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Ernemann Ermanox

The Ernemann Ermanox is a German plate camera introduced by Ernemann of Dresden in the mid-1920s. It is best known for being fitted with a very fast Ernostar lens, which allowed hand-held indoor photography by available light at a time when most plate cameras required flash or tripod exposures. When new it was positioned as a specialist tool for press and candid work rather than a general-purpose camera.

At UK auction the Ermanox has a wide hammer-price spread, with recorded saleroom results running from around £890 to £3,600 and a median near £1,200 — these are wholesale hammer figures before buyer's premium, not dealer retail. Condition of the Ernostar lens, shutter accuracy, and completeness of plate holders drive where an example lands in that range, and exceptional outfits have historically fetched the upper end. As of today the model remains a thin, condition-sensitive market, so what an Ermanox is worth and the price it sells for can vary sharply between examples.

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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
Mar 2014 EUR 850 Leitz Auction
Nov 2011 EUR 890 Leitz Auction
Dec 2009 EUR 3,600 Leitz Auction
May 2009 EUR 1,500 Leitz Auction
Jun 2008 EUR 2,200 Leitz Auction
Nov 2007 EUR 1,700 Leitz Auction
Nov 2005 EUR 1,450 Leitz Auction
May 2005 EUR 1,300 Leitz Auction
May 2003 EUR 1,250 Leitz Auction
Mar 2003 £940 Christie's
Jul 2002 £998 Christie's
Feb 2002 £1,880 Christie's
Nov 2001 £822 Christie's
May 2001 £1,057 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is an Ernemann Ermanox worth today?

Recorded UK auction hammer prices have ranged from roughly £890 to £3,600, with a median value around £1,200 depending on lens condition and completeness.

How much does an Ermanox sell for at auction?

Typical examples sell for around £900 to £1,300 at hammer, while exceptional outfits with a clean Ernostar lens have reached about £3,600.

Why does the Ermanox command a higher price than other 1920s plate cameras?

Its value is driven by the fast Ernostar lens, which made it one of the earliest cameras capable of hand-held available-light photography and keeps collector demand ahead of ordinary period folders.

Other Ernemann cameras