Leitz 35mm f/3.5 Elmar LTM
The Leitz 35mm f/3.5 Elmar is a wide-angle prime in Leica screw mount (L39/LTM), part of the classic Elmar family designed for the Leica rangefinder system. It served as the standard moderate wide-angle option for screw-mount Leica users from the pre-war period onward, valued for its compact size and the characteristic rendering of early Leitz wide-angle optics.
At UK auction the 35mm f/3.5 Elmar LTM is worth roughly £120 to £940 at the hammer, with most clean examples selling for between £200 and £560 and a median around £320 across the recorded sales. Hammer prices in the saleroom (excluding commission) reflect condition heavily: tatty user copies have changed hands for £120 to £180, while exceptionally clean or early nickel-finish examples have fetched £750 in 2013 and £938 in 2023. As of 2026 a typical clean LTM example sells for around the £400 mark, with the most recent sale in January 2026 reaching £438.
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.
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| Apr 2026 | £338 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 32) Title: A Leitz Elmar f/3.5 35mm Lens
Description:
chrome, serial no. 470866, body, VG, elements, VG, some light internal haze, with front and rear caps |
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| Jan 2026 | £438 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 2) Title: A Leitz Wetzlar Elmar f/3.5 3.5cm Lens
Description:
silver, serial number 149880, barrel G, optics G, this is the "heavy cam" version, snail cam. Note: SKA0551 |
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| Nov 2025 | £120 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 480) Title: A Leitz Elmar 3.5cm f/3.5 Lens
Description:
A Leitz Elmar 3.5cm f/3.5 Lens, L39 mount, serial no 337332, 1936, barrel G, some paint wear to filter ring, elements F-G, clouding/fungus, with |
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| Oct 2025 | £227 | Chiswick Auctions | |
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Auction: Photographica (Lot 169) Title: Leitz 3.5cm f3.5 Screw Mount Elmar Lens.
Description:
#643013. Signs of normal use, optics OK. With caps. |
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| Jul 2025 | £250 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 7) Title: A Leitz Wetzlar Elmar f/3.5 3.5cm Lens
Description:
chrome, serial number 378976, barrel G, optics G with light internal haze with cap. |
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| Jul 2025 | £239 | Chiswick Auctions | |
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Auction: Photographica (Lot 266) Title: A LTM Leitz 3.5cm f/3.5 Nickel Elmar Lens
Description:
A LTM Leitz 3.5cm f/3.5 Nickel Elmar Lens Serial No: NA Barrel: G - however missing infinity lock tab Optics: G - some haze Notes: with aftermarket (Qty: 1) ... read more |
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| Jun 2025 | EUR 2,800 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 46 (Lot A01647) Title: Elmar 3.5/3.5cm nickel
Description:
beautiful 7 o'clock EKURZ Elmar, RF coupled, in almost mint condition, good optics, with both caps and red maker's box (cond. B+). Estimate: EUR 2,000 - EUR 2,400 |
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| May 2025 | £560 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 495) Title: A Leitz Elmar 3.5cm f/3.5 Lens
Description:
A Leitz Elmar 3.5cm f/3.5 Lens, L39 mount, nickel, snail (heavy) cam, infinity lock at 11 o'clock, scale in meters, serial no 143568, pre 1933, |
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| Apr 2025 | £188 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 56) Title: A Leitz Wetzlar Elmar f/3.5 3.5cm Lens
Description:
chrome, serial number 356672, barrel G, iris slightly stiff, focuses smoothly, optics F with internal haze. |
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| Apr 2025 | £525 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 24) Title: A Leitz Elmar f/3.5 35mm Lens
Description:
chrome, serial no. 570485, body, F, elements, G-VG, some internal haze, complete with Leica FLQOO black paint lens hood and maker's bakelite case |
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| Jan 2025 | £454 | Chiswick Auctions | |
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Auction: Photographica (Lot 57) Title: A Leitz 3.5cm f/3.5 Elmar Lens
Description:
A Leitz 3.5cm f/3.5 Elmar Lens Serial No: 157470 (1933) Body: VG - missing focussing lock pin Optics: VG Notes: complete with maker's front rear caps ... read more |
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| Nov 2024 | £2,125 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 24) Title: A Leitz Elmar f/3.5 35mm lens
Description:
nickel, heavy cam, body, VG, elements, VG |
