Leica R-E
The Leitz/Leica R-E is a 35mm single-lens reflex camera using the Leica R bayonet mount, introduced in 1990 as a simplified, lower-cost entry point into the R system. It was positioned below the R5 in the R-series line-up, offering aperture-priority and manual exposure without the full feature set of its stablemates.
At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the R-E body have run from about £80 to £250, with a median sitting close to £190 based on the sales on record. Condition drives most of the spread in today's market: clean, fully working examples sit at the upper end of that range, while bodies sold untested or with cosmetic wear change hands for well under £100. Higher results such as the £360 fetched in 2009 reflect earlier specialist-sale demand rather than where the R-E sells for in the current saleroom.
Variants
Select a variant to filter the sales history below.
| Variant | Years | Edition | Sales | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia (1992) | — | — | 1 | £213 – £213 |
| Pro 28 special set | — | — | 0 | — |
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 31 recorded sales.
Last checked on eBay: 13 August 2026. Most recent sale: August 2026.
| Date | Price | Value GBP | Source | Variant | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2026 | £250 | £250 | 🇬🇧 eBay | — | |
Title: Vintage Leica R-E Vintage SLR Film Camera Body Only Working w/ Case, tested
Description:
Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage Leica R-E Vintage SLR Film Camera Body Only Working w/ Case, tested at the best online prices at eBay UK! Free delivery for many products! Location: Bristol, United Kingdom |
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| Aug 2026 | EUR 249 | £213 | 🇪🇺 eBay | Olympia (1992) | |
Title: Leitz Leica R-E Olympic Games '92 M.i.G # L 174 #1792747 -Original Packaging-
Description:
B = Normal gebraucht, mittlere Gebrauchsspuren. A+ = Wie Neu, minimalste Gebrauchsspuren. AA = Neu - bzw. Demoware am Lager. 2 UStG handelt. und gesetzlicher Gewährleistung. IBAN: DE80760700240552367500 BIC: DEUT DE DB760. Location: Nürnberg, Germany |
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| Aug 2026 | £292 | £292 | 🇬🇧 eBay | — | |
Title: Leica R-E ,nearly mint with case , perfectly functional
Description:
Done just 2 rolls on this one, with new seals on the back as the original ones found to be bad condition. Location: Enfield, United Kingdom |
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| Aug 2026 | £300 | £300 | 🇬🇧 eBay | — | |
Title: Vintage Leica R-E Vintage SLR Film Camera Body Only - Immaculate Condition
Description:
Immaculate condition. Fully Tested and working. Location: Hornchurch, United Kingdom |
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| Aug 2026 | EUR 102 | £87 | 🇪🇺 eBay | — | |
Title: Leica R-E Body Black SLR Film Camera Made in Germany
Description:
Sucher mit wenig Staubeinschluss. Verschlusszeiten laufen gut. Lichtdichtung muss erneuert werden. Zustand: A/B (Lichtdichtung Defekt). Leica R-E Gehäuse, schwarz. Location: Mörfelden-Walldorf, Germany |
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| Apr 2026 | £225 | £180 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 112) Title: A Leica R-E 'Olympische Spiele 92'' Camera Body
Description:
1992, black, serial no. L001, body, E, shutter working Note: A 5% import VAT applies to this lot for UK bidders only. International buyers are exempt |
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| Nov 2025 | £175 | £140 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 5) Title: A Leica R-E 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, body G, shutter working & LEDs illuminate in the viewfinder, shutter speeds do not always seem to represent the shutter speeds selected, may (Qty: 1) |
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| Oct 2025 | £76 | £60 | 🇬🇧 Chiswick Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Photographica (Lot 38) Title: A Leica RE SLR Camera Body
Description:
A Leica RE SLR Camera Body Serial No: 1791551 Body: G Shutter: firing Notes: with Motor Winder R (Qty: 1) |
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| Mar 2025 | £252 | £200 | 🇬🇧 Chiswick Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Photographica (Lot 228) Title: A Leica R-E SLR Camera
Description:
A Leica R-E SLR Camera Serial No: 1791320 (1991) Body: VG Shutter: working Lens: Leitz 50mm f/2 Summicron-R (3227320) Optics: G - some light internal (Qty: 1) ... read more |
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| Nov 2024 | EUR 900 | £750 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 45 (Lot A01438) Title: Leica R-E 10055
Description:
An uncommon Leica R body in near-mint condition with matching box, including a Summicron-R 2/50mm no.3479518 (with caps and maker's box). Estimate: EUR 800 - EUR 1,000 |
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| Oct 2024 | £190 | £190 | 🇬🇧 David Duggleby | — | |
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Auction: Cameras, Maritime & Scientific Instruments (Lot 3002) Title: Leica R-E camera body serial no. 1752690, in black finish, with a Leitz Summicron-R 1:2/50...
