Hammer Price 3.500.000 Euro incl. premium 

In 1923, two years before the Leica was launched, 22 to 25 cameras of what is nowadays called the Leica 0-series were made for testing purposes, of which 16 are still known worldwide. Based on the assessment of the Leica 0-series by the experts involved, Ernst Leitz II decided in 1924 to serial-produce the camera designed by Oskar Barnack. The “revolution in photography” that was initiated as a result took its course. Therefore, these cameras represent not just the prototypes of the Leica I, but the prototypes of all Leica 35mm cameras to this day.

The original black paint finish in very beautiful condition. The five-element Anastigmat 50 mm f/3.5 lens with an aperture scale to 12 and very clean optics. With original leather lens cap with fastening cord and original spool. A historically important camera and an extreme rarity!

Hammer Price 400.000 Euro incl. premium 

The Leica IIIc, introduced in 1939, was the first Leica model using a construction of a die-cast shutter crate. This substantial change in Leica design was retained in all later Leica screw- and M-mount models. One particularly interesting detail on this camera is the opening swing-up backdoor – not commercially introduced before 1954 with the Leica M3.

Hammer Price 40.000 Euro incl. premium 

Leitz designer Wilhelm Albert begun his work on the construction of the early 3,5 cm Stereo lenses in 1937. It was not until the 1950s that the development of the 3,3 cm Stemar system for amateur photography was implemented on this basis. The extremely rare OVUTO version offered here with a speed of f/2.5 was produced in parallel with the more well-known Stereo Elmar f/3.5 (OWENO). In total, fewer than 20 examples of the Stemar f/2.5 were made.

Hammer Price 93.750 Euro incl. premium 

This remarkable construction of a protective housing for the Leica, which also served as a lens hood, was created by Wilhelm Albert in 1941. It was designed for hands-free use in photography from the German Luftwaffe's Ju 87 dive bombers (Stuka). For holding a Leica IIIc with Summitar and SCNOO-C rapid winder. It is probably a one-off, that served as a prototype only for sampling. To this day, no second example has become known as original version.

Hammer Price 68.750 Euro incl. premium 

The Leica M7 "Handmade Titanium Camera" was a one-off manufactured in 2002 for Sheikh Saud Al-Thani of Qatar. The sample unit offered here still shows some differences from the camera that was delivered later. All external components are made of solid titanium. The top of the topplate engraved with the customer's signature as well as the front with the "£eica" logo, instead of an inset dot. The accessory shoe engraved with the special serial number 8888888 and "1/1". The later delivered outfit consisted of a body with five lenses, all machined from solid titanium. 

Hammer Price 275.000 Euro incl. premium 

This prototype, with a completely different design, was produced before the launch of the famous first version of the Summilux 35, which was commercially introduced in 1961. Only a handful of experimental lenses are known to have been made with this designation, before the „Summilux“ name was found. Based on formula C27 by Dr. Walter Mandler. 

Unusual lens with silver finish name ring and typical prototype number as used by Leitz Canada at the time.

Hammer Price 137.500 Euro incl. premium 

Experimental lens for the later Summilux. The prototype offered here is an extremely rare early version, with partly unfinished aluminium mount. Distance setting ring with cross knurling, as well as focusing lever with unlock button. Silver finish name ring, engraved „Summarit f=5 cm 1:1,4 B637a“.

Hammer Price 137.500 Euro incl. premium 

Introduced at Photokina 1966, the Noctilux was the world's first series-produced lens for the 35 mm format containing elements with aspherical surfaces. The production was extremely time-consuming and complicated, so that only one piece could be completed per working day. Until production ceased in 1975, the total number of lenses was less than 2500.

The lens offered here is one of four experimental units produced in September 1964, with prototype number 0000767 to 0000770. Black anodized mount, with "Feet"-scale filled in yellow. With a prototype lens hood, in design significantly different from the later series version. Engraving "1:1.2/50".

Hammer Price 93.750 Euro incl. premium 

A total of three specimens of such prototypes in the dimension 1:6.3/1200 mm (formula number B763) were manufactured in February 1971, a series production was not thereafter. It was a parallel development to the Leitz Telyt 800 mm f/6.3, which was launched in 1972. The naming of this lens is interesting. The ending "cron" first appeared in the name of the Summicron 50 mm f/2 (1953), whose thorium oxide-free lanthanium crown glass of the type "LAK9" with its high refraction properties, enabled so far unmatched optical performance. The dimensions of this lens are actually unusual. The length is 120 cm and the weight is more than 16 kg. The front lens diameter measures 22 cm. With lens hood (included) the length is even 155 cm. Never offered at auctions before! 

