Overlooked Lens; Steinheil Culminar 85mm/2.8

O

OldNick

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One of the best kept secrets in the rangefinder world is the Steinheil Culminar 85mm f/2.8 lens, available in LTM and several other mounts. Often found on *bay for around $100USD, these lenses will compete with the name-brand lenses and give great images. I posted three images made with this lens in my gallery today, two made with a Leica IIIf and one with the equivalent lens on an Exa SLR. Take a look and enjoy.
 
I keep hoping to find one for a bit less, so 'shhh'! I have a couple of Culminar 135's, don't care for them, though they are well-made. They flare badly, even with a factory shade.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
I tried the 135 on my Leica IIIf, but didn't like to work with the small image in my Imarect finder. I swapped it for my first 85, and liked the results, though it was on an SLR and required manual aperture adjustment in order to focus. I have found that the LTM version is great on the Leica IIIa and IIIf, even though my Imarect does not have a click for 85mm. The 90mm click works ok for me.
 
Finally found an 85/2.8 Culminar for my Leica IIIf and Canon 7. A local camera shop had a consignment of Leica gear and the Culminar was being shunned by the Leicaphiles. Only $35!

I have had a 135 for many years and while it is a fine lens, the image in the Imarect finder is very tiny.

-Paul
 
Are you kidding me?!? Only $35? Did these guys also have that stamp of the airplane printed upside down? I'd like one if they sell them for $0.39

Wow. Pretty lucky. Post some shots taken with the Culminar if you get a chance.
 
That's one I keep looking for too. A great find at that price.

William
 
They had an estate collection on consignment. Apparently the heir neither knows a lot about cameras or cares to learn. I also saw a two rigid 5 cm Summicrons for $150 a piece as well as a collapsible 5 cm Summicron for $150 and three Leica IIIf bodies for $300 a piece. Originally the Culminar was intende to be a freebie for someone who bought one of the Leica bodies. The store clerk called the consignor to get an OK on my offer.

Stopped in during lunch today on a whim.

-Paul
 
Had this lens years ago with a IIIf it was a great lens. my office was broken into and it as well as the camera and several other lenses were stolen. Never got another replaced it with an M3 with the 90mm Elmarit, which is also a great lense.
 
OldNick said:
I tried the 135 on my Leica IIIf, but didn't like to work with the small image in my Imarect finder. I swapped it for my first 85, and liked the results, though it was on an SLR and required manual aperture adjustment in order to focus. I have found that the LTM version is great on the Leica IIIa and IIIf, even though my Imarect does not have a click for 85mm. The 90mm click works ok for me.
Click to expand...

I have the Exakta mount version of the 85mm f/2.8 Culminar and it does indeed take a nice image. I don't recall what I paid for it on ebay but it wasn't a whole lot....... nothing even near $100.

The Imarect has two setting marks; one for normal use at a given setting and the shorter line for close-cropping the image at any given setting. If you have the 7,3 rather than the 8,5 setting, using the short line on the 90mm setting will give you a very good 85mm view.

Walker
 
pshinkaw said:
They had an estate collection on consignment. Apparently the heir neither knows a lot about cameras or cares to learn. I also saw a two rigid 5 cm Summicrons for $150 a piece as well as a collapsible 5 cm Summicron for $150 and three Leica IIIf bodies for $300 a piece. Originally the Culminar was intende to be a freebie for someone who bought one of the Leica bodies. The store clerk called the consignor to get an OK on my offer.

Stopped in during lunch today on a whim.

-Paul
Click to expand...
Are they still available I might would like one of the rigid crons
 
Here are the test photos from my $35 85/2.8 Culminar. I shot them on an M2 using Kodak Gold 400. 1/500 @ f5.6 on a cloudy/bright day. The sky was a monochromatic gray. Scan was made from the 4X6 prints.

-Paul
 
The words and pictures here are reassuring. I have recently procured an 85/2.8 Culminar (for rather more than $35, alas) and am waiting to use it on my IIIc when that returns from a CLA. If the lens is, like the Summitar, somewhat soft at full aperture, it will suit me admirably.
 
Very impressive performance. I would venture to guess from the color saturation and contrast that the 85/2.8 had better than average coatings or perhaps more surfaces coated than for a typical lens of its time.
 
I had been chasing the 85mm Culminar for a while. Then I realized that similar glass could be had with a 100mm Cintagon for my Argus C44. These go for a lot less. But the C44 places a demand on the shooter - limited range of shutter speeds.

I have one of the 100mm Cintagons - nabbed it at $12 U.S. But it has been tinkered with and there are two screws missing, so it's "wobbly.". Fortunately I can capture another for similar prices.

Steinheil made 3 lenses for the C44 - 35, 50 and 100mm. I have a 50 and I enjoy the results from that lens.

I wanted to a Culminar 85mm for my FED 3 and may still grab one yet. But, it looks as though the cat is out of the bag for this lens. You are lucky :) enjoy!
 
It looks as if I started a Steinheil Culminar fan club by bragging on this lens. I am glad to see others recognizing that it is a good value and can produce great images. The thumbnails are photos made with this lens.

Jim N.
 

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The Steinheil lens will be compared to eight other tele lenses next weekend [I just posted a new thread on it]. I have used this lens and I find it an excellent performer. It seems to me that with the 85mm lens, Steinheil did very well but with their crappy 135mm lens, they did ... well ... crappy.

Raid
 
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