CameraWorth.com

Bell & Howell Foton

The Bell & Howell Foton is a 35mm rangefinder camera produced in the United States in the late 1940s. It was positioned at the top of the market when new, aimed at professional and advanced amateur photographers and priced well above most contemporary 35mm cameras.

At UK auction today, hammer prices for the Foton have ranged from around £500 to £2,000, with a median near £880 — these are saleroom wholesale results rather than retail asking prices. The Foton is scarce and condition-sensitive, so what a given example sells for depends heavily on cosmetic state, mechanical function and completeness; exceptional examples have driven the upper end of the value range.

I have one to sell

Sales History

Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.

Prices updated: January 2024

Date Price Source
Jan 2024 USD 550 pedia_sales_tamarkin
Jan 2024 USD 500 pedia_sales_tamarkin
Nov 2020 EUR 1,200 Leitz Auction
Nov 2020 USD 550 pedia_sales_tamarkin
Jun 2020 EUR 2,000 Leitz Auction
Jun 2015 EUR 500 Leitz Auction
Jun 2015 EUR 1,100 Leitz Auction
Nov 2014 EUR 700 Leitz Auction
May 2010 EUR 950 Leitz Auction
Nov 2006 £420 Christie's
May 2006 EUR 880 Leitz Auction
Nov 1998 £368 Christie's
Sep 1998 £552 Christie's
Jul 1998 £552 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Bell & Howell Foton sell for?

Recent UK auction hammer results sit between roughly £500 and £2,000, with a mid-point around £880 depending on condition and completeness.

What is a Bell & Howell Foton worth today?

In 2026 the market value at auction is typically a few hundred to around two thousand pounds, with clean, fully functional examples commanding the top of that range.

Why is the Foton priced higher than many 1940s 35mm cameras?

It was a low-production, high-specification American 35mm rangefinder with a spring-motor wind, so surviving examples are scarce and collector demand supports the price.

Other Bell & Howell cameras