Dallmeyer (J.H.) Septac · 50.8mm f/1.5

{"overview":"The Dallmeyer 2 Inch f\/1.5 Septac is a fast standard-length British cine lens from J.H. Dallmeyer of London, designed for professional 16mm and small-format motion picture work where its wide f\/1.5 aperture allowed shooting under low ambient light. As a Septac, it sits at the high-speed end of Dallmeyer's mid-twentieth-century cine catalogue and is sought today primarily by collectors of British optical history and specialist cine users.","market_narrative":"Sales evidence for the 2 Inch f\/1.5 Septac is extremely thin, so any view of what the lens is worth in 2026 has to be drawn from a single data point: a Christie's UK auction hammer result of £3,290 in December 2002. That figure is a wholesale saleroom level rather than a dealer asking price, and with no further auction comparables the lens sells for whatever a determined collector will pay on the day, meaning current value and price guidance should be treated as indicative only.","buying_guide":"Inspect the glass carefully under a strong light for fungus, haze and cleaning marks, as British cine optics of this era frequently show coating wear and internal bloom. Check the iris for oil on the aperture blades and confirm the focus helicoid turns smoothly without stiffness or grease migration, and look closely at cemented groups for the tell-tale rainbow edges of lens separation. Confirm the mount and any adapter hardware match your intended camera, since Dallmeyer cine lenses were supplied in several fittings.","specs":"Recorded specifications are limited to a 2 inch (approximately 50mm) focal length and a maximum aperture of f\/1.5, marketed under Dallmeyer's Septac high-speed cine line.","faq":[{"q":"What is a Dallmeyer 2 Inch f\/1.5 Septac worth today?","a":"The only verified UK auction reference is a £3,290 hammer price at Christie's in 2002; with no recent comparables, current value depends heavily on condition and bidder interest on the day."},{"q":"How much does a Dallmeyer Septac 2 Inch f\/1.5 sell for at auction?","a":"Documented sales history shows one result of £3,290 at hammer, so the price a clean example sells for now should be treated as a single-point reference rather than an established market range."},{"q":"Is the Dallmeyer Septac a cine lens?","a":"Yes, the Septac line was produced by J.H. Dallmeyer of London as fast cine optics, and the 2 inch f\/1.5 sits at the high-speed end of that range."},{"q":"What should I check before buying one?","a":"Prioritise glass clarity (fungus, haze, separation), clean dry aperture blades, smooth focus action and the specific mount fitting, as servicing parts for Dallmeyer cine lenses are scarce."}],"confidence":35,"reasoning":"Only one sales record and no SPECS or variant data are provided, so confidence is capped well below 50."}