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Leica cameras and lenses are celebrated for their longevity as well as their legacy. Every year, Tamarkin Camera, an official Leica Camera and Sport Optics dealer in Chicago, hosts an auction, selling the most expensive Leicas known to humankind. This year, they are celebrating the 100-year anniversary of Leica, and to mark this milestone, they are back with new cameras and lenses that you must take a look at.
According to Tamarkin’s catalogue, the lot comprises over 500 items, which also includes offerings from Rollei, Nikon, Canon, and other manufacturers. However, as usual, the highlight is Leica, and this year, one of the most expensive offerings is the Leica MP-3 LHSA set. Estimated at $ 25,000 to $ 35,000, the MP-3 is one of only 500 black-painted models designed for the Leica Historical Society of America in 2005. Additionally, the LHSA edition differs from the MP-3 Vienna version. For instance, the frame counter is outside in the LHSA edition, has “buddha ears” type strap lugs, and it has a taller rewind lever, which was seen on the original M3. At the auction, you can get this device with a 50mm Summilux-M f1.4 ASPH and Leicavit MP.
The second most expensive offering is the Leica I (model A), which is estimated to be worth $17,500 to $22,500. The Leica I, as we stated earlier, is the oldest Leica. It was built at the end of 1924, and was the “first 35 mm camera to be successfully mass produced with a 35 mm cinema film format.” However, it was only in 1925, when the company was established, that the camera was seen by the public. The company produced approximately 57,000 units of the Leica I with various designs between 1925 and 1930, leaving a lasting mark on photography as we know it today. At Tamarkin, you get the model, along with a 50 mm Elmax lens and a satin-lined presentation box.
Some of the other expensive cameras include the Leica MP 212 body with Dual Range Summicron lens ($25,000 to 35,000), the Leica M3 Double-Stroke black-paint ($15,000 to $20,000), and the Leica MP Edition Hermès ($10,000 to 15,000). Each of these cameras was designed for a specific use, and still holds value. There is also the Hong Qi (Red Flag 20) camera set, which was designed for the Chinese government, and fewer than 200 such models exist today. The Red Flag models are extremely rare today; therefore, the estimated value is around $10,000 to $20,000.
Like the camera, the 50mm SOM Berthoid Flor lens offers an f1.5 aperture and is estimated to cost between $10,000 and $20,000. What makes the lens unique is that it is made in France and does not have an iris or a fixed focus. This model at Tamarkin was actually discovered in Alexandria, Egypt, with the Leica III camera. The lens was later found in an abandoned apartment and was sold at an auction.
Another unique offering is the Leitz Canada 65mm “Picker X-Ray Lens” f0.75, which is used with the Leica SL camera. There is no focusing helicoid, but this is an X-ray lens that was made in the 1970s for the Picker X-ray Corporation and
Recently been adapted to a modern digital camera mount. However, its price is estimated to be between $1,500 and $2,500.
If the catalogue has exited you, you can participate in the online bidding, which will run from October 27 to November 15. The results will also be announced that day.
While this auction does not feature the most expensive Leica cameras of all time, the end results can change things. That’s because the estimate can be low, but the buyers could be more. And so, the price will climb based on the needs. The diversity is also great, and it only adds to the joy of the auction. For more information, head to Tamarkin Camera’s website.
