Canon VL-2
The Canon VL-2 is a 35mm film rangefinder camera produced by Canon during the 1950s, fitted with the Leica-compatible 39mm screw mount used by Canon's rangefinder line of that era. It sat within Canon's mid-1950s rangefinder range as a more affordable companion to the higher-specified V-series bodies.
Auction data for the VL-2 is thin: a single UK saleroom hammer result of £100 in September 2025 is the only verified reference point we have today, so any sense of what this camera is worth at wholesale level rests on that one data point. Condition, working shutter speeds and rangefinder accuracy will move the price materially, and a clean, fully functional example with a matching Canon screw-mount lens would typically sell for more than a body-only example.
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: September 2025
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| Sep 2025 | £100 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 179) Title: A Canon VL2 Rangefinder Camera
Description:
silver, serial number 528750, body VG, shutter working, RF patch visible and moving, with a Jupiter-8 f/2 50mm lens, optics F-G with light cleaning |
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| Apr 2003 | £446 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT.THE PROP OF DRS.M.SORRELL (Lot 230) Title: Canon VL-2 no. 575748
Description:
Canon VL-2 no. 575748 Estimate: £200 - £300 |
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| Apr 2003 | £329 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT.THE PROP OF DRS.M.SORRELL (Lot 229) Title: Canon VL-2 no. 528236
Description:
Canon VL-2 no. 528236 Estimate: £200 - £300 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Canon VL-2 worth today?
Based on the limited UK auction evidence available, a Canon VL-2 has sold for around £100 at hammer, though with only one verified sale this should be treated as indicative rather than a firm market value.
How much does a Canon VL-2 sell for at auction?
The most recent UK saleroom hammer price on record is £100 from September 2025; clean, fully working examples with a lens would generally achieve more, while non-functional bodies sell for less.
What lenses fit the Canon VL-2?
The VL-2 uses the 39mm Leica screw mount, so it accepts Canon's rangefinder screw-mount lenses such as the 50mm f/1.8 and 50mm f/1.4, along with other LTM-compatible optics.