Canon VI-L Chrome
The Canon VI-L is a 39mm screw-mount rangefinder camera produced by Canon in the late 1950s. The L designation refers to the lever-wind variant of the VI series, positioned as a professional 35mm rangefinder during Canon's final screw-mount generation before the move to the Canon 7.
At UK auction in recent years, hammer prices for the Canon VI-L Chrome have ranged from around £69 to £160, with a median near £100 — wholesale saleroom levels that exclude buyer's and seller's commission. As of today in 2026 the model sells for modest money relative to its professional origins, and what a VI-L is worth on any given day is heavily tied to cosmetic condition and whether the rangefinder remains accurate. Prices in this bracket reflect body-only lots; clean working examples sit at the upper end of the range.
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: October 2023
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| Oct 2023 | £160 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 262) Title: A Canon VI-L Rangefinder Camera
Description:
A Canon VI-L Rangefinder Camera, chrome, serial no 616403, shutter working, rangefinder functions, self timer working, body G-VG, with Canon 50mm f/1. |
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| Oct 2023 | £100 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 260) Title: A Canon VI-L Rangefinder Camera
Description:
A Canon VI-L Rangefinder Camera, chrome, serial no 507961, shutter working, sluggish on one second, rangefinder functions, self timer working, body G- |
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| Oct 2023 | £160 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 261) Title: A Canon VI-L Rangefinder Camera
Description:
A Canon VI-L Rangefinder Camera, chrome, serial no 610936, shutter working, rangefinder functions, self timer working, body G-VG, some light |
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| Feb 2022 | £69 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 557) Title: A Canon VI-L Rangefinder Body
Description:
chrome, serial no. 605968, body, F, shutter sticking |
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| Nov 2021 | £434 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 110) Title: A Canon VI-L Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1958-60, chrome, serial no. 611557, with Canon f/1.2 50mm lens, chrome, serial no. 28329, body, G, shutter working, slight ding and marks to top |
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| Jan 1998 | £368 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND OPTICAL TOYS (Lot 254) Title: Canon VI-L no. 603618
Description:
Canon VI-L no. 603618 Estimate: £200 - £400 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Canon VI-L Chrome worth today?
Recent UK auction hammer results sit between roughly £69 and £160, with a typical body-only value around £100 depending on condition and rangefinder accuracy.
How much does a Canon VI-L sell for at auction?
Chrome bodies have sold for £69 to £160 at UK auction, with the price driven largely by cosmetic condition and whether the shutter and rangefinder are functioning correctly.
Is the Canon VI-L the same as the VI-T?
No — the VI-L uses a conventional lever wind, while the VI-T uses a trigger wind mounted on the baseplate; both share the same 39mm screw mount and core rangefinder design.
What lenses fit the Canon VI-L?
The VI-L takes Canon 39mm screw-mount rangefinder lenses, which are compatible with Leica Thread Mount (LTM) optics of the same era.