MFlenses - A new life in a digital age
MFLenses 2026

Manual Focus Lenses Forum

Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.

Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.
logovectorizer.com
Spotlight

Featured partner placement for the forum front page.

Steinheil Muenchen Cassar S 50mm f2.8
Post new topic Reply to topic
View previous topic :: View next topic  


Post
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 11:13 pm
Post subject: Steinheil Muenchen Cassar S 50mm f2.8
Reply
Post
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 11:13 pm
Post subject: Steinheil Muenchen Cassar S 50mm f2.8
Reply
Received this lovely lens from Mo.
You can see it here:
http://forum.mflenses.com/steinheil-munchen-cassar-s-2-8-50-m42-mount-t48804,highlight,%2Bsteinheil.html

Beautiful little lens.
Very sharp.
Some crazy bokeh though.
Some samples from wide open through to fully closed, f2.8 through to f16
Apart from exposure adjustment in LR5 - no other PP.
I am assuming that this is a triplet and not a Tessar type - am I correct in this?
Thank you Mo.
OH







Post
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 11:52 pm
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 11:52 pm
Post subject:
Reply
A well known triplet, quite good.


Post
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 11:57 pm
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 11:57 pm
Post subject:
Reply
Great to see you have it and enjoy it,for some reason I never got on with it.


Post
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 11:58 pm
Post subject: Re: Steinheil München Cassar S 50mm f2.8
Reply
Post
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 11:58 pm
Post subject: Re: Steinheil München Cassar S 50mm f2.8
Reply
Oldhand wrote:
I am assuming that this is a triplet and not a Tessar type - am I correct in this?


It is a complex triplet derivative with 5 elements:

(from Photographic Optics by Arthur Cox)

All Cassars 36-105mm F2.8-6.3 use the same optical structure. The number of elements suggests the optical correction could be better than the Tessar.


Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 12:20 am
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 12:20 am
Post subject:
Reply
No, the Cassar is 'just' a triplet, as Klaus says. I have two, in 50 and 105mm lengths and have had both of them apart for cleaning, a classic 3/3 triplet.


Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 1:10 am
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 1:10 am
Post subject:
Reply
Here it is next to a Tessar for a size comparison.
Interestingly, the glass elements are about the same size in each lens.
And the Steinheil fits even more aperture blades into its tiny frame.




And here on my K-10D




Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 1:18 am
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 1:18 am
Post subject:
Reply
iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
No, the Cassar is 'just' a triplet, as Klaus says. I have two, in 50 and 105mm lengths and have had both of them apart for cleaning, a classic 3/3 triplet.


I just copied the lens diagram from the book of Arthur Cox, who was an authority in photographic lenses. He should know what he was talking about, but he could have made a mistake. In his book he only cites the Cassaron as a triplet.

How do you know the Cassar is a triplet? Did you count the reflections?


Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 1:32 am
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 1:32 am
Post subject:
Reply
It looks good on the K10D,.A little OT what do you think of the Listar?


Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 1:43 am
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 1:43 am
Post subject:
Reply
mo wrote:
It looks good on the K10D,.A little OT what do you think of the Listar?


Very "artistic" Mo.
I'll post some images later on the other thread.
It is an interesting lens with interesting results.
OH


Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 2:19 am
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 2:19 am
Post subject:
Reply
Just saw the other thread after I posted this Embarassed


Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 2:33 am
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 2:33 am
Post subject:
Reply
Edited

Last edited by bernhardas on Tue May 10, 2016 7:15 am; edited 1 time in total


Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 2:40 am
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 2:40 am
Post subject:
Reply
bernhardas wrote:
Really wild bokeh wide open Very Happy


Yes, very similar to the Domiplan bokeh - mind you the background was close, it might get a little less apoplectic with some distance.
OH


Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 3:38 am
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 3:38 am
Post subject:
Reply
Edited

Last edited by bernhardas on Tue May 10, 2016 7:15 am; edited 2 times in total


Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 3:39 am
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 3:39 am
Post subject:
Reply
It is not hard to tell if we count the reflection of the glass. Each glass surface will give one bright reflection. Triplets have six bright reflections and Tessar have one extra dim reflection from the cemented surface.


Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 4:30 am
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 4:30 am
Post subject:
Reply
Oldhand wrote:
And here on my K-10D


Any light leaks around the adapter like you get with an Industar 50-2 on a K mount?


Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 4:49 am
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 4:49 am
Post subject:
Reply
elliott wrote:
Oldhand wrote:
And here on my K-10D


Any light leaks around the adapter like you get with an Industar 50-2 on a K mount?


Hasn't shown up in any of the images.
It seems to cover the adapter completely
OH


Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 5:17 am
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 5:17 am
Post subject:
Reply
Gerald wrote:
iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
No, the Cassar is 'just' a triplet, as Klaus says. I have two, in 50 and 105mm lengths and have had both of them apart for cleaning, a classic 3/3 triplet.


