CameraWorth.com

Dallmeyer (J.H.) Long Focus

The J.H. Dallmeyer Long Focus is a British-made wood-and-brass field camera from the firm founded in London by John Henry Dallmeyer, a maker active in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. It is a large-format plate camera built around an extended bellows draw to accommodate longer focal-length lenses, of the type used by professional and serious amateur photographers of the period.

With only two recorded UK auction results to draw on — £115 in 1999 and £211 in 2002 — hammer prices for a Dallmeyer Long Focus at saleroom level have historically sat in the £120–£210 bracket, though this is wholesale auction data and excludes commission. Today in 2026 the value of any individual example is highly condition-sensitive, with bellows integrity, completeness of the original lens and brass fittings, and woodwork condition the main factors determining what one sells for. Buyers searching for what a Dallmeyer Long Focus is worth should treat the historic range as indicative only, given how thin the comparable sales record is.

Sales History

Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.

Date Price Source
Dec 2002 £211 Christie's
Jul 1999 £115 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Dallmeyer Long Focus camera worth today?

Based on the limited UK auction record available, hammer prices have ranged from roughly £120 to £210, but condition, completeness and the originality of the fitted lens can move the value significantly in either direction.

How much does a Dallmeyer Long Focus sell for at auction?

The two recorded UK auction sales are £115 (1999) and £211 (2002), both hammer prices excluding buyer's premium, which is too small a sample to establish a firm current market price.

What affects the price of a Dallmeyer Long Focus?

Bellows condition, the presence and originality of the Dallmeyer lens, the state of the woodwork and brass fittings, and overall completeness are the main factors that determine what an example sells for.