Hammer Price 425.000 Euro incl. premium 

In May 1989, Nikon started developing the lens offered here and thus reacted to the super telephoto 1200 mm f/5.6 lens presented by Canon around 1980.

With this 1200-1700 mm lens, Nikon offered the longest available focal length of all zoom lenses for the 35 mm format. The prototype was first used in 1990 in the Koshien Stadium in Amagasaki. In order to capture the athletes in the middle of the stadium from the press seats, focal lengths of 1200 mm were required for overview and 1700 mm for portrait shots. Nikon later delivered these lenses to news agencies worldwide. From 1994, Nikon also made this 16 kg lens available to the general market, produced on special order only.

In total, not more than 35 units were made. Never offered at auction before!

Hammer Price 162.500 Euro incl. premium 

This special black paint finished version of the Leica IIIf was produced in just 100 units especially for the Swedish Military and was also a winterised version, designed for use in the climatic conditions of the arctic regions.

This camera is the very last piece from this series (822901 - 823000), with Elmar 5 cm f/3.5 also finished in black paint.

Hammer Price 106.250 Euro incl. premium 

Leica model A of the first version with 5-element Anastigmat 5 cm f/3.5, as it was introduced at the Leipzig spring fair in 1925. A camera in very nice conservation level, substantially still close to the original delivery condition. An extreme rarity, only about 150 examples of the Anastigmat Leica were made. This is the 77th Leica serial production camera!

Hammer Price 562.500 Euro incl. premium

One of the rarest Leica military cameras, with an olive green vulcanite body covering and a golden decal with the federal eagle and "BMVtdg 30 (Federal Ministry of Defense)" on the back of the topplate. This camera is one of only two such specimens documented. 

Hammer Price 687.500 Euro incl. premium

Hitherto unknown experimental model of an M camera for 52 exposures in 24x24 mm image format, without a built-in viewfinder or rangefinder. The topplate with corner, four holding screws combines design features of the later Leica MD and MDa versions.

Hammer Price 187.500 Euro incl. premium

A black paint Leica M3 in unused, practically like new original condition, with E. Leitz New York import certificate with matching serial number.

Hammer Price 625.000 Euro incl. premium 

This Leica MP was originally delivered as a silver chrome-plated camera. In the 1960s, as part of a factory repair, it was reworked into a black finished version on customer's request. The same applies to the conversion to a single stroke winding mechanism with long transport lever. Typical MP repair shell with round strap lugs.

Hammer Price 625.000 Euro incl. premium

Superb and fully functional replication of the famous camera used for the NASA Skylab Experiment S063 (UV Airglow Horizon Photography). With matching Noctilux 50 mm f/1.2.

Hammer Price 75.000 Euro incl. premium

Prototype of the Janua with an unusually early serial number, close to those of the extremely rare San Giorgio Safo and Parva cameras. This prototype differs in several features from the series-produced camera. With "ESSEGI" 5 cm f/3.5 No. 351213 with brass mount and chrome plated front ring.

Hammer Price 93.750 Euro incl. premium 

One of approximately fifteen modified Salyut cameras manufactured for use on Soyuz space missions. With Industar-29 80 mm f/2.8 and MIR-3 65 mm f/3.5. These cameras produced from about 1964 show a number of major differences from the serial production version. Film transport knob and shutter speed dial as well as focusing- and aperture control rings are enlarged, in order to enable operation with the bulky space gloves. The waist-level viewfinder is replaced by a kind of folding sports viewfinder.

Hammer Price 187.500 Euro incl. premium 

The only Nikkor-O Auto 58 mm f/1 known to us to date, with serial number 580101. The serial number is believed to be a combination of focal length and maximum aperture values, as well as sequential number 1 for the very first lens in this series. Developed for Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) photography.

Hammer Price 450.000 Euro incl. premium 

With only 31 units produced, it is one of the really great rarities and the most scarce type among the Bundeswehr Leica cameras with an olive green finish. Apparently the camera was never opened - the original Leitz Wetzlar "£" assembly seal is still intact.

