Kilfitt Makro-Kilar · 90mm f/2.8

{"overview":"The Kilfitt 90mm f\/2.8 Makro-Kilar is a short-telephoto macro lens from the German maker Heinz Kilfitt, built for close-up and 1:1 reproduction work on interchangeable-mount SLRs and rangefinders of the mid-20th century. Its long helicoid travel and moderate 90mm focal length made it a specialist tool for technical, scientific and nature photography in the era before zoom-macros became standard.","market_narrative":"At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the 90mm Makro-Kilar have ranged from £138 to £275, with a median around £200 across the three sales on record. As of 2026, clean user copies with smooth helicoids tend to sell for the upper end of that band at saleroom level, while scruffier examples with optical or mechanical faults make up the lower end; these are wholesale hammer results and do not reflect dealer retail asking prices.","buying_guide":"Inspect the glass carefully for fungus, haze and cleaning marks, as the coatings on Kilfitt optics of this period are relatively soft and scratch easily. Work the long macro helicoid through its full travel — stiffness, grittiness or dried grease is common and a proper service is not cheap — and check the aperture blades for oil, sluggish response or separation of the cemented groups. Confirm which mount is fitted, since the Makro-Kilar was supplied in several interchangeable mounts and matching the correct adapter affects both usability and value.","specs":"Key specifications from the provided data are limited: a 90mm focal length and f\/2.8 maximum aperture in the Makro-Kilar macro line; no further optical construction, coating or production-year data is supplied here.","faq":[{"q":"What is a Kilfitt 90mm f\/2.8 Makro-Kilar worth today?","a":"Based on UK auction hammer results, a 90mm Makro-Kilar is worth roughly £140 to £275, with a typical price around £200 for an average condition example."},{"q":"How much does a 90mm Makro-Kilar sell for at auction?","a":"Recent UK saleroom results show the lens sells for between £138 and £275 at the hammer, depending on optical and mechanical condition."},{"q":"Is the Makro-Kilar 90mm a true 1:1 macro lens?","a":"The Makro-Kilar line was designed specifically for close-up work with an extended helicoid, and the 90mm is part of that dedicated macro family rather than a general-purpose short telephoto."},{"q":"What should I check before buying one?","a":"Prioritise clear glass free of fungus and haze, a smooth focus helicoid throughout its long travel, dry aperture blades, and confirmation of the lens mount so it can be adapted to your camera."}],"confidence":55,"reasoning":"Only three unverified UK auction records and no SPECS or variant data are provided, so pricing commentary is reliable but technical detail is deliberately limited."}