{"overview":"The Cooke 270mm f\/4.5 Portrait Anastigmat Series IIE is a long-focus large-format portrait lens, designed in the classic Cooke tradition for studio and outdoor portraiture where smooth rendering and controlled sharpness on big negatives were the priority. Its 270mm focal length and f\/4.5 maximum aperture suit whole-plate and 8x10 cameras, and the Series IIE designation places it within Cooke's dedicated portrait line rather than their general-purpose process or taking optics.","market_narrative":"UK auction evidence for this lens is thin: the only recorded hammer result we can verify is £1,062 at a UK saleroom in March 2023, which is the wholesale price achieved before buyer's premium. With a single data point the median and range collapse to that same figure, so as of today in 2026 the fair market value of a clean, working example sits around the four-figure mark, though condition, shutter presence and barrel completeness can move what one actually sells for materially in either direction.","buying_guide":"Inspect the glass carefully under a torch for fungus, haze and cleaning marks, since soft antique coatings (or uncoated surfaces on early Cooke portrait optics) are easily scuffed and internal haze is common on lenses of this age. Check the iris for oil on the aperture blades and confirm the diaphragm opens and closes smoothly, look for any sign of element separation or balsam crazing at the cemented interfaces, and make sure the focus mount or barrel threads turn evenly without stiffness or play. If the lens is mounted in a shutter, test all speeds; a seized or missing shutter materially affects what the lens is worth.","specs":"Documented specifications are limited to the model name: a 270mm focal length, f\/4.5 maximum aperture, and Cooke's Portrait Anastigmat Series IIE designation. No further verified optical or mechanical data is available in the supplied record.","faq":[{"q":"What is a Cooke 270mm f\/4.5 Portrait Anastigmat Series IIE worth today?","a":"On the single verified UK auction result we hold, a clean example sold for £1,062 hammer in 2023, so current value is best estimated around that figure with adjustments for glass condition and whether a working shutter is fitted."},{"q":"How much does a Cooke 270mm f\/4.5 Portrait Anastigmat Series IIE sell for at UK auction?","a":"The one recorded UK hammer price is £1,062 (March 2023), which is the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom before buyer's premium is added."},{"q":"Is the price likely to rise?","a":"With only one data point we cannot establish a trend; the lens is a niche large-format portrait optic with limited demand, so price movement depends heavily on individual condition and the buyer pool on the day."},{"q":"What should I check before buying one?","a":"Prioritise glass clarity (fungus, haze, separation), aperture blade cleanliness, smooth focus action, and shutter function if present, as these are the main faults that depress what the lens is worth."}],"confidence":35,"reasoning":"Only one verified sale and no SPECS or variant data, so confidence is capped well below 50 per rule 8."}