CameraWorth.com

Leitz M2-R

The Leitz M2-R is a late-production variant of the M2 35mm rangefinder, fitted with the quick-load take-up spool later used on the M4. Produced in small numbers at the end of the M2 run around 1969–1970, it retained the meterless M2 body and its 35/50/90mm bright-line finder while offering faster film loading.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the M2-R have ranged from around £650 for a tired example up to £3,200 for a clean, well-documented body, with a median of roughly £2,000. The most recent results in 2019 and 2020 sold for £2,000 and £2,800, suggesting that in today's market a presentable M2-R is typically worth £2,000–£2,800 at saleroom level, with condition, originality and the presence of the correct rapid-load spool being the main drivers of value.

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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
Nov 2025 EUR 6,000 Leitz Auction
Nov 2025 £2,125 Flints Auctions
Nov 2024 EUR 2,400 Leitz Auction
Jan 2024 USD 2,400 pedia_sales_tamarkin
Jan 2023 USD 2,500 pedia_sales_tamarkin
Nov 2022 EUR 2,400 Leitz Auction
Nov 2022 USD 3,100 pedia_sales_tamarkin
Nov 2021 USD 2,800 pedia_sales_tamarkin
Nov 2021 USD 3,200 pedia_sales_tamarkin
Nov 2020 EUR 2,000 Leitz Auction
Nov 2020 EUR 2,200 Leitz Auction
Nov 2020 USD 2,200 pedia_sales_tamarkin
Nov 2020 USD 1,900 pedia_sales_tamarkin
Nov 2020 USD 2,800 pedia_sales_tamarkin
Jun 2020 EUR 2,800 Leitz Auction
Nov 2019 EUR 2,000 Leitz Auction
Nov 2019 EUR 3,400 Leitz Auction
Jun 2019 EUR 2,000 Leitz Auction
Jun 2017 EUR 2,800 Leitz Auction
Nov 2016 EUR 1,900 Leitz Auction
Nov 2008 EUR 1,200 Leitz Auction
Nov 2008 EUR 650 Leitz Auction
Nov 2005 EUR 3,200 Leitz Auction
May 2005 EUR 1,200 Leitz Auction
Nov 2004 EUR 1,458 Leitz Auction
May 2004 £836 Christie's
Jun 2003 £1,645 Christie's
Apr 2003 £998 Christie's
Jul 1999 £3,680 Christie's
Jun 1999 £2,070 Christie's
Nov 1998 £1,265 Christie's
May 1998 £1,150 Christie's
Jan 1998 £1,610 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Leitz M2-R worth today?

UK auction hammer prices over the last few years sit in the £2,000–£2,800 range for clean, working bodies, with a long-term median close to £2,000.

How much does a Leica M2-R sell for at auction?

Recorded hammer results range from about £650 for a rough example up to £3,200 for an exceptional one, so the price a given M2-R sells for depends heavily on cosmetic condition and whether the original rapid-load spool is present.

Is the M2-R more valuable than a standard M2?

Yes — because only a small number were built at the tail end of M2 production, a verified M2-R typically commands a premium over an equivalent-condition standard M2.

What makes the M2-R different from the regular M2?

The M2-R is mechanically an M2 but fitted with the quick-load take-up spool later adopted on the M4, which is the feature the 'R' denotes.

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