Description:
Leica R-E camera body serial no. 1752690, in black finish, with a Leitz Summicron-R 1:2/50... |
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| Aug 2024 | £90 | £90 | 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services | — | |
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Auction: TWO DAY: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 156) Title: A Leica R-E SLR Camera Body
Description:
A Leica R-E SLR Camera Body, black, made in Germany, serial no 1753966, 1988, shutter working, meter responsive, responsive in auto, self timer |
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| Jun 2024 | £138 | £110 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 53) Title: A Leica R-E 35mm SLR Camera Body
Description:
black, 1990, serial no.1777790, made in Germany, shutter working and viewfinder LEDs illuminate when batteries inserted, body G, some corrosion |
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| Jun 2024 | £88 | £70 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 62) Title: A Leica R-E 35mm SLR Camera Body
Description:
black, body G, light marks to lens mount, shutter lag of a fraction of a second, with batteries inserted all shutter speeds work and the internal LED |
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| Nov 2023 | £812 | £650 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 61) Title: A Leica R-E SLR Camera Outfit
Description:
1991, black, serial no. 1797471, with Leitz Summicron-R f/2 50mm lens, 1978, black, serial no. 2942954, body, VG-E, shutter working in M100, lens, VG, |
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| Oct 2023 | £180 | £180 | 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services | — | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 665) Title: A Leica R-E SLR Camera
Description:
A Leica R-E SLR Camera, made in Germany, serial no 1797191, 1991, shutter working, meter working, shutter responds in auto, self-timer not working, |
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| Jul 2023 | £106 | £85 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Mini Fine Cameras & Instruments of Science (Lot 36) Title: A Leitz Leica R-E 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, serial no. 1778958, body G-VG, shutter working when batteries are inserted, with body cap, (Qty: 1) |
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| Jun 2023 | £80 | £80 | 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services | — | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 119) Title: A Leica R-E Camera Body
Description:
A Leica R-E Camera Body, serial no 1754793, 1988, GMBH Germany, shutter working, meter working, body G-VG, with Leica R Motor winder, body cap and |
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| Nov 2022 | £625 | £500 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 72) Title: A Leica R-E Olympische Spiele '92 Limited Edition SLR Camera Set
Description:
1992, black, serial no. 1792914, with Leitz Vario-Elmar-R f/3.5-4.5 28-70mm lens, 1992, black, serial no. 3584404, body, E, mechanical shutter |
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| Aug 2022 | £200 | £160 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 329) Title: A Leica R-E 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, shutter working, body G-VG, in maker's hard shell box, in maker's outer box Note: Lot imported under Temporary Admission. 5% UK import VAT (Qty: 1) |
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| Jun 2022 | EUR 1,400 | £1,201 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 40 (Lot AI_40_40260) Title: Leica R-E Olympia set 10810
Description:
special edition set issued for the 1992 Olympic Games, with black R-E no.1791971, matching Vario-Elmar-R 3.5-4.5/28-70mm no.3584180 engraved 'Olympische Spiele '92 C010' (caps and leather pouch), in mint condition, complete with all papers, certificate, body caps, ever ready case and matching maker's boxes Estimate: EUR 1,600 - EUR 1,800 |
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| Nov 2019 | EUR 1,000 | £858 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 35 (Lot AI_35_37713) Title: Leica R-E Olympia set 10810
Description:
