Rare Camera Lenses

Rare Lenses for Sale: Explore Premium Dallmeyer, Ross, and More

At Flints, we are renowned worldwide for offering the best rare lenses for collectors, filmmakers, and photography enthusiasts. Recently, we’ve seen remarkable sales of rare lenses, including the Dallmeyer Speed 3″ f1.5 for £31,200, the Ross Xpres 3″ f1.9 for £30,000, and the Hugo Meyer Kino Plasmat 2″ f1.5 for £20,400. These transactions highlight the value and demand for vintage photographic lenses, and we continue to offer exceptional finds at our Fine Photographica auctions.

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

The Dallmeyer Super Six

The Dallmeyer Super Six is a highly sought-after lens in the world of vintage photography and is often featured in our Fine Photographica auctions. Known for its exceptional quality, the Super Six was produced for a range of applications and came in various focal lengths to suit different photographic needs.

Typically, the Dallmeyer Super Six features a fast aperture of f1.9, with the exception of the Dallmeyer Super Six 8", which has a slightly slower aperture of f2.0. This lens design consists of six elements in four groups, using rare and expensive earth glasses, contributing to its renowned optical performance.

The value of Super Six lenses can vary significantly based on several factors, such as focal length, the presence of an iris, image circle coverage, and overall lens condition. For example, a Super Six 2" f1.9 projection lens (without an iris) is worth approximately one-third of the value of a Super Six 2" f1.9 in a Leica mount.

The most desirable focal lengths for portrait photography typically fall between 76mm and 102mm, as these focal lengths are ideal for capturing stunning portraits with beautiful bokeh effects.

In today’s market, the value of the Dallmeyer Super Six lenses ranges from £1,500 to £20,000, depending on their specific features and condition.

The example shown below achieved £20,000 in our auction in 2023.

The Dallmeyer Speed

The Dallmeyer Speed is one of the rarest and most coveted lenses in the Dallmeyer lens collection. These lenses seldom appear on the open market, making them a highly sought-after find for collectors and photographers alike. The Dallmeyer Speed was produced in only three focal lengths: 1.5", 2", and 3".

In today’s market, the Dallmeyer Speed 2" f1.5 lens is valued between £10,000 and £15,000, while the Dallmeyer Speed 3" f1.5 lens typically sells for between £10,000 and £20,000.

These lenses were produced in very limited quantities and are most commonly found in Cine C mounts, typically used on the front of Bolex 16mm Cine cameras. However, a rare version for the Leica L39 mount was also produced, and Flints Auction House has sold several examples over the past few years.

The example shown below achieved £26,250 in our auction in 2023

The Dallmeyer Septac

The Dallmeyer Septac is another rare lens from the Dallmeyer collection. Produced only in a 2" focal length with a fast aperture of f1.5, this lens was originally designed as an option for the Ilford Witness camera and was also used in microfilm copying devices.

Most of the Dallmeyer Septac 2" f1.5 lenses currently available on the market are sourced from these microfilm devices. In today’s market, the value of the Dallmeyer Septac 2" f1.5 lens ranges from £5,000 to £7,000, depending on its condition and provenance.

The example shown below achieved £23,750 in our auction in 2023

The Ross Xpres

The Ross Xpres lenses are primarily cine lenses designed for use with 35mm movie cameras. These high-performance lenses were manufactured with focal lengths of 1", 1½", 2", and 3", and all feature a fast aperture of f1.9. Dating back to around 1938, the Ross Xpres 3" f1.9 lens was once priced at £15/0/0. This lens was also used on one camera by the British manufacturer Ensign on the Multex. Contrary to the cine lens focal lengths, this was only produced in 53mm f1.9. 

In today’s market, the value of the Ross Xpress 2" and 3" lenses ranges from £8,000 to £20,000, depending on their condition and provenance.

The example shown below achieved £31,250 in our auction in 2024

The Ross Xtralux

The Ross Xtralux is another highly sought-after lens in the Ross lens lineup. Available in 50mm, 90mm, and 135mm focal lengths, the 50mm variation is the rarest and most valuable, with prices sometimes reaching five figures. First introduced in 1948, the Ross Xtralux was sold for a brief period due to its lack of commercial success.

These lenses are typically found in a collapsible Leica screw mount and bear a resemblance to the Leitz Summar, making them particularly desirable to vintage camera enthusiasts and collectors.

The example shown below is to be offered in our auction in 2025

Other Maker’s

Alongside Dallmeyer and Ross, there are a great deal of other fantastic lenses out there. These makers 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