Hammer Price 375.000 Euro incl. premium 

Experimental camera with slow speed movement, based on an early Leica II (Model D). In 1933, the Leica III (Model F), the first Leica model with long exposure times of 1/20 to 1 sec., was introduced. The design and position of the setting lever for the long exposure times is extremely striking. We are not aware of any other specimen in this version - it may be unique. Historically significant!

Hammer Price 150.000 Euro incl. premium 

One of the very early M3 cameras produced in black paint finish by Leitz Wetzlar on special order. Only about 90 pieces were originally prepared like this, still before the first official black paint Leica M3 batch. Extremely scarce, with double stroke film winding mechanism and black frame counter.

Hammer Price 187.500 Euro incl. premium 

Prototype to the famous first version of the Summilux 35, which was commercially introduced in 1961. Only a handful of experimental lenses are known to have been made with this designation, before the „Summilux“ name was found. Unusual lens with silver finish name ring and typical prototype number as used by Leitz Canada at the time.

Hammer Price 40.000 Euro incl. premium 

Extremely rare version of the early rigid Summicron in original gold-plated finish. It represents a sample unit to the gold-plated Leica M3 camera with serial number 873000, which was dedicated to Philippe Tiranty, the then Leitz representative in Paris, in 1957.

Hammer Price 50.000 Euro incl. premium 

Very early FED in black paint finish. Only very few specimens of the black FED are known to exist today. We are aware of less than 10 cameras in collections worldwide.

Hammer Price 250.000 Euro incl. premium 

Extremely rare Soviet camera rifle, produced only in a very small series. The offered specimen has been presented to Nikolay Nikolayevich Voronov. Voronov was a Soviet military leader, chief marshal of the artillery (1944) and Hero of the Soviet Union (May 07th 1965). The reflex housing and the lens in much different design to those of the well known GOI and KMZ FS-2 FotoSniper. The complete outfit in its matching carrying case. 

Hammer Price 87.500 Euro incl. premium 

This model represents the first generation of motor-driven Hasselblad cameras for NASA, which were also used on the manned space mission during December 21st and 27th 1968, which closely passed the moon, for the purpose of surveying possible landing sites of future moon missions. 

Hammer Price 87.500 Euro incl. premium 

Extremely rare prototype of a 35 mm stereo camera by Franke & Heidecke. From the late 1920s onwards, various prototypes were made there, as the 35 mm film became more and more popular due to the great success of the Leica camera. Initially, ten samples were made in order to make final adjustments. The beginning of the war ended the work. The camera never reached serial production.

Hammer Price 500.000 Euro incl. premium 

Canon described this lens as "The world's largest interchangeable SLR-AF lens, both in terms of focal length and maximum aperture". The lens was introduced in 1993 and was available on special order only. Canon itself has never published production figures for this lens, but it is certain that far fewer than 100 units were made. It is assumed that the number of pieces is closer to 20. 

Hammer Price 55.967 Euro incl. premium 

The three lenses offered in one Lot represent the entire development of the remarkable 7,5 cm Summar. It is the first prototype from 1935, a lens from the Spanner device from the Second World War, and the lens delivered on June 10th 1952, which is probably the last of this type. Historically significant! 

Hammer Price 397.984 Euro incl. premium  

Experimental Nikon 35 mm camera from the time of the very early prototyping, when it was yet to decide, whether to go for Leica screw mount or for the „Contax" bayonet. No other specimen of such an early Nikon prototype camera with Leica screw mount has ever surfaced. Historically significant!  

Hammer Price 49.784 Euro incl. premium  

This camera is not only the first Leica IIId, but also represents the first (serial production) Leica camera with a die-cast shutter crate. Its recent discovery in a U.S. garage sale can, without exaggeration, be described as a sensation. Historically significant!  

Hammer Price 55.967 Euro incl. premium  

Very early M3 from the initial series. Topplate with corners at the front and back. The camera was produced on December 19th 1953, five months before its market launch at Photokina 1954. Historically significant! 

Hammer Price 80.841 Euro incl. premium  

Italian Leica copy prototype based on the second version of the SONNE, but without rangefinder. Specially made for Giorgio Moretti, Venice. The camera never went into serial production and probably only 2-3 prototype cameras were made.

