appreciate the journey Loc: wandering

While we were out on vacation, i found this in a dark corner of a thrift store, and acquired the whole lot for $25. The camera dates to the early 60's, and included two Steinheil lenses;
macro-quinaron 35mm 2.8
auto-d tele-quinar 135mm 2.8
...and the carl zeiss biotar 58mm on the camera.
The biotar's focus ring only turns the aperture ring. I know that looks funny in print, but the focus ring itself doesn't work. I am having a lot of difficulty finding much information on Steinheil lenses. While the aperture rings are very smooth on both lenses, the blades do not move, eith in manual or auto settings, so i wonder if there is a learning curve to this brand of lense. I have shot a number of pictures with my K3, just holding the lens up close to the body, and right away took a liking to this lens!
One thing i did discover is that these macro series lenses are quite valuable. I mounted each lens onto a working exakta body that i have, and the 35 works well, but the 135 will not achieve infinity focus, and acts rather like a macro. I suspect that an element may be out of alignment. The camera's shutter and winder need some work to repair. Does anyone out there have any knowledge of Steinheil lenses? I appreciate everyone's help and comments. It is nice to have this group to share b together!

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Bob Mevis Loc: Plymouth, Indiana

Nice find.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Excellent! I'm glad I don't go to thrift stores very often. I have no sales resistance.

Richbarr

Cool 😎 find.

EdJ0307 Loc: out west someplace

That's like my first SLR I bought in 1963. I had the Zeiss Biotar 58mm f/2 lens but the one I had came with the shutter release on the side of the lens. That allowed the lens to drop-down to a preset f-stop just before the shutter tripped. That was the only automatic feature of the camera.
I also had a Honeywell Strobanar flash back then. You could recharge the unit with the batteries or plug it into a wall plug. Recharging with the wall plug was quick but it took about 30 seconds to recharge with the batteries. I used the wall plug whenever possible.
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The lever on the lens would return the iris to full open.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

It is not uncommon for the lubricant on the diaphragm blades to gum up on older lenses. That may be what has happened here. And if someone tried to force the movement, it is possible that the operating linkage has been broken or that the connections to the blades may have been torn away, especially if the aperture ring moves. Disassembly will likely be required to verify exactly what has happened and whether repair is even possible. I've had this happen on a couple of lenses that dated back to the 1970s and before.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

I have an Exa that is similar. My lens says Meritar 1:2.9 f=50mm. E Ludwig 1061001 V.
I bought it used for $25 back in the early ‘70s and was my first 35mm camera. I don’t really know how old it is, but it was made in Germany, so it’s pre-WWII.

Cheapshot Loc: California.

I used one in 1959 during my tour in the U.S. Navy. Our mainstay in those days were the 4X5" Speed Graphics. Somehow our photo lab at NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii, was able to order one using the "Special Purchase" system as it was an East German camera and we were in the "Cold War." It was months before it finally arrived and I was assigned to photograph the de-gaussing station at the entrance to Pearl Harbor using it. It proved it's worth when we needed it to get up into a aircraft wheel well (tight spot) to photograph some damage on the landing gear. The 4X5" Speed Graphic was to big to get into that small space. Thirty five mm was coming alive.

DaveC Loc: Illinois

I have three of those Steinheim Macro lenses. To get the aperture to close set the desired option then press the shutter release button sticking out to the left of the lens. They should close. There are other options also. I will try to attach a couple of photos of mine.

Well, I can’t seem to attach an image. I can choose the file bu “Add attachment” does not work. Anyone help?

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Nice find, all I know about Exakta cameras is that they are made in Germany and have interesting looking lens.

B_meyer5.55NY

amazing what one finds in a Thrift Shop if one looks carefully!!

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

WOW.......nice discovery.......great display Piece ...not much otherwise....thanks for showing it.

AndyGarcia

If you go onto the FaceBook group "Photography With Classic Lenses" you will get help to sort your lenses out. Cleaned and serviced so they all work properly. The Biotar is a sought after lens. The Helios 58 44-2 is a copy (I have one). That lens is definitely worth getting renovated IMO. Good luck.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I used to have an Exakta VX. Had a lot of fun with it (around 1955). As far as operations are concerned, you would want to check the shutter for pinholes. Otherwise have fun with it.

Flakes Mill

The best macro lens I ever had came from a thrift store. Loved that thing!!