Leitz MS
The Leitz MS is a 35mm rangefinder camera produced by Leitz. It appears infrequently at UK auction, where its value is shaped largely by condition and completeness rather than by a steady supply of comparable examples.
At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Leitz MS have ranged from roughly £4,000 to £16,000, with a median around £9,000 across the limited sales on record. The wide spread reflects how condition-sensitive and thinly traded this model is — wholesale saleroom results in 2026 still hinge heavily on cosmetics, mechanical health and any accompanying paperwork, and a single clean example can sell for several times what a tired one is worth.
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 36,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 47 (Lot A02039) Title: Leica MP chrome no.MP-192
Description:
A beautiful original vintage Leica MP, one of the rarest and most collectable Leicas model made, in very good condition, chassis engraved with matching number, with all matching features, like the body without self-timer and with early strap lugs, matching back door, double stroke advance, delivered to London on 09.09.1957, together with a Leicavit MP and feet scale M39 Summarit 1.5/5cm no.1517490, very good optics only showing minimal cleaning marks, with Leica-Meter MC no.95753 and rare matching eveready case with cut-out for the Leicavit arm. |
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| Apr 2025 | £46,250 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 34) Title: A Leica MP Rangefinder Camera Body
Description:
1957, chrome, serial no. P299, body, VG-E, complete with Leicavit MP Service Report: Camera disassembled. Visual inspection found everything to be |
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| Apr 2025 | £4,000 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 52) Title: A Leica MP 0.72 Rangefinder Camera
Description:
2002, black, serial no. 2889406, body, E, shutter working |
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| Oct 2024 | £4,100 | Harper Field Auctions | |
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Auction: Buying & Selling (Lot 1756) Title: Leica MP 0.72 35mm rangefinder black camera body, serial number 2889277, circa 2002, together with
Description:
Leica MP 0.72 35mm rangefinder black camera body, serial number 2889277, circa 2002, together with |
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| Oct 2024 | £20,000 | Harper Field Auctions | |
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Auction: Buying & Selling (Lot 1744) Title: Leica MP 35mm rangefinder camera with chrome body, serial number 394, circa 1957, with Leicavit
Description:
Leica MP 35mm rangefinder camera with chrome body, serial number 394, circa 1957, with Leicavit |
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| Nov 2023 | EUR 1,100,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 43 (Lot A00247) Title: Leica MP black paint no.60 'Yul Brynner'
Description:
The MP-60 is in similar cosmetic condition as its sibling, the MP-59. It shows an attractive patina of use around the edges, it is also in perfect working condition. This special Leica includes a matching, sought-after black paint Leicavit MP and a rigid chrome Summicron 2/5cm no.1513257.These Leica MP cameras, totaling only 141 in production, were symbolic of Brynner's commitment to the art of photography. However, it was his extensive body of work, consisting of thousands of photographs, that truly exemplified his photographic prowess. Brynner's photographs tell stories, capturing moments in time with the same dedication and precision he brought to the stage and screen, leaving an enduring legacy in both the worlds of cinema and photography.It was at the 'Photokina' fair in Cologne in 1956 when the new Leica MP was introduced to the public. It was much more than a mere variation of the Leica M3. It was the only serial model which has an individual number, differing fundamentally from the usual fabrication numbers of all other Leica cameras. With only 412 units produced, the MP is among the rarest Leica models of all time. The black-paint version was produced only 141 times and acquired mainly by professional photographers. Many famous professional photographers used MP cameras. Today it is among the most sought-after Leicas of all. The idea which led to the production of the MP model came from several well-known American press photographers, who wanted to make use of the advantages of the Leicavit (available at that time for IIIf only) on their Leica M cameras as well. It was mainly the suggestion of Alfred Eisenstaedt and David Douglas Duncan which aroused the interest of Dr. Ludwig Leitz, who was the director of the development and construction department in 1955.Brynner is certainly not the first actor to photograph as a hobby - there have been plenty actor-shutterbugs, from Roddy McDowall, to Jeff Bridges, to today's crop, including Penelope Cruz - but Brynner used photography as a way to stay in love with his daily job, which was performing. He wasn't lonely or bored on film sets or backstage, despite the endless hours of waiting around that goes on in the theater or in moviemaking, because he had his Leicas. - Ingrid Sischy Estimate: EUR 600,000 - EUR 700,000 |