I just copied the lens diagram from the book of Arthur Cox, who was an authority in photographic lenses. He should know what he was talking about, but he could have made a mistake. In his book he only cites the Cassaron as a triplet.

How do you know the Cassar is a triplet? Did you count the reflections?


I have a 4.5/105 Cassar which I have taken apart and cleaned, three bits of glass, two in front of the diaphragm one, behind, classical triplet.

There is the Cassaron and Cassarit too, my understanding was that the Cassaron is a 4/3 tessar and the Cassarit a 3/3 triplet.

There is also the Quinon and Quinar, I would be tempted to suggest the diagram you showed is of the Quinon as it has five elements.


Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 6:00 am
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 6:00 am
Post subject:
Reply
iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
Gerald wrote:
iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
No, the Cassar is 'just' a triplet, as Klaus says. I have two, in 50 and 105mm lengths and have had both of them apart for cleaning, a classic 3/3 triplet.


I just copied the lens diagram from the book of Arthur Cox, who was an authority in photographic lenses. He should know what he was talking about, but he could have made a mistake. In his book he only cites the Cassaron as a triplet.

How do you know the Cassar is a triplet? Did you count the reflections?


I have a 4.5/105 Cassar which I have taken apart and cleaned, three bits of glass, two in front of the diaphragm one, behind, classical triplet.

There is the Cassaron and Cassarit too, my understanding was that the Cassaron is a 4/3 tessar and the Cassarit a 3/3 triplet.

There is also the Quinon and Quinar, I would be tempted to suggest the diagram you showed is of the Quinon as it has five elements.

The Primoplan is a bit similar to diagram showed above. I never heard of a consumer grade non-macro 2.8/50 in 1950-1960s for 35mm film camera made of more than four elements.

Edit:
Some 2.8/50s are made of five elements in 2/1/2. For example, Topcor 5cm f2.8 LTM.

Last edited by calvin83 on Thu Apr 03, 2014 6:37 pm; edited 2 times in total


Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 11:24 am
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 11:24 am
Post subject:
Reply
It is certainly a sharp enough lens.
Here is a crop from a different shot that shows a high level of detail.
OH



Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 2:01 pm
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 2:01 pm
Post subject:
Reply
I picked up one of these a few weeks back for 6UKP. Couldnt believe my luck. Only thing wrong with it was dried up grease making the focus sloppy.

The big slotted ring at the back holds it together, spin that off and regrease and now its just great.

I like the wacky painterly bokeh


Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 2:50 pm
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 2:50 pm
Post subject:
Reply
Gerald wrote:
iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
No, the Cassar is 'just' a triplet, as Klaus says. I have two, in 50 and 105mm lengths and have had both of them apart for cleaning, a classic 3/3 triplet.


I just copied the lens diagram from the book of Arthur Cox, who was an authority in photographic lenses. He should know what he was talking about, but he could have made a mistake. In his book he only cites the Cassaron as a triplet.


Some of the attributions to illustrations in Cox's book do seem to be inaccurate. I've noticed that in the past. I've always known the Cassar as a triplet, but have never been sure what the 'S' suffix to Cassar signified. Back in the 50s and 60s the Cassar was one of those 'cheap and cheerful' lenses that was poorly regarded by those who 'knew' about such things - it rated down with the Ludwig Meritar as one of those optics that you replaced with a Tessar or Xenar just as soon as you could. But from these pictures, it seems quite a characterful little lens.


Post
Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 10:29 am
Post subject: Re: Steinheil München Cassar S 50mm f2.8
Reply
Post
Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 10:29 am
Post subject: Re: Steinheil München Cassar S 50mm f2.8
Reply
Gerald wrote:
Oldhand wrote:
I am assuming that this is a triplet and not a Tessar type - am I correct in this?


It is a complex triplet derivative with 5 elements:

(from Photographic Optics by Arthur Cox)

All Cassars 36-105mm F2.8-6.3 use the same optical structure. The number of elements suggests the optical correction could be better than the Tessar.


I have just come back to this post and noticed these comments about construction.
I have counted the reflections and can't really decide if there are five, three doubles or two doubles and a single.
Here is a picture for what it is worth.
OH



Post
Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2014 6:53 am
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2014 6:53 am
Post subject:
Reply
The Steinheil Cassar is a triplett design, three simple lenses, but very well computed. I have several of them.


Post
Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2014 8:13 am
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2014 8:13 am
Post subject:
Reply
Many thanks Klaus for clearing this up.
OH


Post
Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2014 11:23 pm
Post subject:
Reply
Post
Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2014 11:23 pm
Post subject:
Reply
Oldhand wrote:
Many thanks Klaus for clearing this up.
OH


Most welcome!

http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Steinheil#Lenses
Post new topic Reply to topic
Goto pagePrevious 1 2 Next
Page 1 of 2