Rare Camera Lenses

Flints are well known worldwide for selling the best rare lenses. We have recently had many successful sales including a Dallmeyer Speed 3″ f1.5 selling for £31,200, a Ross Xpres 3″ f1.9 selling for £30,000, and a Hugo Meyer Kino Plasmat 2″ f1.5 selling for £20,400.

Rare lenses are one of our core areas of expertise, and we always have plenty to offer in our Fine Photographica auctions. So here, we are going to show you some of the lenses we get to sell, the results they produce, and the reason why they are worth so much in todays market

One of the biggest appeals above all is the Bokeh that these lenses produce. Bokeh is the out-of-focus area of a photograph, and specific lenses render this in a much more artistic way than others.

If you have any rare lenses mentioned below, contact us today by clicking here.

J.H. Dallmeyer

John Henry Dallmeyer (1830-1883) was a pioneering German-English optician and inventor renowned for his advancements in photographic lenses. After moving to London in 1851, he worked under optician Andrew Ross and later married Ross's daughter, Hannah. Dallmeyer established his own business in 1860, specializing in telescopic and photographic lenses. His innovations included the wide-angle lens and the rapid rectilinear lens, which significantly improved image quality. Dallmeyer's contributions extended to astronomical and microscopic instruments, earning him international acclaim. His legacy persists in the continued excellence of Dallmeyer lenses in photography and scientific instrumentation.

The Dallmeyer Super Six

The Dallmeyer Super Six is a common sight in our auctions and was produced for various applications and in different focal lengths. The Super Six has the fastest aperture of f1.9 typically, except for the Dallmeyer Super Six 8” which has a slightly slower stop of f2.0. The Super Six consisted of six elements in four groups and was produced with extremely rare and expensive earth glasses.

Super Six lenses vary in price dependent upon the focal length, whether the lens has an iris, image circle coverage and of course condition. For instance, a Super Six 2” f1.9 projection lens (no iris) is worth 1/3rd the value of a Super Six 2” f1.9 in a Leica mount. The most desirable focal length, however, fall between 76mm and 102mm as this hits that ‘portrait’ focal length and with the extra length makes the bokeh even better. The value of the Dallmeyer Super Six lenses ranges from between £1500 - £8000 in todays market.

The Dallmeyer Speed

The Dallmeyer Speed is one of the rarest Dallmeyer lenses and they seldom appear on the open market. This model was only made in three focal lengths, 1.5", 2" and 3". The value of the Dallmeyer Speed 2" f1.5 lens is around £7000 - £10,000 and the value of the Dallmeyer Speed 3" f1.5 lens is around £8000 - £12,000 in today's market, respectively.

Production numbers of the Dallmeyer Speed 2" and 3" lenses were very small and they are normally found in Cine C mounts on the front of Bolex 16mm Cine cameras. However, they did make these for Leica L39 mount which Flint's has sold a few examples of over the past few years.

The Dallmeyer Septac

The Dallmeyer Septac was only made in a 2″ focal length with a fast aperture of f1.5. This lens was an option available on the Ilford Witness camera and also used on microfilm copying devices. Most examples we get offered and see on the market are from microfilm copying devices. The value of the  Dallmeyer Septac 2" f1.5 lenses are around £5000 - £7000 in todays market, respectively.

Ross

The Ross Xpres

The Ross Xpres lenses are predominantly cine lenses designed for 35mm movie cameras. Focal lengths consisted of 1″, 1½”, 2″ and 3″, and all have a fast aperture of f1.9. These lenses date from around 1938, and at the time a Ross Xpres 3″ f1.9 lens would set you back £15/0/0. Flints will be offering the 1½” and 3″ variations of this lens in the 26th April Fine Photographica auction.

The Ross Xtralux

The Ross Xtralux has variations of 50mm, 90mm and 135mm. However, the 50mm is the rarest and most valuable with prices sometimes reaching five figures. It was announced in 1948 and only sold for a short period as it was not a commercial success. They are commonly found in a collapsible Leica screw mount and resemble the Leitz Summar.

Other Maker’s

Alongside Dallmeyer and Ross, there is a great deal of other fantastic lenses out there. These maker’s include

P. Angenieux – Cinor, S21, S1, S3, S6, R1, M1,

Cooke – Panchro, Deepfield Panchro, Speed Panchro, Super Speed Panchro

Hugo Meyer – Kino Plasmat, Makro Plasmat

Kinoptik – Apochromat, Foyer

Som Berthiot – Flor, Monital, Olor, Cinor

Taylor Hobson – Anastigmat

Wray – Unilite

Sample Photographs

Dallmeyer Speed 3″ f1.5

Ross Xpres 3″ f1.9

Dallmeyer Super Six 83mm f1.9

Dallmeyer Super Six 2″ f1.9

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