Steinheil Culminar 135 / 4.5 in LTM - any experience?

[Hassasin]

As luck would have it, my "new" Leica IIIC will, in addition to Summitar 50, have this Steinheil Culminar 135 4.5 in the box (and original Leitz bright line 135 finder). I don't see much on this lens, and looks like a hard sell at any price. Just wondering how it does on film.

 

[Ian Grant]

I'd expect it to be a reasonably good lens, on a par with a Meyer Orestegon. Most post WWII 135mm lenses were OK, they aren't complex designs, early 3rd party post WWII wide angle lenses are quite different. The Culminar was available in various mounts.

Ian

 

[Hassasin]

@Ian Grant I think optical design I quite similar to Leitz's Hektor 135, but it also does not have tripod mount built in. I'll give it a try on first roll once I see it.