Leitz 180mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R
The Leitz 180mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R is a fast medium telephoto lens for the Leica R-mount SLR system, fitting bodies such as the R3 through R9. It was built for sports, portraiture and stage work where the extra stop over an f/4 tele made a real difference.
At recent UK auction, hammer prices for user-grade Elmarit-R 180mm f/2.8 examples have sat in a tight £40–£110 band, with a median around £90 across sales from 2024 and 2025. That wholesale saleroom level is well below dealer retail, and the lens is worth noticeably less today in 2026 than the £236 it fetched at auction in 2021 — condition, cosmetics and whether the original tripod foot and hood are present are what drive value within the current range. Earlier, specialist-sale results such as the £1,300 Leitz-auction price in 2011 reflect boxed or collectable examples rather than the bare lenses that sell for double-digit sums today.
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 | |
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| Nov 2025 | £40 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 442) Title: A Leitz Wetzlar Elmarit-R 180mm f/2.8 Lens
Description:
A Leitz Wetzlar Elmarit-R 180mm f/2.8 Lens, serial no 2226368, 1967, 2 CAM, barrel G. some light paint wear to focus grip, elements F-G, some fungus |
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| May 2025 | £60 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 485) Title: A Leitz Wetzlar Elmarit-R 180mm f/2.8 Lens
Description:
A Leitz Wetzlar Elmarit-R 180mm f/2.8 Lens, serial no 2282965, 1968, two CAM, barrel G, elements F-G, some light fungus, with front and rear caps |
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| Mar 2025 | £90 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 8) Title: A Leitz Wetzlar Elmarit-R 180mm f/2.8 Lens
Description:
A Leitz Wetzlar Elmarit-R 180mm f/2.8 Lens, serial no 2355660, 1969, 3 CAM, barrel G, elements G-VG, with rear cap |
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| Jan 2025 | £120 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 294) Title: A Leitz Wetzlar Elmarit-R 180mm f/2.8 Lens
Description:
A Leitz Wetzlar Elmarit-R 180mm f/2.8 Lens, serial no 2456579, 1970, barrel G, elements G-VG, with front and rear caps, in worn maker's box |
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| Aug 2024 | £100 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 330) Title: A Leitz Wetzlar Elmarit-R f/2.8 180mm Lens
Description:
black, serial number 2455672, barrel G, iris and focus action G, optics F-G with light internal fungus and a small central mark to the front element, |
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| Apr 2024 | £110 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 456) Title: A Leitz Wetzlar 180mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R Lens
Description:
A Leitz Wetzlar 180mm f/2.8 Elmarit-R Lens, serial no 2457322, 1970, barrel G, elements G, with rear cap |
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| Jan 2024 | £88 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 449) Title: A Leitz Wetzlar Elmarit-R f/2.8 180mm Lens
Description:
1970, serial no.2455672, body F, optics P-F, strong fungus, with front and rear caps |
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| Nov 2023 | £25 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 22) Title: A Leitz Elmarit-R f/2.8 180mm Lens
Description:
serial no. 2248905, body G, some light wear, rear mount missing cams & other parts, optics F-VG, one chip to rear element, otherwise VG, (Qty: 1) |
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| Aug 2023 | £162 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 13) Title: A Leitz Elmarit-R f/2.8 180mm Camera Lens
Description:
black, serial no. 2248636, body G-VG, optics G, some internal haze present, with front & rear caps, (Qty: 1) |
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| Apr 2021 | £236 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 88) Title: A Leitz Elmarit-R f/2.8 180mm Lens
Description:
1972, black, serail no. 2512165, body, E, elements, VG-E, some light internal haze, complete with caps, service card and maker's box |
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| May 2011 | EUR 1,300 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 19 (Lot AI_19_12420) Title: Tele-Elmarit 2,8/180mm
Description:
very rare lens for Visoflex (only approx.180 of them were produced - Leitz code 11910), in near mint condition with both original caps,14165 M filter adapter and UV filter Estimate: EUR 1,600 - EUR 1,800 |
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| Nov 2008 | EUR 200 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 14 (Lot AI_14_18321) Title: Elmarit-R 2.8/180mm
Description:
near mint, first type 3-cam Elmarit-R with filter-ring 14165, both caps, warranty card and maker's box Estimate: EUR 400 - EUR 500 |
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| May 2006 | EUR 850 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 9 (Lot AI_9_26367) Title: Elmarit 2.8/180mm
Description:
very rare lens for Visoflex (only approx.180 of them were produced - Leitz code 11910), clean optics, both caps Estimate: EUR 1,200 - EUR 1,400 |
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| Jan 2000 | £437 | Christie's | |
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Auction: Photographs, Cameras and Photographic Equipment (Lot 216) Title: Elmarit-R f/2.8 180mm. no. 3325000
Description:
Elmarit-R f/2.8 180mm. no. 3325000 Estimate: £300 - £500 |
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