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Ernemann Ermanox 4.5x6

The Ernemann Ermanox 4.5x6 is a German plate camera introduced in the mid-1920s, built around an unusually fast lens that made hand-held available-light photography practical for the first time. It used 4.5 by 6 cm glass plates and was positioned as a specialist press and interior camera when new, priced well above typical folding cameras of the period.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Ermanox 4.5x6 have ranged from around £700 to £1,600, with a median near £1,300 — these are wholesale saleroom results, not dealer retail. As of today in 2026, a complete example with its original lens, plate holders and case tends to sell for the upper end of that band, while incomplete or optically compromised bodies are worth considerably less. Condition of the shutter and front cell, together with completeness of accessories, is the main driver of value and 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.

Date Price Source
Jun 2025 EUR 2,200 Leitz Auction
Jun 2025 EUR 1,000 Leitz Auction
Nov 2022 USD 1,300 pedia_sales_tamarkin
Nov 2020 EUR 3,400 Leitz Auction
May 2020 £1,592 Flints Auctions
Jun 2015 EUR 1,200 Leitz Auction
Nov 2013 EUR 1,500 Leitz Auction
May 2013 EUR 2,000 Leitz Auction
May 2013 EUR 1,000 Leitz Auction
Dec 2010 EUR 2,400 Leitz Auction
Dec 2010 EUR 1,300 Leitz Auction
Dec 2009 EUR 1,400 Leitz Auction
Nov 2008 EUR 1,600 Leitz Auction
May 2007 EUR 1,600 Leitz Auction
Feb 2005 £840 Christie's
Nov 2004 £657 Christie's
May 2004 £657 Christie's
Sep 2003 £705 Christie's
May 2001 £646 Christie's
Nov 1998 £920 Christie's
Jun 1998 £517 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is an Ernemann Ermanox 4.5x6 worth today?

Auction hammer results in the UK have clustered between roughly £700 and £1,600, with a median around £1,300 for reasonably complete examples.

How much does an Ermanox 4.5x6 sell for at UK auction?

Recent saleroom results range from £705 in 2003 to £1,592 in 2020, so a clean, complete camera typically sells for four-figure sums rather than the low hundreds.

What drives the value of an Ermanox 4.5x6?

The condition of the lens and shutter, together with the presence of original plate holders and the fitted case, are the main factors determining price.

Is the Ermanox 4.5x6 usable today?

It can be used with 4.5 × 6 cm glass plates or cut-film adapters, but shutter servicing and plate handling make it a specialist proposition rather than a casual shooter.

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