Orthostigmat 35mm f4.5. A Leica screw-mount lens made by Steinheil, a mid-sized optical manufacturer based in Munich, Germany. This example was one of a batch of 200 lenses shipped on March 7, 1951.
The optical design is an Orthometar type with 6 elements in 4 groups. Distance scale is in feet. The minimum focusing distance is 3.5 feet, approximately 1 meter.
Although the maximum aperture is relatively slow and there is some light fall-off toward the corners, it is a fine lens capable of sharp rendering with gentle tonal characteristics and plenty of atmosphere. Its charming design features two ear-like focusing knobs, earning it the nickname Mickey Mouse.
Both the finder and lens are unusually marked US-ZONE. By our FB standard, where the more markings an item has, the cooler it looks, this is a particularly nice set.
Prices for non-Leitz Leica screw-mount lenses have risen considerably in recent years, but the Orthostigmat 35mm was produced in relatively large numbers and remains fairly accessible, with prices not dramatically different from 20 years ago. An enjoyable vintage lens that can still be used without too much hesitation.
There is some rubbing to the aluminum around the outer edge of the front of the barrel, but otherwise there are no noticeable scratches, dents, or other damage.
A full overhaul was completed in September 2026. Thanks to careful servicing, the aperture ring has pleasant click stops and the helicoid moves smoothly. It is a very satisfying lens to use. Focus is accurate and rangefinder coupling works perfectly.
The glass is also very clean, matching the fine exterior condition. There is slight deterioration of the coating and a few extremely faint cleaning marks on the inner elements, but these are only visible under a strong LED light and should have virtually no effect on actual photographs. The glass is very clean for an Orthostigmat.
Image quality was also excellent in our test shots. Sample images have been posted in our Test Shoot Gallery. All were taken wide open. We hope you will take a look.
The original finder, front cap, UV filter, and rear cap are included.
The correct filter size is 36.5mm, a rather unusual size to say the least. On top of that, the filter thread is recessed quite deeply, making you wonder whether a suitable filter even exists. Fortunately, this example comes with a compatible Kenko filter.
