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Steinheil Unofocal 400mm F4.5 ULF

€900.00 EUR

Shipping costs will be calculated at checkout.
History: The Steinheil company is very well known for the optical and built quality. Though Steinheil is famous for the Aplanat layout lenses, this is a rather rare and completly new lens layout. After Steinheil pushed the the symmetrical design of the Aplanat to its limits he started to experiment with optical layouts. This is specimen is as far as i know the largest of its Series. The Unofocal layout, beeing a Dialyte, offers 4 elements in 4 groups. Used as a complete lens it will produce very well defined and sharp pictures for formats from 8x10 up to 11x14.


Vade Mecum mentions it:

"They should be brilliant and contrasty and give even illumination and have especially good colour correction. In fact, until recently, one example, a f4.5/150mm No 298,65x in a Compur was in regular professional use.".


But Steinheil also described the possibility to use each cell (rear or front) on its own, which would double the focal lens to 800mm (or 31 1/2") and resulting in a soft/pictorial image when shot wide open. This would make it possible to use this lens as a ULF soft focus lens for formats up to 24"x24" or even larger. Just consider the possibilities here!



Condition:
The lens dates back to the 1920ies and shows a black finish wihch is mostly still intact. It is very lightweight, considering its luminosity and size, since it was made from aluminium. The huge glass elements are in good condition, some very minimal marks and dust specs here and there, a small edge chip in one of the elements, but the glass is quite clear otherwise. The rear cell can be unscrewed for the soft focus ULF possibility, while the front cell seems to be fixed. The iris aperture also works nicely.


The lens comes with a fitting flange and the authentic leather lenscap.



height: 15cm
width: 11cm
weight: 1800gr




Insured and tracked shipping cost:

Germany - 10 eur
EU* - 30 eur
Worldwide - 90 eur


*(the site offers only 2 shipping variations, DE and worldwide. buyers from EU please either contact me beforehand for a reduced EU cost, or after buying so i can send a refund over the difference)






Importent Note: This item comes from my private collection and is around 100 years old (antique). I try my best to describe all the faults and major damage which are relevant for the function of this item. But the actuall item can show signs of wear and also some cosmetic blemishes/damage which is not described in the auction text! When buying this item the buyer agrees to this terms.


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