Ensign Selfix 820 Special
The Ensign Selfix 820 Special is a British folding roll-film camera that takes 120 film, produced by Houghton-Butcher (Ensign) in the post-war period. It sat at the upper end of the Selfix folder range when new, intended for photographers wanting a pocketable medium-format camera.
At UK auction in recent years, hammer prices for the Selfix 820 Special have ranged from about £110 to £210, with only a small number of recorded results to anchor a median near £160. Today the model trades in a thin market at saleroom level, so what one sells for depends heavily on shutter condition, bellows integrity and completeness of the case and finder.
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 8 recorded sales — indicative only.
Most recent sale: June 2026.
| Date | Price | Value GBP | Source | |
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| Jun 2026 | £25 | £20 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 300) Title: An Ensign Selfix 820 Special Medium Format Folding Camera
Description:
chrome, body G, shutter working, with Ross Xpres 105mm f/3.8 lens, optics P, fungus present, (Qty: 1) |
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| Aug 2023 | £50 | £40 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 296) Title: An Ensign Selfix 820 Special Medium Format Folding Camera
Description:
chrome, circa 1953, with a Ross Xpres f/3.8 105mm lens, shutter sticking at slow speeds, body G, lens F, overall haze, rangefinder patch clear and |
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| Aug 2023 | £40 | £40 | 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 91) Title: An Ensign Selfix 820 Special Rangefinder Folding Camera
Description:
An Ensign Selfix 820 Special Rangefinder Folding Camera, shutter working, rangefinder functions, body G, bellows G, some wear to corners, with Ross |
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| Mar 2023 | £112 | £90 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 297) Title: An Ensign Selfix 820 Special Medium Format Folding Camera
Description:
chrome, body G, RF patch clear & bright, with Ross London Xpres f/3.8 105mm lens, optics VG, some light dust present, shutter working but sticks on (Qty: 1) |
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| Jun 2022 | £69 | £55 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 500) Title: An Ensign Slefix 820 Special Folding Medium Format Camera
Description:
chrome, body G, shutter working, with Ross London Xpres f/3.8 105mm lens, optics F-G, some cleaning marks, haze, & light fungus present, (Qty: 1) |
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| Jun 2017 | £95 | £95 | 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services (archive) | |
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Auction: Mechanical Music & Camera Auction Thursday 8th June 2017 at 10:00 (Lot 345) Title: Ensign Selfix 820 Special Camera
Description:
Ensign Selfix 820 Special Camera, Ross Xpress lens, with a small selection of accessories (a lot) Estimate: £50 - £70 |
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| Nov 2004 | EUR 208 | £145 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 6 (Lot AI_6_23919) Title: Ensign Selfix 820 Special
Description:
rollfilm camera for 6x9cm (6x6cm), Ross Xpres 3.8/105mm in Epsilon shutter, with rangefinder, good condition, case Estimate: EUR 300 - EUR 350 |
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| Nov 2001 | £70 | £60 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: MAGIC LANTERNS, OPTICAL TOYS AND CAMERAS (Lot 504) Title: Ensign Selfix 820 Special (un-numbered)
Description:
Ensign Selfix 820 Special (un-numbered) Estimate: £100 - £150 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is an Ensign Selfix 820 Special worth today?
Based on UK auction hammer results, a Selfix 820 Special is typically worth around £110 to £210 depending on cosmetic and mechanical condition.
How much does an Ensign Selfix 820 Special sell for at auction?
Recorded UK saleroom prices sit in the £110–£210 range, with clean, fully working examples achieving the upper end of that value band.
What affects the price of a Selfix 820 Special?
Bellows condition, shutter accuracy and the presence of the original case have the largest effect on the price a buyer will pay.