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Leica I (C)

The Leitz I (C), commonly catalogued as the Leica I Model C, is a 35mm viewfinder camera introduced by Ernst Leitz in 1930. It was the first Leica to offer an interchangeable lens mount, using a 39mm screw thread that later became known as Leica Thread Mount (L39). Early C bodies were supplied with a lens matched to the individual camera; the mount was standardised from 1931 onward.

Hammer prices at recent UK auction have spanned roughly £210 to £3,800 for the Leitz I (C), with a mid-range around £700–£980 at saleroom level and a median close to £720 across the records sampled. Two 2024 results of £210 and £270 show that well-used examples can sell for surprisingly modest sums today, while the top figures of £3,800 reflect scarcer variants or exceptional condition. What an I (C) is worth in 2026 hinges heavily on originality, finish and which of the documented variants it belongs to.

Variants

Select a variant to filter the sales history below.

Variant Years Edition Sales Price Range
Calfskin 0
Cut-Away 0
Hektor 2 £300£1,075
Luxus 0
Luxus (replica) 1 £3,227£3,227
non-standard mount 8 £478£2,404
Summar 1 £3,222£3,222
upgraded 3 £939£8,255
with Compur Elmar 1 £2,748£2,748

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.

Prices updated: July 2026

Date Price Value GBP Source Variant
Jul 2026 EUR 1,100 £939 🇪🇺 eBay upgraded
Jun 2026 £314 £314 🇬🇧 eBay
Nov 2025 EUR 30,000 £26,399 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2025 EUR 1,100 £968 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2025 EUR 1,200 £1,056 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2025 EUR 900 £792 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Jun 2025 EUR 1,900 £1,615 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Jun 2025 EUR 850 £722 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Jun 2025 EUR 1,600 £1,360 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Jun 2025 EUR 900 £765 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Jun 2025 EUR 2,400 £2,040 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2024 EUR 1,700 £1,417 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction non-standard mount
Nov 2024 EUR 2,000 £1,668 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Oct 2024 £440 £440 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services
Jun 2024 EUR 1,400 £1,185 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction upgraded
Jun 2024 EUR 4,500 £3,809 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Jun 2024 EUR 1,600 £1,354 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Apr 2024 £270 £270 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services
Apr 2024 £210 £210 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services
Nov 2023 EUR 1,100 £957 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2023 EUR 9,500 £8,269 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2023 EUR 2,600 £2,263 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Jun 2023 EUR 2,800 £2,404 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction non-standard mount
Jun 2023 EUR 3,200 £2,748 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction with Compur Elmar
Jun 2023 EUR 2,000 £1,717 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Jun 2023 EUR 2,200 £1,889 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2022 EUR 9,500 £8,255 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction upgraded
Nov 2022 EUR 1,200 £1,043 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction non-standard mount
Nov 2022 EUR 1,600 £1,390 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2022 USD 1,500 £1,278 🇺🇸 pedia_sales_tamarkin
Nov 2022 USD 800 £681 🇺🇸 pedia_sales_tamarkin
Jun 2022 EUR 12,000 £10,291 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2021 EUR 1,500 £1,272 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2021 EUR 3,800 £3,222 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction Summar
Jun 2021 EUR 1,700 £1,460 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction non-standard mount
Jun 2021 EUR 1,100 £945 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2020 EUR 1,200 £1,075 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction Hektor
Nov 2020 EUR 18,000 £16,129 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2020 EUR 1,800 £1,613 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2020 EUR 1,000 £896 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2020 USD 600 £454 🇺🇸 pedia_sales_tamarkin
Nov 2020 USD 1,200 £908 🇺🇸 pedia_sales_tamarkin
Jun 2020 EUR 3,200 £2,876 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Oct 2019 £336 £280 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
Jun 2019 EUR 600 £535 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Jun 2019 EUR 20,000 £17,821 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Apr 2019 £384 £320 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
Apr 2019 £480 £400 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
Nov 2018 EUR 2,200 £1,939 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction non-standard mount
Nov 2018 EUR 600 £529 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2018 EUR 900 £793 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2018 EUR 1,800 £1,586 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2018 EUR 2,200 £1,939 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2018 EUR 1,500 £1,322 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Mar 2018 EUR 1,200 £1,059 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction non-standard mount
Mar 2018 EUR 1,300 £1,148 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Mar 2018 EUR 1,600 £1,413 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Jun 2017 EUR 360 £316 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Jun 2017 EUR 450 £395 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Jun 2017 £550 £550 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services (archive)
Nov 2016 EUR 550 £478 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction non-standard mount
Nov 2016 EUR 1,800 £1,564 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2016 EUR 12,000 £10,427 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2016 EUR 800 £695 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2016 EUR 1,800 £1,564 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Mar 2014 EUR 1,000 £832 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
May 2013 EUR 9,500 £8,067 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
May 2013 EUR 3,800 £3,227 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction Luxus (replica)
Nov 2012 HKD 6,000 £485 🇭🇰 Bonhams
Nov 2011 EUR 715 £613 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Dec 2010 EUR 2,800 £2,375 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Sep 2008 £1,300 £1,300 🇬🇧 Bonhams
Sep 2008 £180 £180 🇬🇧 Bonhams
Jun 2007 £2,880 £2,400 🇬🇧 Christie's
May 2005 £204 £170 🇬🇧 Christie's
Nov 2004 EUR 729 £509 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
May 2004 EUR 3,800 £2,552 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Dec 2003 £293 £249 🇬🇧 Christie's
Mar 2003 £235 £200 🇬🇧 Christie's
Jul 2002 £258 £220 🇬🇧 Christie's
Jun 2002 £587 £500 🇬🇧 Christie's
Jun 2002 £705 £600 🇬🇧 Christie's
Oct 2000 £129 £110 🇬🇧 Christie's
Oct 2000 £352 £300 🇬🇧 Christie's
Jan 2000 £977 £850 🇬🇧 Christie's non-standard mount
Nov 1998 £402 £350 🇬🇧 Christie's
Jun 1998 £23,000 £20,000 🇬🇧 Christie's
May 1998 £253 £220 🇬🇧 Christie's
Mar 1998 £345 £300 🇬🇧 Christie's Hektor

Frequently asked questions

What is a Leitz I (C) worth today?

Recent UK auction hammer prices range from about £210 for a modest user example to £3,800 for exceptional or scarce-variant bodies, with mid-range sales typically in the £700–£1,000 bracket.

How much does a Leitz I (C) sell for at auction?

Across the sales recorded here the price ranges from £210 to £3,800 at hammer, with a median of roughly £720; two 2024 results sat at £210 and £270.

Why do prices for the Leitz I (C) vary so much?

Variant matters: standard-mount bodies sell differently from non-standard-mount, Luxus, Hektor- or Summar-fitted, Cut-Away display and Compur Elmar examples, and later 'upgraded' bodies are valued below fully original ones.

Is the Leitz I (C) a rangefinder camera?

No — the I (C) is a viewfinder-only 35mm camera; Leica's built-in coupled rangefinder did not arrive until later models.