Canon VI-L black
The Canon VI-L is a 35mm rangefinder camera with a Leica screw mount (M39), produced by Canon at the end of its rangefinder line before the company's focus shifted to SLRs. The black-painted version is a scarcer factory finish than the more common chrome body.
Auction data for the black VI-L is thin: a single UK saleroom hammer result of £1,645 from 2001 is the only verified reference point, and that figure excludes buyer's and seller's commission. Black-paint Canon rangefinders have generally appreciated since then, so what a clean example is worth today is likely higher than that historic price, but with only one data point the current value cannot be stated reliably from the sales history alone.
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: June 2025
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| Jun 2025 | EUR 3,600 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 46 (Lot A01964) Title: Canon VI-L black paint with all-black 1.2/50mm
Description:
Beautiful, rare and fully original black painted Canon, in almost mint condition, with very rare all-black Canon Lens 1.2/50mm no.22829, good optics only showing discrete cleaning marks. Estimate: EUR 2,400 - EUR 2,800 |
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| Mar 2014 | EUR 2,600 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 25 (Lot AI_25_30370) Title: Canon VI-L black paint
Description:
beautiful and fully original black painted Canon with very rare all-black Canon Lens 1.2/50mm no.23046 (clean lenses, metal hood), black paint Canon Meter Estimate: EUR 1,800 - EUR 2,200 |
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| Jun 2001 | £1,645 | Christie's | |
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Auction: LEICA, NIKON AND 35MM CAMERAS (Lot 4) Title: Canon VI-L no. 601521
Description:
Canon VI-L no. 601521 Estimate: £1,200 - £1,500 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Canon VI-L black worth?
The only verified UK auction record in our data is a hammer price of £1,645 from June 2001, so a precise current value cannot be given without more recent sales.
How much does a Canon VI-L black sell for at auction?
Historically it has sold for four-figure sums at UK auction, with our single recorded hammer price at £1,645, but condition and originality of the black paint heavily influence what any given example sells for.
Is the black VI-L rarer than the chrome version?
Yes — factory black-paint Canon screw-mount rangefinders were produced in much smaller numbers than chrome bodies and typically command a premium when originality can be confirmed.