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Canon VI-T Chrome

The Canon VI-T Chrome is a 35mm rangefinder camera using the Leica screw mount (M39), produced by Canon in the late 1950s. The 'T' designates the trigger-wind baseplate mechanism, which sets it apart from the lever-wind VI-L sold alongside it. The Chrome finish was the standard version, aimed at serious amateurs and professionals looking for an alternative to Leitz and Nikon rangefinders.

Hammer prices for the Canon VI-T Chrome at UK auction have spanned roughly £120–£290, with a median near £160 based on the limited record set available today. Condition, working rangefinder accuracy and a smoothly operating trigger-wind all influence what an example sells for in the saleroom, and examples paired with a period Canon lens typically realise more than bodies alone. Because only a handful of verified UK hammer results are on file, the headline value figure should be treated as indicative rather than a tight market price.

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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.

Prices updated: October 2023

Date Price Source
Oct 2023 £120 Special Auction Services
Oct 2023 £100 Special Auction Services
May 2023 £300 Flints Auctions
Dec 2021 £124 Flints Auctions
Dec 2021 £236 Flints Auctions
May 2020 £318 Flints Auctions
May 2009 EUR 650 Leitz Auction
Nov 2005 EUR 450 Leitz Auction
Jun 2005 £360 Christie's
Jun 2004 £227 Christie's
May 2003 EUR 290 Leitz Auction
Apr 2003 £293 Christie's
Mar 2001 £164 Christie's
Aug 2000 £293 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Canon VI-T Chrome worth today?

Recorded UK auction hammer prices sit in the £120–£290 range, with a median around £160, so a clean working body typically sells for somewhere in that band.

How much does a Canon VI-T Chrome sell for at auction?

Hammer results on file range from roughly £120 to £290, and the price a specific example fetches depends heavily on cosmetic condition, rangefinder accuracy and whether a lens is included.

Is the Canon VI-T Chrome a good value buy?

At current price levels it offers a screwmount rangefinder experience well below the cost of comparable Leitz bodies, though the trigger-wind mechanism and rangefinder should be tested carefully before purchase.

What lens mount does the Canon VI-T use?

It uses the Leica screw mount (M39), so it accepts Canon's own screwmount lenses as well as period Leitz and other third-party LTM optics.

Other Canon cameras