Leitz 135mm f/2.8 Elmarit
The Leitz 135mm f/2.8 Elmarit is a medium telephoto lens from Wetzlar, sitting in the classic Leitz line-up between the slower 135mm Elmar/Tele-Elmar and the rare 135mm Hektor. It was designed for portraiture, distant detail and stage work, and has been produced in both Leica M rangefinder and Leica R reflex mounts during its long production life.
At UK auction in recent years, hammer prices for the unspecified 135mm f/2.8 Elmarit have ranged from around £62 to £214, with most clean examples selling for between £100 and £150. The median hammer result across the sales on file sits near £125, and as of 2026 the lens remains one of the more affordable ways into the Leitz telephoto range at saleroom level. Without a confirmed mount or version, buyers should treat the higher results (the £212–£214 hammers from 2024–2025) as the ceiling for cosmetically clean, optically clear copies.
Variants
| Variant | Years | Edition | Sales | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | — | — | 6 | £80 – £805 |
| R | — | — | 12 | £50 – £1,100 |
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 | Variant | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2026 | £75 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 18) Title: A Leitz Canada Elmarit-R f/2.8 135mm Lens
Description:
black, serial number 2612790, barrel G, small ding to lens hood, optics G-VG with very light haze, with caps. Note: A 5% import Duty applies to this |
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| Apr 2026 | £162 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 14) Title: A Leitz Canada Elmarit f/2.8 135mm Lens
Description:
black, serial number 2063763, barrel VG, optics VG, with caps. |
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| Mar 2026 | £50 | Chiswick Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Photographica Timed Online (Lot 214) Title: Leica Elmarit-M 135mm f2.8 Lens. #3457628.
Description:
Signs of light use but substantial separation to front element. With goggles. |
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| Mar 2026 | £56 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 26) Title: A Leitz Wetzlar Elmarit-R f/2.8 135mm Lens
Description:
black, barrel VG, optics G, with caps and case. |
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| Jan 2026 | £138 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 8) Title: A Leitz Canada Elmarit f/2.8 135mm Lens with Goggles
Description:
black, barrel G-VG, optics G-VG, with rear cap Note: A 5% import VAT applies to this lot for UK bidders only. International buyers are exempt from |
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| Nov 2025 | £60 | Special Auction Services | R | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 458) Title: A Leitz Canada 135mm f/2.8 Elmarit Lens
Description:
A Leitz Canada 135mm f/2.8 Elmarit Lens, M mount, first version, serial no 2289057, 1968, with viewfinder/rangefinder attachment, barrel G-VG, |
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| Oct 2025 | £106 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 10) Title: A Leitz-Canada f/2.8 135mm Elmarit Lens
Description:
black, serial number 2326196, barrel VG, optics G with very light dust and haze Note: For this specific lot, 5% import VAT is applicable on the |
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| Oct 2025 | £56 | Flints Auctions | R | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 18) Title: A Leitz-Canada f/2.8 135mm Elmarit-R Lens
Description:
black, serial number 3045698, barrel G, light paint wear, optics G with light dust and very light lens marks, with rear cap Note: For this specific |
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| Oct 2025 | £62 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 236) Title: A Leitz Canada f/2.8 135mm Lens
Description:
black, serial number 2466837, barrel VG, optics G-VG with very light haze, with caps. |
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| May 2025 | £50 | Special Auction Services | R | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 486) Title: A Leitz Canada Elmarit-R 135mm f/2.8 Lens
Description:
A Leitz Canada Elmarit-R 135mm f/2.8 Lens, serial no 2405471, 1970, two CAM, barrel G, some paint wear & marks, elements G, with front and rear caps |
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| Apr 2025 | £106 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 7) Title: A Leitz Canada Elmarit f/2.8 135 Lens with Goggles
Description:
black, serial number 2038234, barrel F-G qwith some paint wear, optics G, clear apart from a small scratch on the front element, in maker's packaging. |
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| Apr 2025 | £125 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 11) Title: A Leitz Canada Elmarit f/2.8 135 Lens with Goggles
Description:
black, serial number 2064628, barrel VG-E, optics VG, with cap, in maker's packaging. |
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| Mar 2025 | £214 | Chiswick Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Photographica (Lot 210) Title: A Leitz ELC 135mm f/2.8 Elmarit Lens
Description:
A Leitz ELC 135mm f/2.8 Elmarit Lens Serial No: 2682767 Body: VG Optics: VG Notes: with 1 4161 VII filter and maker's cap (Qty: 1) |
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| Jan 2025 | £90 | Special Auction Services | R | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 292) Title: A Leitz Wetzlar Elmarit-R 135mm f/2.8 Lens
Description:
A Leitz Wetzlar Elmarit-R 135mm f/2.8 Lens, serial no 2041637, 1964 3 CAM, barrel G, elements G-VG, with front and rear caps |
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| Oct 2024 | £200 | Flints Auctions | R | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 251) Title: A Leitz Canada Elmarit-R f/2.8 135mm Lens
Description:
black, serial number 3135274, barrel VG, optics VG, in maker's packaging. |
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| Oct 2024 | £212 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 261) Title: A Leitz Canada Elmarit f/2.8 135mm Lens
Description:
black, bayonet mount, serial number 2682773, barrel VG, optics VG, with caps, in maker's fitted box. |
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| Oct 2024 | £130 | Harper Field Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Buying & Selling (Lot 1724) Title: Leitz Canada Elmarit-M M mount 1:2.8/135 camera lens with goggles, serial number 3375598, circa
Description:
Leitz Canada Elmarit-M M mount 1:2.8/135 camera lens with goggles, serial number 3375598, circa |
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| Apr 2024 | £110 | Special Auction Services | M | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 503) Title: A Leitz Canada 135mm f/2.8 Elmarit Lens
