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Canon Serenar 100mm f/3.5

The Canon Serenar 100mm f/3.5 is a short telephoto rangefinder lens in Leica L39 screw mount, produced under Canon's early Serenar branding before the company standardised on the Canon name. It was designed for portrait and mid-distance work on Canon and Leica screw-mount rangefinder bodies of the late 1940s and early 1950s.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Serenar 100mm f/3.5 have ranged from £40 to £140, with a sale at £81 in March 2025 sitting close to the middle of that spread. As of 2026, saleroom results show the lens typically sells for double-digit to low three-figure sums depending on glass and barrel condition, so what a clean example is worth today is largely a question of cosmetics and optical clarity rather than rarity.

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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.

Date Price Source
Mar 2025 £81 Flints Auctions
Oct 2023 £140 Special Auction Services
Oct 2023 £40 Special Auction Services

Frequently asked questions

What is a Canon Serenar 100mm f/3.5 worth today?

Based on UK auction hammer results, the lens has a value ranging from £40 for rough copies up to £140 for clean examples, with a recent mid-range sale at £81.

How much does a Canon Serenar 100mm f/3.5 sell for at auction?

Recent UK hammer prices show it sells for between £40 and £140, excluding buyer's premium, with condition of the glass and focus action being the main price drivers.

Will the Serenar 100mm f/3.5 fit a Leica camera?

Yes, it uses the L39 screw mount, so it fits Leica and other rangefinder bodies that accept 39mm thread lenses.

Why is it branded Serenar rather than Canon?

Serenar was Canon's original lens brand name used on its early rangefinder optics before the company consolidated everything under the Canon name.

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