Walter Mandler (May 10, 1922 – April 21, 2005) was a famous lens designer of Ernst Leitz Canada (Leica Camera) in Midland, Ontario.
Mandler was born into a German farmer's family. In 1947 he joined Ernst Leitz at Wetzlar as a lens designer, working with Max Berek. At the same time he studied in Giessen University. Later he obtained a Bachelor degree in Physics and then a Ph.D (Summa cum Laude) in 1979.
In 1952 Ernst Leitz decided to establish Ernst Leitz Canada (ELCAN) at Midland, Ontario. Dr. Walter Mandler was one of the team member "on loan" for a short period of time. However, Dr. Walter Mandler stayed in Canada for more than half a century and became a Canadian citizen.
Dr. Walter Mandler's chief contribution to the optical engineering was his pioneering works in application of computer aided design in optical engineering. Midland optical department was specialized in the research of retrofocus designs and apochromatic corrections. Mandler employed sophisticated combinations of special glasses in his APO and high-speed designs, and many of these glasses were original Leitz formulas manufactured by Schott or Corning. Mandler was a master in optimizing Double-Gauss designs by means of the computer and a particular method developed by him and explained in his doctoral dissertation.
Walter Mandler became VP of Elcan from 1974, being an optical advisor for Leica until his retirement in 1985.
Walter Mandler died on April 21, 2005 in Midland, Ontario.
Read more about Walter Mandler: Mandler Lenses, A Valuation of Mandler's Significance, Further Reading
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