Description:
A Leitz Canada 135mm f/2.8 Elmarit Lens, M mount, with goggles, serial no 2289821, 1968, barrel G-VG, elements G-VG, with front cap |
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| Apr 2024 | £80 | Special Auction Services | M | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 504) Title: A Leitz 135mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M Lens
Description:
A Leitz 135mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M Lens, made in Canada, M mount, with goggles, serial no 3375658, barrel G, elements G-VG, in lens keeper, with front cap |
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| Jan 2024 | £162 | Flints Auctions | M | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 53) Title: A Leitz Elmarit f/2.8 135mm Lens
Description:
M-mount, black, serial no. 2038271, body, VG, elements, VG, a few spots of fungus to the rear element, complete with maker's caps, all in specially |
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| Dec 2023 | £120 | Special Auction Services | R | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 202) Title: A Leitz Canada 135mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R Lens
Description:
A Leitz Canada 135mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R Lens, serial no 2730250, 1974, 3 cam, barrel G, light wear, elements G-VG, with rear cap and VII filter |
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| Aug 2023 | £81 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 16) Title: A Leitz Elmarit-R f/2.8 135mm Lens
Description:
black, serial no. 3107420, body, VG-E, elements, P-G, separation, in maker's box |
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| Jul 2023 | £56 | Flints Auctions | R | |
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Auction: Mini Fine Cameras & Instruments of Science (Lot 41) Title: A Leitz Elmarit-R f/2.8 135mm Lens
Description:
3-Cam, black, serial no. 3106400, body, G-VG, elements, P-VG, some separation |
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| Apr 2023 | £90 | Special Auction Services | R | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 576) Title: A Leitz Wetzlar 135mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R Lens
Description:
A Leitz Wetzlar 135mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R Lens, serial no 2041449, 1964, 1 cam, barrel G-VG, elements G-VG, with front and rear caps, in Leitz lens case |
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| Apr 2023 | £90 | Special Auction Services | M | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 581) Title: A Leitz Canada 135mm f/28 Elmarit Lens
Description:
A Leitz Canada 135mm f/28 Elmarit Lens, M mount, 11829, with spectacles, serial no 2425600, 1970, barrel G-VG, elements G, light fungus, with |
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| Apr 2023 | £100 | Special Auction Services | — | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 568) Title: A Leitz Canada Elmarit 135mm f/2.8 Lens
Description:
A Leitz Canada Elmarit 135mm f/2.8 Lens, serial no 2789064, 1976, barrel VG, elements G-VG, in 16462 focusing adapter, on Leitz Wetzlar 14167 M to R |
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| Apr 2023 | £100 | Special Auction Services | R | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 553) Title: A Leitz Canada 135mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R Lens
Description:
A Leitz Canada 135mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R Lens, serial no 2529726, 1972, 2 cam, barrel G, light wear, elements G-VG, with VII filter, front and rear caps |
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| Mar 2023 | £162 | Flints Auctions | R | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 18) Title: A Leitz Elmarit-R f/2.8 135mm Lens
Description:
black, body VG, optics VG, some very light haze & dust present, with front & rear caps, UV filter, & maker's box, (Qty: 1) |
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| Mar 2023 | £150 | Flints Auctions | R | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 3) Title: A Leitz Canada Elmarit f/2.8 135mm Camera Lens
Description:
black, body G-VG, serial no. 2289520, optics G-VG, some light haze present, with front & rear caps, (Qty: 1) |
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| Jan 2023 | £112 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 66) Title: A Leitz Canada Elmarit-R f/2.8 135mm Lens
Description:
1973, black, serial no. 2610716, 2-cam, body F-G, elements F, fungus, with caps and maker's box |
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| Jun 2022 | £150 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Fine & Rare Cameras (Lot 52) Title: A Leitz Elmarit f/2.8 135mm Lens
Description:
1969, black, with ocular attachment serial no. 2324391, body, G, elements, VG, two very small fungal patches to middle element, complete with lens |
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| Apr 2021 | £285 | Flints Auctions | M | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 70) Title: A Leitz Elmarit-M f/2.8 135mm Lens
Description:
1993, black, with ocular attachment, serial no. 3642345, body, E, emements, E, with maker's soft pouch |
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| Jan 2021 | £149 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras, Scientific & Collectables (Lot 169) Title: A Leitz Elmarit f/2.8 135mm Lens
Description:
with occular attachment, black, serial no. 2325250, body, G-VG, elements, VG, with maker's front cap |
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| Mar 2018 | EUR 1,100 | Leitz Auction | R | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 32 (Lot AI_32_36092) Title: Elmarit-R 2.8/135mm Prototype
Description:
prototype Elmarit-R, 2-cam with built-in hood, made in Canada, engraved with prototype serial number, ex ELCAN inventory (formula 289), one of 5 prototypes produced Estimate: EUR 2,000 - EUR 2,400 |
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| Nov 2006 | EUR 3,500 | Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 10 (Lot AI_10_15020) Title: Elmarit 2.8/135mm (Leica MS)
Description:
short mount Canada Elmarit for Leica MS, extremely rare, produced for the US Navy Estimate: EUR 6,000 - EUR 7,000 |
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| Jun 1998 | £805 | Christie's | M | |
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Auction: LEICA AND 35MM CAMERAS (Lot 463) Title: Elmarit f/2.8 135mm. no. 2424981
Description:
Elmarit f/2.8 135mm. no. 2424981 Estimate: £700 - £900 |
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