Steinheil Culminar 2.8/85 mm

[lex_bosman1]

<p>Today I picked up a Steinheil Culminar 2.8/85 mm for my Leica M bodies. Are productions dates, perhaps even with individual numbers available somewhere? Would there be a good shade to use on this lens, because I fear it may flare quite a bit.<br>

I haven't used it yet, are some of you using it regularly?<br>

Thanks, Lex</p>

[rogerwb]

<p>I have the screw mount version with adapter. It's a real sleeper, a full stop faster than the Elmar and a lot cheaper. Only drawback , on mine at least, is the lack of click stops.</p>

[JDMvW]

<p>I don't know about the serial numbers and so on, but the Steinheil lenses were widely available in the 60s and 70s in various mounts. My experience with them was quite positive.<br>

They're going for a lot more money these days.</p>

<p>My older Steinheil lenses (long gone now) had regular screw-in filter mounts, but I can't find out what the diameter was on the 85mm in my files on old M42-mount lenses. Try to measure it and you should be able to find a screw-in lens hood that will work for an 85mm lens.</p>

[funkag]

<p>I had a leica mount version a few years ago, and I'm pretty sure it took a Series VI filter / screw-on hood, which was often needed, as mine did flare a bit. Its coating was in pretty poor shape, though, which could have contributed to the flare.</p>

[jim nichols]

<p>I have two of the 85mm Culminars, one in LTM and one in Exacta Mount. They are not as rugged as Leica lenses, but give reasonably good results. The link below shows my favorite shot with them, made with my Exa and Steinheil Culminar 2.8/85mm on Kodak Gold 200.<br>

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/GreatLakes.jpg.html<br>

- Jim Nichols</p>

[mukul_dube]

<p>I had one. Well constructed but not nearly so good as the Elmarit I now have. I used it with a 42mm push-on ring-hood combination found after a long search.<br>

Please see items 150995910547 and 261169467372 on eBay. They are for 50mm but are better than nothing.</p>

[lex_bosman1]

<p>There isn't a screw-in filter mount, so a hood should be a clip-on, I guess. I believe it is in LTM with an adapter, which works fine.</p>

[jim nichols]

<p>I use a press-on adapter inscribed as follows: Kodak Series VI Adapter Ring 1 5/8 in. 41mm Made in USA. Might find one in a camera store junk box.<br>

- Jim Nichols</p>

[lex_bosman1]

<p>Jim, sounds intersting! So with the adapter you can screw in a filter or a shade? Is the filter size to be used then 41mm? or 39mm? It appears to be the latter, judging from the fact that a Leica lens cap op a E39 lens fits perfectly.</p>

[jim nichols]

<p>Lex, the adapter front is threaded for a Series VI Retainer Ring, or a Series VI hood. These accept Series VI filters, which have no threads. They were widely used when I started in photography in the 1950s, but have gradually been replaced by the threaded filters in use today.<br>

<br />- Jim Nichols</p>

[rogerwb]

<p>The outer dimension of the front end of the lens barrel is really 42mm. Mine is not threaded so it takes a 42mm clamp on series VI adapter. YMMV.</p>

[jim nichols]

<p>Roger, I just put my metric calipers on the LTM version, and it measured 41.5mm, so I suspect that either 41 or or 42mm push-on adapter will work.<br>

- Jim Nichols</p>

[rick_decastro]

<p>With respect to a hood and filters I have found that on my Leica thread mount Culminar that a Leitz Summitar filter adapter 13078Y (production code word eludes me) that allows E-39 filters to be used on Summitars works quite well on my example. auction site seller Heavystar makes economical 39MM hoods for Leica 90MM lenses that works well on the Steinheil 85MM Culminar.</p>

[rick_decastro]

<p>I should have said that the Heavystar hood works in conjunction with the Leitz Summitar filter adapter. Sorry for any confusion.</p>

[lex_bosman1]

<p>Guys, this is all very helpful, thanks. Surfing on the internet for reactions about this lens, I came across various kinds of reactions, some rather positive, others rather negative. Since I only work on film it may take a while before I can see any results of my own Culminar. So far I like the short build and the handling.<br>

Lex</p>

[waldemar_schmid]

<p>I don't have the 85, but I have the Ortostigmat 35 and the Culminar 135 from the same series for Leica LTM. Both take the tapered Leitz-filters for the Summitar.<br />So I think this one will take Summitar filters also.<br>

Greetings Waldemar</p>

[pensacolaphoto]

<p>I sometimes use such a lens for portraits. It is not bad at all.</p>

<p> </p>

[pensacolaphoto]

<p>Here is a photo that I took with the TMAX 3200, followed by some PS.</p>

<p>Raid</p><div></div>