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| Oct 2024 | £175 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 11) Title: A Leitz-Wetzlar Elmar f/3.5 3.5cm Lens
Description:
chrome, serial number 470873, barrel F-G, some wear to chrome around the focus dial, optics G with light haze, with rear cap. |
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| Oct 2024 | £440 | Harper Field Auctions | |
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Auction: Buying & Selling (Lot 1660) Title: Leitz Elmar f=3.5cm 1:3.5 screw mount camera lens, serial number 160880, circa 1933, with front
Description:
Leitz Elmar f=3.5cm 1:3.5 screw mount camera lens, serial number 160880, circa 1933, with front |
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| Oct 2024 | £190 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 399) Title: A Leitz Elmar 3.5cm f/3.5 Lens
Description:
A Leitz Elmar 3.5cm f/3.5 Lens, serial no 271100, 1935, barrel G, elements G, with front cap |
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| Jul 2024 | £238 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 456) Title: A Leitz Elmar f/3.5 3,5cm Lens
Description:
screw mount, body F, front identity ring partly scratched off, mechanically G, optically F with haze. |
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| May 2024 | £1,000 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 27) Title: A Leitz Elmar f/3.5 35mm Lens
Description:
1935, nickel, serial no. 225223, body, VG, elements, VG-E, complete with maker's caps |
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| May 2024 | £875 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 28) Title: A Leitz Elmar f/3.5 35mm Lens
Description:
1935, nickel, serial no. 236454, body, VG, elements, G-VG, some internal haze, complete with maker's caps and box |
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| Apr 2024 | £320 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 571) Title: A Leitz 3.5cm f/3.5 Elmar Lens
Description:
A Leitz 3.5cm f/3.5 Elmar Lens, L39 mount, serial no 236745, 1935, barrel G-VG, elements F, fungus/clouding, with 3.5cm Elmar hood, rear and black |
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| Apr 2024 | £140 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 550) Title: A Leitz Elmar 3.5cm f/3.5 Lens
Description:
A Leitz Elmar 3.5cm f/3.5 Lens, L39 mount. serial no 378022, 1937, barrel G, some chrome loss to focusing handle, elements G, with rear and worn |
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| Apr 2024 | £180 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 555) Title: A Leitz 3.5cm f/3.5 Elmar Lens
Description:
A Leitz 3.5cm f/3.5 Elmar Lens, L39 mount, serial no 332743, 1936, barrel G, elements G |
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| Sep 2023 | £275 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 15) Title: A Leitz Elmar f/3.5 35mm Lens
Description:
chrome, serial no. 653457, body G-VG, optics VG, some very light cleaning marks present, with maker's cap & lens bubble present, (Qty: 1) |
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| May 2023 | £938 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 13) Title: A Leitz Elmar f/3.5 35mm Lens
Description:
1934, nickel, serial no. 215417, body, VG, elements, G-VG, a few internal marks, complete with maker's lens caps and original red card box |
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| Apr 2023 | £280 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 498) Title: A Leitz 3.5cm f/3.5 Elmar Lens
Description:
A Leitz 3.5cm f/3.5 Elmar Lens, serial no 654335, 1948, barrel G, elements G, with Summaron-Elmar hood, with Leica front cap and M mount adapter |
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| Apr 2023 | £140 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 469) Title: A Leitz 3.5cm f/3.5 Elmar Lens
Description:
A Leitz 3.5cm f/3.5 Elmar Lens, no serial number visible, with rangefinder coupling cam, barrel G, light wear, elements F-G, fungus spot to middle of |
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| Oct 2022 | £688 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 61) Title: A Leitz Elmar f/3.5 35mm Lens
Description:
nickel, serial no. 236112, body, G, elements, VG, some internal haze, with maker's caps |
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| Oct 2022 | £275 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 59) Title: A Leitz Elmar f/3.5 35mm Lens
Description:
chrome, serial no. 356473, body, G-VG, elements, G, some internal haze/marks |
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| Jun 2022 | £775 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine & Rare Cameras (Lot 9) Title: A Leitz Elmar f/3.5 35mm Lens
Description:
