A long way for a small Ukrainian Company!

Hartblei was founded in the mid-90s as Ukrainian Company based in Kiev. The companies original mission was to modify Kiev Cameras and Lenses by Arsenal, a big manufacturer of optical products. Arsenal was founded after WWII and developed the “Kiev” product line based upon the German Contax constructions.

Todays Hartblei workforce consists of former USSR staff, both military and civil, with a vast experience in technical development of systems for optics, air defense, and space. Antonov, who still builds the worlds largest airplane, is headquartered in Kiev. Arsenal develops cameras and lenses, e.g. highly specialized targeting units for military use. There was a tight relationship between the products of Arsenal and the “Tune Ups” developed by Hartblei.

During the past ten years, Hartblei developed the line of “Superrotators”, i.e. Shift and Tilt lenses with 2×360 degrees movements for Shift and Tilt. These were originally equipped with Arsenal medium format lenses and directly sold from the USA and the Ukraine. In our product portfolio, these were the “Russian Lenses”.

Site Link: hartblei