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Leitz I (B)

The Leitz I (Model B) is a 35mm camera from Ernst Leitz of Wetzlar, widely known as the "Compur Leica" because it uses a Compur leaf shutter in place of the focal-plane shutter fitted to other early Leicas. It was produced in relatively small numbers before the Second World War and is among the scarcer early Leitz bodies collectors pursue today.

Hammer prices at UK auction have ranged from roughly £700 to £7,100, with a median around £2,800 across 15 recorded sales. As of 2026, the price a Leitz I (B) sells for is highly condition-sensitive, and the variant on offer — Dial-set or Rim-set Compur — is a major driver of value. These are saleroom hammer figures, so a buyer's final outlay adds the auction house's premium on top.

Variants

Select a variant to filter the sales history below.

Variant Years Edition Sales Price Range
Rädchen-Compur (DIAL SET) 3 £2,400 – £7,050
Ring-Compur (RIM SET, brass) 2 £700 – £5,000
Ring-Compur (RIM SET) 8 £1,300 – £3,542

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.

Prices updated: April 2026

Date Price Source Variant
Apr 2026 £3,625 Flints Auctions
Nov 2025 EUR 5,000 Leitz Auction
Nov 2025 EUR 6,500 Leitz Auction
Nov 2025 EUR 1,700 Leitz Auction
Jun 2025 EUR 3,200 Leitz Auction
Jan 2025 USD 3,100 pedia_sales_tamarkin
Nov 2024 EUR 7,500 Leitz Auction
Nov 2024 EUR 6,000 Leitz Auction
Jun 2024 EUR 3,400 Leitz Auction
Jun 2024 EUR 2,200 Leitz Auction
May 2024 £2,000 Flints Auctions
Nov 2023 EUR 6,500 Leitz Auction
Nov 2023 EUR 4,000 Leitz Auction Rädchen-Compur (DIAL SET)
Jun 2023 EUR 5,500 Leitz Auction
Jun 2023 EUR 6,000 Leitz Auction
Jun 2023 EUR 3,200 Leitz Auction
Jan 2023 USD 3,000 pedia_sales_tamarkin
Nov 2022 EUR 8,500 Leitz Auction
Nov 2022 EUR 3,200 Leitz Auction
Nov 2022 USD 2,800 pedia_sales_tamarkin
Nov 2022 USD 4,500 pedia_sales_tamarkin
Jun 2022 EUR 9,000 Leitz Auction
Jun 2022 EUR 2,800 Leitz Auction Ring-Compur (RIM SET)
Jun 2021 EUR 6,000 Leitz Auction
Nov 2020 EUR 5,000 Leitz Auction
Nov 2020 EUR 3,000 Leitz Auction
Nov 2020 EUR 6,000 Leitz Auction
Nov 2020 USD 3,500 pedia_sales_tamarkin
Nov 2019 EUR 9,000 Leitz Auction
Nov 2019 USD 2,000 pedia_sales_tamarkin
Nov 2018 EUR 1,500 Leitz Auction
Nov 2018 EUR 1,300 Leitz Auction Ring-Compur (RIM SET)
Apr 2018 £2,280 Flints Auctions
Mar 2018 EUR 1,600 Leitz Auction
Mar 2018 EUR 8,000 Leitz Auction
Mar 2018 EUR 6,000 Leitz Auction
Nov 2016 EUR 1,800 Leitz Auction
Nov 2016 EUR 5,000 Leitz Auction
Nov 2016 EUR 2,000 Leitz Auction
Nov 2016 EUR 2,600 Leitz Auction
Jun 2015 EUR 5,000 Leitz Auction
Nov 2014 EUR 2,500 Leitz Auction Ring-Compur (RIM SET)
Nov 2014 EUR 12,000 Leitz Auction
May 2013 EUR 700 Leitz Auction Ring-Compur (RIM SET, brass)
May 2013 EUR 1,400 Leitz Auction
Nov 2012 EUR 3,600 Leitz Auction
May 2012 EUR 3,000 Leitz Auction Ring-Compur (RIM SET)
Nov 2011 EUR 2,400 Leitz Auction
Nov 2011 EUR 2,800 Leitz Auction Ring-Compur (RIM SET)
Nov 2011 EUR 6,500 Leitz Auction
May 2011 EUR 4,400 Leitz Auction
Dec 2010 EUR 5,000 Leitz Auction Ring-Compur (RIM SET, brass)
May 2010 EUR 2,400 Leitz Auction Rädchen-Compur (DIAL SET)
Dec 2009 EUR 8,000 Leitz Auction
Dec 2009 EUR 2,400 Leitz Auction Ring-Compur (RIM SET)
Nov 2007 EUR 8,000 Leitz Auction
May 2007 EUR 5,000 Leitz Auction
Nov 2006 £3,000 Christie's
Nov 2006 EUR 4,000 Leitz Auction
May 2006 £1,920 Christie's
May 2005 EUR 9,300 Leitz Auction
Nov 2004 £2,390 Christie's
Nov 2004 £3,107 Christie's
Nov 2004 EUR 2,865 Leitz Auction
Nov 2004 EUR 10,208 Leitz Auction
Nov 2004 EUR 10,417 Leitz Auction
Nov 2003 £940 Christie's
Jun 2003 £3,055 Christie's
Jun 2003 £2,585 Christie's
May 2003 EUR 3,542 Leitz Auction Ring-Compur (RIM SET)
Jun 2001 £2,115 Christie's Ring-Compur (RIM SET)
Jun 2000 £7,050 Christie's Rädchen-Compur (DIAL SET)
Nov 1998 £1,955 Christie's
Jul 1998 £3,220 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Leitz I (B) worth today?

Based on recent UK auction hammer results, a Leitz I (B) is typically worth around £2,800, with condition-dependent examples ranging from roughly £700 to £7,100.

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

Across fifteen recorded UK saleroom results, the median price is about £2,800, though exceptional examples have sold for several thousand pounds more.

Why is the Leitz I (B) called the Compur Leica?

Because it was fitted with a Compur leaf shutter instead of the focal-plane shutter used on the Leica I (A) and later screw-mount bodies, making it mechanically distinct within the early Leitz range.

Which Leitz I (B) variant has the highest value?

The earlier Rädchen-Compur (Dial-set) bodies are generally the scarcest of the three documented variants, and clean examples tend to fetch the strongest prices at auction.