special edition set, issued for the 1992 Olympic Games, with black R-E no.1798848, Vario-Elmar-R 3.5-4.5/28-70mm no.3584053, in mint condition, with everready case, matching maker's boxes Estimate: EUR 600 - EUR 700 |
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| Nov 2016 | EUR 650 | £565 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 29 (Lot AI_29_33393) Title: Leica R-E Olympia set 10810
Description:
edition set for 1992 Olympic Games, with black R-E (special number E 046) with Vario-Elmar-R 3.5-4.5/28-70mm no.3583930, everready case, in mint condition, with all papers and maker's boxes Estimate: EUR 800 - EUR 1,000 |
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| Dec 2009 | EUR 360 | £324 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 16 (Lot AI_16_19861) Title: R-E
Description:
mint body in perfect working order with cap, 'R28-841' engraved on accessory shoe, papers, in special Leitz presentation case, maker's box with matching serial number Estimate: EUR 600 - EUR 800 |
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| Nov 2006 | £216 | £180 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | — | |
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Auction: Cameras, Photographs and Optical Toys (Lot 308) Title: Leica R-E no. 1778193
Description:
Leica R-E no. 1778193 Estimate: £150 - £200 |
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| Dec 2003 | £141 | £120 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | — | |
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Auction: LEICA CAMERAS THE PROPERTY OF A COLLECTOR (Lot 95) Title: Leica R-E no. 1754939
Description:
Leica R-E no. 1754939 Estimate: £100 - £150 |
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| Dec 2003 | £376 | £320 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | — | |
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Auction: LEICA CAMERAS THE PROPERTY OF A COLLECTOR (Lot 96) Title: Leica R-E Olympic no. 1797735
Description:
Leica R-E Olympic no. 1797735 Estimate: £120 - £180 |
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| Sep 2003 | £258 | £220 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | — | |
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Auction: CAMERAS & PHOTO EQUIP, INCLUDING A EUROPEAN LEICA COLLECTION (Lot 237) Title: Leica R-E no. 1799265
Description:
Leica R-E no. 1799265 Estimate: £200 - £400 |
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| Jun 2002 | £822 | £700 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | — | |
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Auction: LEICA, NIKON AND 35MM CAMERAS (Lot 306) Title: Leica R-E Olympische no. 1789310
Description:
Leica R-E Olympische no. 1789310 Estimate: £700 - £1,000 |
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| Oct 1998 | £345 | £300 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | — | |
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Auction: CAMERAS & OPTICAL TOYS (Lot 136) Title: Leica R-E no. 1797272
Description:
Leica R-E no. 1797272 Estimate: £25 - £300 |
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| Jul 1998 | £345 | £300 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | — | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND OPTICAL TOYS (Lot 159) Title: Leica R-E no. 1777541
Description:
Leica R-E no. 1777541 Estimate: £300 - £500 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Leica R-E worth today?
In 2026, a standard R-E body is typically worth between roughly £80 and £250 at UK auction, with most clean working examples settling around £180–£200.
How much does a Leica R-E sell for at auction?
Recent UK hammer prices sell for about £80 at the low end for rough or untested bodies and up to around £250 for tidy, functional examples.
Does the Olympia or Pro 28 variant add value?
Complete sets of the Olympia (1992) or Pro 28 special set generally command a premium over a plain R-E body, particularly when original packaging and paperwork are present.
Why do R-E prices vary so widely?
The price range reflects condition and completeness — working electronics, clean cosmetics and original accessories push values toward the top of the range, while faults or missing items drop them sharply.