Antique Steinheil Lens

**Fred Heming** · 5-Mar-2011, 22:24

A friend of mine has recently aquired this rare lens.
Steinhei in München No.20646
Glass diameter about 78mm
Can someone help with this old lens, what structure?

**Steven Tribe** · 6-Mar-2011, 02:30

This is fun!
Steinheil data is written on the flange so some info has gone lost!
This is not the famous original aplanat - the slot is well forward of the center point.
My guess is the "Gruppen Antiplanet" - a Steinheil speciality.
This has a massively thick rear element. Believe it or not, VM talks about one with a glass diameter of 78mm (!), which has focal length of 20" and is F6.2.
You might want to check efl.
Lens structure is shown in VM - appendix Ste 07.

I don't think this can be described as a "rare lens" - it produced in quite large numbers for some time. Many exist as anonomous lenses these days - even the flange engraving is unhelpful - "yours" would have said LIN 78.

**Fred Heming** · 6-Mar-2011, 04:44

Thanks a lot Steven for your contribution.
Someone has furnished the following information.
It's a rectilinear antiplanat.

**Steven Tribe** · 6-Mar-2011, 10:01

Yes it appears to be last size on the list. Gruppen Antiplanet is the German name for this objective.

**Jim Galli** · 6-Mar-2011, 10:16

A unique design. Here's the drawing of it. I was able to get a little info iirc from running the patent number. I have an 8" or so one upstairs. Never made a picture with it though.

**Ongarine** · 7-Mar-2011, 10:17

Jim in your long way of testing lenses the Steinheil Antiplanet is a missing.....I think you will have some surprises and it will worth some films.
I have some in good and bad conditions and it seems they are a little bit different in image and coverage (not really so much) quality. There are not so much informations around and one of the major data is on the flange of the lens that is in the 50% missed.

**Ole Tjugen** · 7-Mar-2011, 10:51

There are both Antiplanet and Gruppen-Antiplanet - different lenses. And then there are the hundreds of one-offs that Steinheil made, some experimental, some to order. Added to that is Steinheil's preference for putting most of the lens data on the mounting flange, which tends to have got lost...

**Jim Galli** · 7-Mar-2011, 10:57

Originally Posted by Ongarine

Jim in your long way of testing lenses the Steinheil Antiplanet is a missing.....I think you will have some surprises and it will worth some films.
I have some in good and bad conditions and it seems they are a little bit different in image and coverage (not really so much) quality. There are not so much informations around and one of the major data is on the flange of the lens that is in the 50% missed.

Here are some photos of the one I have. Seems to have quite a lot inscribed on the lens, but alas as has been noted, the original flange was lost when it was adapted to the shutter in the 1920's. Still, this one has a US patent which I looked up easily on google.

I would sell it. Contact me off line.

**renes** · 9-Apr-2011, 11:27

I have got the same Group Antiplanet, says Steinheil Munchen No. 31985 Patent, it's exactly 17 3/4" FL with 76,3mm glass across (3"). It has a flange but no engravings on it.

Flange is a bit wider than barrel thread size, so I guess it may not be original.