Leitz IIIf ELC Midland (Canadian)
The Leitz IIIf ELC Midland is a Canadian-assembled variant of the screw-mount IIIf 35mm rangefinder, built at Ernst Leitz Canada in Midland, Ontario. The standard IIIf was a postwar refinement of the Barnack-style Leica with flash synchronisation, and the ELC Midland examples are a low-production curiosity sought primarily by collectors rather than users.
Auction data for this specific Canadian variant is extremely thin: a single recorded UK saleroom hammer of £3,300 in 2005 is the only data point we hold, so a meaningful current price range cannot be established for 2026. Values today turn almost entirely on provenance, completeness of the original ELC paperwork, and cosmetic condition, and any serious buyer should treat this figure as historical context rather than a working market price.
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: November 2025
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| Nov 2025 | EUR 10,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 47 (Lot A01758) Title: Leica IIIf ELC Midland set
Description:
Very rare IIIf body with self-timer in beautiful, almost perfect original condition, top plate engraved 'Ernst Leitz Canada Limited Midland Ontario', with matching Ernst Leitz Canada Ltd. Midland Summarit 1.5/5cm no.1246793 (cap), only small batches of the IIIf were prepared by Leitz Canada and engraved accordingly. |
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| Nov 2025 | EUR 7,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 47 (Lot A02031) Title: Leica IIIf ELC Midland outfit
Description:
Very rare and beautiful Leica IIIf body in almost mint condition, the top plate is engraved 'Ernst Leitz Canada Limited Midland Ontario', together with a matching Midland Summarit 1.5/5 cm no.1418407, optics only showing a few cleaning marks on the front element, with front lens cap. More than 5.000 units of the Leica IIIf were produced by ELCAN, but only about 200 specimens did carry the Canadian engraving, very hard to find in this nice condition. |
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| Jun 2025 | EUR 14,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 46 (Lot A01746) Title: Leica IIIf ELC Midland set
Description:
Very rare IIIf body with self-timer in beautiful, almost perfect original condition, top plate engraved 'Ernst Leitz Canada Limited Midland Ontario', with matching Ernst Leitz Canada Ltd. Midland Summarit 1.5/5cm no.1418437 (cap), only small batches of the IIIf were prepared by Leitz Canada and engraved accordingly. Estimate: EUR 12,000 - EUR 14,000 |
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| May 2013 | EUR 400 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 23 (Lot AI_23_10734) Title: IIIf ELC
Description:
rare Ernst Leitz Canada black dial camera from the first batch (with Wetzlar top plate), WESTON film-speed indicator on winding knob, base plate engraved 'open-auf close-zu' (cap) Estimate: EUR 800 - EUR 1,000 |
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| May 2013 | EUR 750 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 23 (Lot AI_23_10735) Title: IIIf ELC
Description:
rare Ernst Leitz Canada black dial camera from the second batch (with Wetzlar top plate), WESTON film-speed indicator on winding knob, base plate engraved 'open-auf close-zu', matching Summitar 2/5cm no.848802 (cap) Estimate: EUR 1,200 - EUR 1,500 |
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| Dec 2009 | EUR 3,800 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 16 (Lot AI_16_19698) Title: IIIf ELC
Description:
rare Ernst Leitz Canada black dial camera from the very first batch of 100 cameras (with Wetzlar top plate), matching Ernst Leitz Canada Ltd. Midland Summarit 1.5/5cm no.1246965 (cond. B+, cap) Estimate: EUR 1,500 - EUR 1,800 |
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| Nov 2006 | EUR 1,200 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 10 (Lot AI_10_15280) Title: IIIf ELC
Description:
rare IIIf (red dial, self timer) with typical Canada serial number engraving, WESTON film-speed indicator on winding knob, "open-auf close-zu" engravings on the base plate, case stamped "E. Leitz New York", with Wollensak Velostigmat 3.5/50mm no.454000, cap, in perfect working condition Estimate: EUR 2,000 - EUR 2,400 |
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| May 2005 | EUR 3,300 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 7 (Lot AI_7_25156) Title: IIIf ELC Midland
Description:
IIIf (red dial and self-timer) with original engraving 'ELC Limited Midland Ontario', matching Summarit 1.5/5cm no.1246786 engraved 'ELC Ltd. Midland' - 100% original and very rare outfit in perfect condition. Only some 190 pieces of the whole IIIf production in Canada (more than 5300 units) were engraved 'Midland Ontario'. Estimate: EUR 5,000 - EUR 5,500 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Leitz IIIf ELC Midland worth today?
The only UK auction hammer we have on file is £3,300 from 2005, so a reliable current value cannot be quoted; condition, originality and ELC documentation will drive any present-day price.
Why does the Canadian Midland IIIf sell for more than a standard IIIf?
Ernst Leitz Canada produced far fewer screw-mount bodies than Wetzlar, so verified ELC Midland IIIf examples carry a scarcity premium with collectors rather than reflecting any optical or mechanical superiority.
How can I confirm a IIIf is a genuine ELC Midland body?
Check the top-plate engraving for the Ernst Leitz Canada / Midland marking and cross-reference the serial number against published ELC production records before paying a Canadian-variant price.