Leica Elmar 35mm f/4.5
The Leitz Elmar 35mm f/4.5 is a screw-mount wide-angle lens for the Leica rangefinder system, dated to 1935 and nicknamed the 'Snapshot Elmar'. It was built for quick, scale-focused shooting rather than precise rangefinder work: it does not couple with the rangefinder, and its focusing scale carries three click-stops at 1.75m, 10m and infinity. Although it appeared in the Leitz London price list for 1935, it never reached public sale, and only one or two examples are believed to survive — one of them in the Leitz works museum.
No UK auction hammer results are recorded for this lens in our sales history, which is what you would expect for a design that never went on public sale and exists in perhaps one or two examples. With no saleroom track record, there is no meaningful median or price range to quote, and as of 2026 any value would be set by negotiation or a specialist single-lot sale rather than by comparable auction results. If an example ever sells for a figure at UK auction, it would be a landmark result and would establish the price on its own rather than follow an existing market.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Leica Elmar 35mm f/4.5 worth?
There are no UK auction hammer results in our records for this lens, so no reliable value can be quoted. With only one or two examples known to exist, any price would be settled privately or in a one-off specialist sale.
How much does an Elmar 35mm f/4.5 sell for at auction?
We hold no sales history for it, so there is no hammer price to cite. Its rarity means it very seldom, if ever, reaches the open saleroom.
Why is this lens called the 'Snapshot Elmar'?
It was designed for quick shooting without rangefinder focusing, using three click-stops on the focus scale at 1.75m, 10m and infinity so the user could set distance by feel.
Was the Elmar 35mm f/4.5 ever sold to the public?
No. It was listed in the Leitz London price list for 1935 but was never put on public sale, and one surviving example is held in the Leitz works museum.
Does the Elmar 35mm f/4.5 couple with the rangefinder?
It does not. Focusing is carried out on the lower knurled ring using the scale and its click-stops, while the upper ring sets the aperture.