Dallmeyer (J.H.) Dalrac · 135mm f/4.5

{"overview":"The Dallmeyer 13.5cm f\/4.5 Dalrac is a medium-telephoto lens from the long-established British optical maker J.H. Dallmeyer. With a 135mm focal length and f\/4.5 maximum aperture, it was designed as a portrait and moderate-telephoto objective for plate and roll-film cameras of its era.","market_narrative":"At recent UK auction, the Dalrac 13.5cm f\/4.5 is a niche collector's piece rather than a user-grade staple, and hammer prices reflect that. A November 2025 sale fetched £90, while a much earlier Christie's result from 2004 came in at £143, giving a small-sample range of roughly £90–£143 with a midpoint near £117. Given how thin the data is in 2026, what a Dalrac is worth today depends heavily on cosmetic condition, completeness of mount fittings, and whether the buyer wants a display piece or a shooter.","buying_guide":"Inspect the glass carefully for fungus, haze and internal cleaning marks, as pre-war Dallmeyer coatings (where present at all) are soft and easily scratched. Check the iris for oil on the blades and confirm the aperture ring moves smoothly through its range, and look for signs of element separation, particularly balsam edge discolouration on cemented groups. Focus mount and any attached flange should turn without grinding; seized helicoids are common on lenses of this age and add to restoration cost.","specs":"Recorded specifications are limited to a 135mm (13.5cm) focal length and f\/4.5 maximum aperture; mount, coverage and element count are not documented in the supplied data.","faq":[{"q":"What is a Dallmeyer 13.5cm f\/4.5 Dalrac worth in 2026?","a":"Based on UK auction hammer results, recent value sits in the £90–£143 range, with a clean example most recently selling for £90 in late 2025."},{"q":"How much does a Dallmeyer Dalrac 135mm f\/4.5 sell for at auction?","a":"Hammer prices in the saleroom have ranged from £90 to £143, though the sample is small and the final price depends heavily on glass condition and mount completeness."},{"q":"Is the Dallmeyer Dalrac a good user lens or a collector's item?","a":"Given its age, uncoated or lightly coated optics, and the scarcity of compatible mounts, the Dalrac is primarily a collector's lens; its modest price reflects limited practical use on modern cameras."},{"q":"What condition issues most affect the price of a Dallmeyer 13.5cm f\/4.5?","a":"Fungus, haze, cleaning marks, oil on the aperture blades and seized focus mounts all push value toward the lower end of the range, while clean glass and smooth mechanics support prices closer to the £143 top result."}],"confidence":35,"reasoning":"Only two sales records spanning more than two decades and no SPECS or variant data, so confidence is capped below 50 per rule 8."}