Canon VI-L
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.
Variants
Select a variant to filter the sales history below.
| Variant | Years | Edition | Sales | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| black | — | — | 3 | £1,400 – £3,059 |
Sales History
Prices shown are realised prices — auction results and completed eBay sales, never asking prices. Most saleroom figures are hammer prices, before commission; some houses publish a premium-inclusive figure, and we do not adjust for condition. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher. How this figure is calculated.
Based on 15 recorded sales.
Last checked on eBay: 15 August 2026. Most recent sale: August 2026.
| Date | Price | Value GBP | Source | Variant | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2026 | USD 450 | £332 | 🇺🇸 eBay | — | |
Title: [Vintage MINT] Canon VI L 6L Rangefinder Film Camera Body 50mm f/1.8 Lens JAPAN
Description:
Front lens cap. Lens filter. Film (Bonus because it's expired). Above condition is based on my own opinion. No problem in the view. By weight and shape of each product, I use 13 kind of cushioning materials and pursue safety and weight reduction. Location: MIE, YOKKAICHI, Japan |
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| Jul 2026 | USD 190 | £142 | 🇺🇸 eBay | — | |
Title: [Exc+4] Canon VI L 6L 35mm Rangefinder Film Camera L39 Mount LTM From JAPAN
Description:
From JAPAN #1469. It works properly. A little force is required to open the back cover. — Don’t hesitate —. Shows noticeable scuffs from normal use. Show signs of use. By weight and shape of each product, I use 13 kind of cushioning materials and pursue safety and weight reduction. Location: HIROSHIMA, HIROSHIMA, Japan |
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| Jul 2026 | USD 400 | £299 | 🇺🇸 eBay | — | |
Title: [Top MINT] Canon VI-L 35mm Rangefinder Film Camera Body LTM L39 From JAPAN
Description:
Above condition is based on my own opinion. No problem in the view. It works properly. Functional;. Weekends are not available because office is closed. There is no scratches. Location: Saitama Shi Nishi Ku, SAITAMA, Japan |
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| Jul 2026 | USD 340 | £254 | 🇺🇸 eBay | — | |
Title: [MINT w/Canon Light Meter] Canon VI L 6L 35mm Rangefinder Film Camera From JAPAN
Description:
There is a thin haze. ・For the United States. Important Notice Functional;. No problem in the view. Weekends are not available because office is closed. There is no scratches. Location: Yamagata, YAMAGATA, Japan |
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| Jul 2026 | USD 220 | £165 | 🇺🇸 eBay | — | |
Title: [Exc+5] Canon VI L 6L 35mm Rangefinder Film Camera From JAPAN
Description:
There are three scratches or dents on the shutter curtain. tiny scuffs from normal use. Shutter speed is accurate from low speed to high speed. Important Notice I think affects viewing. There is fogging and mould throughout the viewfinder. Location: NAKANO KU, TOKYO, Japan |
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| Jun 2025 | EUR 3,600 | £3,059 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | black | |
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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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| Oct 2023 | £160 | £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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| Oct 2023 | £100 | £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 | £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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| Feb 2022 | £69 | £55 | 🇬🇧 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 | £350 | 🇬🇧 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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| Jul 2015 | £65 | £65 | 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services (archive) | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica Day 1, Wednesday 1st July 2015 at 10:00 ( Lots 1-643) Day 2, Thursday 2nd July 2015 at 10:00 ( LOts 644-987) (Lot 970) Title: A Canon VI-L Rangefinder Camera
Description:
A Canon VI-L Rangefinder Camera, chrome, serial no. 612541, with Canon f/1.4 50mm lens, chrome, serial no. 115115, body, F, shutter working, lens, F-G, scratch marks to front element, with maker's lens cap, in maker's case Estimate: £70 - £100 |
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| Mar 2014 | EUR 2,600 | £2,162 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | black | |
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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 | £1,400 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | black | |
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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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| Jan 1998 | £368 | £320 | 🇬🇧 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.