Dallmeyer Dallac 8.5cm f2, a British-made telephoto lens for Leica screw-mount cameras. Manufactured in the late 1940s. Rangefinder coupled. Double-Gauss design with 6 elements in 4 groups.
The aluminum barrel, made by Cooke & Perkins, is also very well constructed, with a neat and refined design typical of British products of the period. Contemporary catalogs promoted its Dallcoat coating, lightweight metal barrel, and high resolving power, and it was offered in Leica screw mount.
Although the Dallac 85mm was produced in relatively small numbers, several variations are known. This example is probably the most common version.
The coating has a pale purple tint. Actual weight is 399g. Compatible filter size is 48.5mm or 49mm.
A rare lens.
This lens was previously sold by our shop and has been carefully used by its owner before returning to us once again. This is now the third time we have handled this particular lens.
Its condition remains much the same as when we last sold it, and is quite good for a Dallac. The aluminum barrel shows general rubbing and small scratches from use, but there are no dents or major marks.
It received a full overhaul in 2025. Thanks to the careful servicing, the controls remain smooth and nicely damped, and the rangefinder coupling works well.
The front and inner elements show a fair amount of light cleaning marks. There is also some coating deterioration and age-related discoloration on several glass surfaces, but these should have very little effect on actual photographs.
Around wide open, the rendering is soft and delicate, with fine lines and beautiful glow that can only be described as luscious. Stop down just one stop and its character changes dramatically, with noticeably higher contrast and a much stronger, more solid rendering. Whether used wide open or stopped down, you can fully enjoy the distinctive Dallmeyer character. It should work beautifully not only for portraits, but also for still-life photography.
Our test shots showed very good results. We have posted sample images in our Test Shoot Gallery, although they were taken when we previously sold this lens. Most were shot around wide open. Where several shots of the same subject are shown, they were taken at f2, f2.8, and f4, stopping down one stop each time. We hope you will take a look.
Although it is not shown in the product photos, a used Kenko skylight filter of the correct size is included. The Dallac has a large front element that extends very close to the front edge of the lens, so having a filter fitted provides considerable peace of mind when shooting.