nickel, body, G, elements, G-VG, some internal haze, with maker's black paint lens caps and bakelite case Note: Lot imported under Temporary |
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| Jun 2022 | EUR 550 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 40 (Lot AI_40_40238) Title: Elmar 3.5/3.5cm chrome
Description:
a pre-war lens in chrome finish, in beautiful, near-mint condition with good optics, incl. both caps Estimate: EUR 600 - EUR 700 |
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| Apr 2021 | £397 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 18) Title: A Leitz Elmar f/3.5 35mm Lens
Description:
1940, chrome, serial no. 540813, body, G-VG, elements, VG-E, some light internal haze, with maker's caps and original red tube Note: Lot imported |
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| May 2020 | £1,102 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 28) Title: A Leitz Elmar f/3.5 35mm Lens
Description:
A Leitz Elmar f/3.5 35mm Lens, 1935, nickel, serial no. 271875, body, VG, elements, VG, some light internal haze, with maker's lens caps and tube |
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| May 2020 | £306 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 29) Title: A Leitz Elmar f/3.5 35mm Lens
Description:
A Leitz Elmar f/3.5 35mm Lens, 1946, chrome, serial no. 605991, body, VG, elements, VG, some light internal haze |
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| Oct 2019 | £192 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine (Lot 158) Title: A Leitz Elmar f/3.5 35mm Lens
Description:
1938, chrome, serial no. 451359, body, VG, elements, VG, some tiny traces of fungus to perimeter of front element, in leather case with maker's caps. |
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| Nov 2018 | £240 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine (Lot 1012) Title: A Leitz Elmar f/3.5 35mm Lens
Description:
1939, chrome, serial no. 515278, body, VG, elements, VG, some light internal marks, with caps and case |
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| Mar 2018 | EUR 1,400 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 32 (Lot AI_32_35898) Title: Elmar 3.5/3.5cm chrome 'Heer'
Description:
German military lens, 'Heer' engraved on front ring (expanded scale, good optics, caps), see Lager Vol. II p.19 Estimate: EUR 1,600 - EUR 1,800 |
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| Nov 2013 | EUR 750 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 24 (Lot AI_24_29085) Title: Elmar 3.5/3.5cm nickel
Description:
very rare un-numbered nickel Elmar with focusing mount to 1.5 Feet, for IC with standard mount, clean lenses (caps), red 'EKURZ' maker's box Estimate: EUR 800 - EUR 1,000 |
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| Nov 2012 | EUR 1,500 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 22 (Lot AI_22_14617) Title: Elmar 3.5/5cm chrome 'W.H.'
Description:
very rare and fully original W.H. (Wehrmacht-Heer) Elmar (delivered to BLN, delivery number 9777), cap Estimate: EUR 1,500 - EUR 1,800 |
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| May 2009 | EUR 340 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 15 (Lot AI_15_19130) Title: Elmar 3.5/3.5cm chrome
Description:
near mint uncoated Elmar with good lenses, cap, meter scale, with the very rare tropical aluminium box (Leitz Elmar 3.5cm Germany) Estimate: EUR 600 - EUR 700 |
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| May 2006 | EUR 420 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 9 (Lot AI_9_26334) Title: Elmar 3.5/3.5cm Nickel
Description:
early 'heavy-cam' lens in very nice condition, in meter, both caps Estimate: EUR 500 - EUR 600 |
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| May 2005 | EUR 2,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 7 (Lot AI_7_25177) Title: Elmar 3.5/3.5cm Luftwaffen-Eigentum
Description:
in very good condition with original engraving: Luftwaffen-Eigentum, delivered to Luftw.Bln 19481 on November 19th 1940 (photocopy of the Leitz salesbook is included), cap, bakelite box Estimate: EUR 1,500 - EUR 1,800 |
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| Nov 2003 | EUR 2,083 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 4 (Lot AI_4_22819) Title: Elmar 3,5/3,5cm Luftwaffen-Eigentum
Description:
Schönes, originales und sehr seltenes Elmar 3,5cm mit Gravur. "Luftwaffen-Eigentum", Deckeln, Luftwaffe Bln. 19. Nov.1940 19481 - geliefert zu den Kameras 365489; 571; 586; 588; 596; 608; 616-620; 628; 647; 664; 684; 686-700; 701-750 Estimate: EUR 19,400 - EUR 5,556,270 |
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| Nov 2002 | EUR 125 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 1 (Lot AI_1_21334) Title: LEITZ 3,5 cm/3,5 Elmar
Description:
Lens in Compur shutter, rare |
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