CameraWorth.com

Taylor, Taylor, & Hobson 2 Inch f/2 T2.3 Ortal 50mm TV

The Taylor, Taylor & Hobson 2 Inch f/2 T2.3 Ortal is a 50mm fixed focal length lens engraved 'TV', indicating its original role as a broadcast television camera optic from the British optical firm better known for its Cooke cinema lenses. The T-stop rating (T2.3) alongside the f/2 geometric aperture points to a lens calibrated for motion-picture and broadcast exposure rather than stills photography.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Ortal 2 Inch f/2 TV have spanned roughly £210 to £840, with a median value near £340 across the past seven years — these are saleroom wholesale results, exclusive of commission. Today in 2026, clean copies are selling for £210–£240, a noticeable softening from the £780–£840 levels fetched at auction back in 2019, while one-off outliers such as a £580 result in March 2025 and an £819 sale in August 2024 show that strong examples can still command a premium. Overall the current price trend suggests condition and provenance now matter more than the model itself in determining what a given copy is worth.

I have one to sell

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
Jan 2026 £210 Special Auction Services
Jan 2026 £240 Special Auction Services
Jan 2026 £240 Special Auction Services
Jan 2026 £220 Special Auction Services
Jan 2026 £240 Special Auction Services
Nov 2025 £420 Special Auction Services
Nov 2025 £220 Special Auction Services
Nov 2025 £340 Special Auction Services
Mar 2025 £580 Chiswick Auctions
Aug 2024 £819 Chiswick Auctions
Apr 2019 £840 Flints Auctions
Apr 2019 £780 Flints Auctions
Apr 2019 £816 Flints Auctions

Other Taylor, Taylor, & Hobson lenses