The Leica M (“Messsucher”) series is one of the most iconic cameras in the history of photography. They were not only the companions of the renowned photographers who walked the Earth but also helped to influence Japanese camera makers to follow in their footsteps. And now, to celebrate the 70th anniversary and honor the history of its product, the 45th edition of the famous Leitz Photographica Auction will feature some of the greatest Leica M series cameras ever produced in Vienna. Could they be some of the most expensive Leicas ever sold?
What To Expect At The Leitz Photographica Auction
The auction, which will take place on November 23, includes 423 lots, including Leica lenses, devices from other companies such as Nikon and Canon, Zeiss, Hugo Meyer, and many more. Here’s a look at the most exciting devices:
Leica M Prototype
The item with the highest estimated value is the Leica M prototype. Produced between 1948 and 1949, these devices were non-saleable and were known as the earliest models in the M series. “The camera is one of the earliest known prototypes from the development of the M, without a serial number and composed entirely of unique machined and handcrafted parts,” says Alexander Sedlak, Managing Director of the Leitz Photographica Auction.
What makes it so significant is that it is unnumbered, lacks engravings, and is entirely hand-machined. The Leica M prototype’s body is shorter than the final Leica M3 by 2mm and features a sharkskin-type vulcanite. Furthermore, it includes special strap lugs, an external film counter, a winding lever with a distinct design, and a ‘flat’ design around the rangefinder and viewfinder frames.
This Leica M prototype features an unnumbered Elmar 3.5/3.5cm lens, which also has been created with a special construction. It has a small slot on the lens base, designed with the intention of a detachable wide-angle viewfinder attachment. There is also a prototype lens meter, which features a unique, different construction. The estimated price is between €600,000 ($652,590) and €700,000 ($761,355).
Gray Paint-Leica and Custom Models
The Leica M2 grey-painted cameras were created specifically for the US Air Force in Germany in 1960. Only 20 such cameras were designed, and of them, serial number 1005769 is now being auctioned, making it one of the 12 cameras that still exists today. As a result, the grey M2 is being auctioned at an estimated price of €500,000 ($543,845) to €600,000 ($652,614).
The last model in this top-prized camera is the 1958 Leica M3 black paint ‘Black Dial’ model. Designed for the company’s marketing department, the camera, and the Summicron 2/5cm lens are both estimated to be worth €280,000 ($304,511) to €320,000 ($348,012).
Leica Prototype Chassis
Leica is also auctioning 10 prototype chassis, which its engineers developed over 17 years. The chassis was designed to refine and test the company’s M series, and it includes everything from the Leica III chassis in 1936 to an aluminum Leica M body from 1953. Finally, after years of experimentation, the Leica M3 was introduced in 1954. These prototypes showcase the changes the camera underwent, only to become a classic after years of effort. The estimated price of these prototype chassis is between €300,000 ($326,295) and €340,000 ($369,801).
The company will also sell its Leica M6J, created for the 40th anniversary of the M series, which will be donated to charity, “Licht ins Dunkel.”
Can Leica M Protype Become The Most Expensive?
Historically, the most expensive Leica ever sold was the Leica 0-series no.105, which was auctioned at a whopping price of €14.4 million in 2022. What makes this device so special is that this was the world’s first 35 mm camera ever made. This camera no 105 belonged to Oskar Barnack, and the creator used it to capture his family life. The company notes that Leica made only 23 such models between 1923 and 1924. These devices’ creation further helped Barnack perfect the other Leica cameras. “To put these numbers into perspective: The most expensive camera in the world to date – also a 0-series, serial number 122 – was sold at the 32nd Leitz Photographica Auction in 2018 for 2.4 million euros, including buyers premium,” said Alexander Sedlak, Managing Director of Leica Camera Classics.
Similarly, considering the significance of the Leica M3 prototype, we hope it sells for millions. The device, as seen above, really changed the way we photograph. For that very reason, its auction must also continue to live Leica’s history.
For more information, visit Leitz Photographica Auction’s website.