Prinz — vintage Japanese preset telephoto lens, Dixons own-brand, T2/M42/Exakta/Pentax K fit
Prinz was the house brand used by British electrical and photographic retailer Dixons from the 1950s onward for rebadged Japanese-made goods. The Galaxy 135mm f/3.5 was a budget preset telephoto prime sold through Dixons stores in the 1970s, built on a T-mount optical core shared with several rival own-brand lines of the period.
Sold mainly with a T2 base carrying M42, Pentax K or Exakta adapters, the lens uses a preset aperture ring on an all-metal barrel. Filter thread is 46mm, tested copies weigh close to 200g, and the ten-blade iris presets from f/3.5 to f/22 using two rings, one for setting aperture and one for stopping down.
Wide open the lens is soft with a warm, slightly yellow cast from its coatings, sharpening by f/8. Bokeh is unremarkable and contrast stays moderate. Handling feels dated, since the two-ring preset system needs practice next to automatic-diaphragm lenses of the same era.
Copies turn up cheaply on the UK used market, usually under £20, most often in M42 fit. Check the preset ring clicks or resists evenly, confirm the aperture blades move freely without oil, and inspect the T2 thread and any fitted adapter for play, which can cause focus errors.