Leitz Leica CM
The Leica CM is a 35mm autofocus compact camera introduced by Leica in the mid-2000s, positioned at the premium end of the point-and-shoot market alongside other high-grade compacts of its era. It paired a small magnesium body with a fixed Leica-branded prime lens (a CM Zoom variant with a zoom lens was also produced), and was sold as a pocketable companion to the M-series rangefinders.
At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Leica CM have ranged from roughly £560 to £12,000, with a median around £4,000 — figures that reflect wholesale saleroom results before commission rather than dealer retail. The wide spread shows how condition-sensitive and variant-sensitive this model is today in 2026: a tidy user-grade body sells for a fraction of what a boxed, mint, or special-edition example is worth, and the top of the range is driven by collector-grade outliers rather than typical examples.
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
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| Nov 2025 | EUR 4,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 47 (Lot A02620) Title: Leica CM prototype
Description:
A very rare prototype Leica CM, marked on the base plate with imprint: PP-SAMPLE 059 (pre-production sample), in near-mint condition and good working order. |
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| Jun 2025 | EUR 12,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 46 (Lot A01952) Title: Leica CM prototype
Description:
A very interesting and extremely rare late-stage prototype of the Leica CM. Except for the red Leica logo on the front, the camera bears no engravings at all. The top plate still shows machining marks from the production. Prototypes like this were intended for field testing of the cameras without revealing the name or the specifications. The offered example is in beautiful condition and in perfect working order. Estimate: EUR 8,000 - EUR 9,000 |
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| May 2023 | £1,062 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 141) Title: A Leica CM Compact Camera
Description:
2004, titanium, serial no. 2950660, with Leitz Summarit f/2.4 40mm lens, body, VG-E, shutter not working, displaying "E1 Shut01' message, lens, VG-E, |
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| Aug 2022 | £562 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 354) Title: A Leica CM Compact Film Camera
Description:
serial no. 2950660, with Leitz Summarit f/2.4 40mm lens, body, VG, powers up but will not shoot, some corrosion to battery cover, complete with soft |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Leica CM worth today?
UK auction hammer prices have ranged from around £560 for a worn user example up to about £12,000 for an exceptional or special-edition piece, with a median near £4,000.
How much does a Leica CM sell for at auction?
Recent UK saleroom results sit broadly between £560 and £12,000 before commission, so a typical clean Leica CM tends to sell for a value in the low-to-mid thousands of pounds rather than at either extreme.
Why is the price range for the Leica CM so wide?
The CM is condition- and variant-sensitive: cosmetic wear, working electronics, original box and papers, and whether the camera is a standard CM or a rarer special edition all materially change the price a buyer is willing to pay.
Is the Leica CM a good buy as a user camera?
It can be, provided the electronics and autofocus are fully functional, but because spare parts and factory service are limited, most of the value sits in fully working, cosmetically clean examples rather than project bodies.