Hammer Price 39.798 Euro incl. premium  

Extremely rare Leitz Canada experimental unit of a 180 mm lens for the Leica M. Based on computation C47 by Dr. Walter Mandler. With rangefinder coupling and "goggles" for viewfinder and rangefinder. Only a very few prototypes were made of this version, there was no later market launch. 

Hammer Price 24.874 Euro incl. premium 

Early experimental model of an interchangeable lens for the Leica with rangefinder coupling, with the unusual focal length of 10 cm. Lens mount made of aluminium. 

We do not know of any other specimen of a 10 cm Hektor - it is probably a unique piece. 

Hammer Price 17.412 Euro incl. premium  

Extremely rare and beautifully preserved Leitz advertising display from the late 1950s. Four different pastel-coloured panels for Leica cameras, mounted on a large metal bracket on a black wooden ground plate with rubber feet. We do not know of any other such display.  

Hammer Price 49.748 Euro incl. premium 

Extremely rare Primoplan in black / chrome finish. In original rangefinder coupled Leica M39 screw mount with clean optics. We think that less than 10 of these lenses still exist today.  

Hammer Price 39.798 Euro incl. premium  

Extremely rare Angenieux lens with clean optics in as new condition. In original maker's box with matching serial number.

Hammer Price 47.500 Euro incl. premium 

91 sheets of original (ink on parchment) item drawings "Kamera 4201", from the hand of Barnack´s team member Wilhelm Schäfer. Each signed "Schäfer", as well as each sheet countersigned by Oskar Barnack.

The recent discovery of this drawing set may without exaggeration be described as a sensation. This is proof of the existence of another, still unknown Leica predecessor, one year before the Leica 0-series, still with many technical deviations. Historically significant! 

Hammer Price 275.000 Euro incl. premium 

With this specimen of an original gold plated Leica Model A, one of the great classics among the rare Leica collectibles has been auctioned. According to today's state of knowledge, only 95 specimens were delivered in the years 1929-1931. 

Hammer Price 162.500 Euro incl. premium    

This Leica 250 (GG) comes complete with the extremely rare mechanical "Schnellaufzug für 10 m. Kamera (rapid winder for 10 m. camera)“. Wits its plunger operated film advance it was constructed in the years 1938 to 1940 and produced only in a few sample units. Never offered at auction before!

Hammer Price 37.500 Euro incl. premium  

The very first Summicron, delivered on 31st of October 1952 to Alfred Boch, head of the former Leitz agency in New York. The lens is pictured in the first Leitz New York Summicron brochure "The new Leica Summicron 50mm f/2 lens" of May 1953. Historically significant!

Hammer Price 56.250 Euro incl. premium  

A total of three specimens of such prototypes in the dimension 1: 5.9 / 1000 mm were manufactured in May 1969, a series production was not thereafter. It was a parallel development to the Leitz Telyt 800 mm f/6.3, which was launched in 1972. Never offered at auctions before!  

Hammer Price 62.500 Euro incl. premium  

This very rare 9x12 cm Leitz Moment Kamera with Summar 120 mm f/4.5 was originally delivered to the photographer Fritz Lehr of Wetzlar. Presumably the only Leitz Moment Camera, which was originally delivered to Wetzlar itself. Historically significant!  

Hammer Price 10.625 Euro incl. premium  

Extremely rare Leitz advertising display in the typical 1950s "kidney-shaped table" design. At the time (1956) announced in "Leitz Informationen für den Fotofachhandel (Leitz informations for the photo-retailers)", presumably today only few pieces are still in existence.

Hammer Price 75.000 Euro incl. premium  

The very first prototype of the Italian Leica copy produced by Telemaco Corsi, the inventor of the Rectaflex camera. The Rangefinder cameras of Rectaflex never went into serial production and it is believed that production has not exceeded 10 prototype cameras.

Hammer Price 81.250 Euro incl. premium  

This extremely rare, originally gold plated Rectaflex with brown covering and apricot painted non-gold plated metal parts, is equipped with one of two known AKTON 1: 2/50 mm lenses. Presumably, only 12 specimens of the gold plated Rectaflex were made.

Hammer Price 16.250 Euro incl. premium  

Second version of this very rare 2000 mm Nikkor lens with C-coating, built-in L37c filters, 18m close focusing distance. The first version was presented to the public at Photokina 1970 for the first time and was followed by the second version in 1975.