Steinheil München

Steinheil München isn't just another German optical brand; it is the "old money" of the photography world. Founded long before Leitz or Zeiss even existed, this Bavarian company was originally making high-end astronomy gear for royalty. For the Leica M-mount shooter today, Steinheil represents a very specific, stylish niche: the "US Zone" era.

These lenses are the gentleman’s choice. They don't have the heavy, industrial feel of a brass Canon lens or the clinical perfection of a modern Voigtländer. Instead, they are lightweight, elegant, and full of character. Shooting with a Steinheil lens feels like stepping into a noir film from late-1940s Munich.

History

Steinheil’s story is distinct because it is less about mass production and more about survival and adaptation.

The Scientific Pedigree

The company started way back in 1855 in Munich. For nearly a century, they were the guys you went to if you needed a telescope or a precision scientific instrument. They were arguably the smartest optical engineers in Bavaria, pioneering complex lens designs (like the Orthostigmat) when photography was still in its infancy.

The "US Zone" Hustle (Post-1945)

This is the era that matters for us. After WWII, Munich was part of the American Occupation Zone. The German economy was in ruins, and the US administration basically told companies like Steinheil, "Start making things we can export, or perish." So, Steinheil pivoted. They started cranking out consumer lenses for the Leica screw mount, mostly to sell to American GIs stationed in Germany or for export to the States. That is why so many of these lenses are engraved with "Made in Germany US Zone". It is a stamp that marks a very specific, brief moment in history.

Product Lines (LTM Native)

Steinheil lenses from this time usually feature the "VL" marking (meaning Vergütet or coated) and distinct, lightweight aluminum bodies.

The Orthostigmat 35mm f/4.5

This is the cult classic. If you see one, buy it.

• The Vibe: It is tiny. Really tiny. It sits almost flat against the camera body, making a Leica III look sleek and pocketable.
• The "Turret" Finder: The coolest part isn't even the lens; it is the matching 35mm viewfinder. It looks like a little turret or a hearing aid from the 1940s. It is pure retro style.
• The Look: It gives you that classic vintage rendering. It is not razor sharp in the corners, but it has a lovely, moderate contrast that looks amazing in black and white [[2]].

The Quinon 50mm f/2

This was their heavy hitter, designed to fight the Leica Summitar and the Zeiss Sonnar.

• The Design: It is a fast, 6-element standard lens.
• The Quirk: Steinheil engineers were clever but quirky. This lens can focus super close (down to roughly 0.6m), which is closer than the rangefinder mechanism allows (1m). To go that close, you have to push the lens past a "click" stop, uncoupling it from the camera. You then have to guess the distance, but it is a handy trick for getting tight shots of flowers or details [[5]].

The Culminar Portraits

• Culminar 85mm f/2.8: This is a sleeper hit. It is physically "fat" but surprisingly light because of the aluminum build. The real magic is inside: it has a massive number of aperture blades (usually 16). This means that even when you stop down, the bokeh balls stay perfectly circular. Modern lenses rarely do that.

Technical Specifications

Feature	Specification Details
Native Mount	LTM (Leica Thread Mount)
Focus Coupling	Coupled. (Standard 1m to Infinity).
Build Materials	Mostly lightweight Aluminum Alloy (feels lighter than it looks).
Markings	Look for "VL" (Coated) and the famous "US Zone" engraving.
Filter Thread	A bit chaotic. Often A36 (slip-on) or non-standard metric sizes.
Coatings	Single Coated (Steinheil's coatings were actually very good for the 40s).

Why Photographers Choose Steinheil

• The History Factor: There is something cool about owning a piece of the "US Zone." It anchors the lens to a very specific five-year window of post-war recovery. It is a lens with a story.
• The "Pocket" Factor: The Orthostigmat 35mm makes a screw-mount Leica truly pocketable. It turns a professional camera into a discreet street shooter.
• The Circular Bokeh: If you hate the hexagonal stop-sign shapes you get from modern lenses when you stop down, the Culminar 85mm is your cure. It renders out-of-focus backgrounds smoothly at any aperture.

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Sources

• [1] CameraQuest (Steinheil Lens Profiles): https://cameraquest.com/classics.htm
• [2] 35mmc (Orthostigmat 35mm Review): https://www.35mmc.com/26/12/2016/steinheil-orthostigmat-35mm-review/
• [3] Leica Wiki (Steinheil Lenses): https://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/Steinheil
• [4] CJ's Classic Cameras (Steinheil History): https://www.cjclassiccameras.com/steinheil.html
• [5] Leitz Auction (Quinon 50mm Specs): https://www.leitz-auction.com/en/Steinheil-Quinon-2-50mm/AI-18-12166