as Hasselblad or Rollei, or via Sony digital cameras. As in the past, these systems will be marketed by the camera manufacturers themselves.

In 2005, Carl Zeiss AG brought over 16 million camera lenses onto the market. The main customers are Sony, Nokia, Arnold & Richter in Munich (the world's biggest manufacturer for the equipment used in cinema and TV movie production), Hasselblad (the most important provider of professional medium format cameras in the world), as well as Band Pro Film & Video in Hollywood and the professional camera manu- facturers Alpa in Zurich, Sinar in Schaffhausen, and Rollei/Franke & Heidecke in Braunschweig.

To guarantee global availability of the Zeiss Ikon system, ZF-lenses and lens accessories, Carl Zeiss will simultaneously offer an online ordering facility on the Internet, which will be available at www.zeiss.com/photo from April 3, 2006.