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| Nov 2023 | EUR 13,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 43 (Lot AI_20220621_1414_41134) Title: Leica MP 'Space' by King Nerd
Description:
John Dowell, aka King Nerd, is a British designer and artist creating true masterpieces and handmade rarities as an engraver. His clients include the big names in the fashion and luxury watch industries, automobile and motorcycle manufacturers, spirits and audio brands and... Leica Camera. One of his artworks is the offered Leica MP 'Space'.'Documenting our world on a Leica camera was important to me because so many people use Leica cameras to take photos of our world,' says John Dowell, describing his intention, which led to the creation of this unique Leica MP. 'I originally had ideas to document outer space and planet earth forever on a Leica camera,' he continues, 'when I showed these designs and ideas, the guys at Leica liked what I had created in my drawings, and they decided to let me continue'.From an LFI interview with King Nerd. Estimate: EUR 20,000 - EUR 24,000 |
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| Jun 2023 | EUR 16,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 42 (Lot AI_20220121_1128_41232) Title: Leica MP chrome à la carte Presentation outfit
Description:
beautiful mint à la carte MP 0,58 with box calf red leather covering (body cap), ex-demonstration camera with leather covering options palet sample and list of camera options, with warranty card, instructions and very rare 'à la carte' wooden presentation box Estimate: EUR 5,500 - EUR 6,000 |
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| Jun 2023 | EUR 50,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 42 (Lot AI_20220121_1128_41722) Title: Leica MP chrome MP-375
Description:
Very rare Leica MP in beautiful, original and perfect working order, clean finder and shutter, with matching Leicavit MP, matching chassis number P-375 engraved inside the camera - only around 260 chrome MP's were made, because of professional usage many were upgraded with later parts during factory repairs, this rare camera is in 100% original never restored or updated condition! Estimate: EUR 100,000 - EUR 120,000 |
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| Jan 2023 | USD 6,750 | pedia_sales_tamarkin | |
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Auction: 2023 Auction Results (Lot 213) Title: Leica MP .85 Ralph Gibson Special Edition Nr. 3008935 (6/50)
Description:
Leica MP .85 Ralph Gibson Special Edition Nr. 3008935 (6/50) |
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| Nov 2022 | EUR 12,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 41 (Lot AI_41_40806) Title: Leica MP 'Leica Historica 1975-2020' outfit
Description:
Celebrating the 45th anniversary of the Leica Historica association, Leica Camera AG issued a limited edition of only 45 sets including a special chrome Leica MP (number 5663037) with blue leather covering and anniversary engraving on the top plate. Complementing the camera is a chrome Apo-Summicron-M 2/50mm ASPH. (number 4980037) with the design inspired by the early Leica M lenses from the 1950s. The offered set is in mint, unused condition and bears a special number 37/45. Estimate: EUR 24,000 - EUR 26,000 |
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| Nov 2022 | £4,000 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 45) Title: A Leica MP 0.85 Rangefinder Body
Description:
2003, chrome, serial no. 2983485, body, VG-E, shutter working, complete with Leicavit M Note: This lot incurs VAT, due to being imported into the UK, |
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| Jun 2022 | EUR 80,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 40 (Lot AI_40_40488) Title: Leica MP SP black paint no.57
Description:
The MP SP is a very rare version of a Leica MP, made exclusively to special order, featuring M2 mechanics with special engraving on the top plate, the camera is equipped with an early type back door, there is a number 'P 57' engraved on the chassis, it is in excellent condition, with near mint Leicavit MP (most probably also refinished by Leica). This is the second known MP SP black paint - the other one with the consecutive number MP-58 is shown in "Lager I Cameras" on page 195. Estimate: EUR 40,000 - EUR 50,000 |
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| Jun 2020 | EUR 9,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 36 (Lot AI_36_38183) Title: Leica MP anthracite kit 10316
Description:
rare special edition MP finished in anthracite grey, in mint, unused condition, complete with Leicavit MP no.0000566 in the same finish, all matching papers and maker's box Estimate: EUR 4,000 - EUR 5,000 |
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| Jun 2020 | EUR 38,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 36 (Lot AI_36_38263) Title: Leica MP chrome 'Jukka Vatanen'
Description:
an original Leica MP used and owned by a Finnish fashion and street photographer Jukka Vatanen. The camera is in beautiful condition, it is upgraded to single stroke and equipped with later top plate, still preserved the original body housing with long strap lugs, early back door, chassis is engraved with the matching number 'P-302'. Initially the body has been converter to black paint on Mr Vatanen order, later in 1970s again converted to original chrome by Leitz. It comes with a matching chrome Leicavit MP, an original Leica M brochure from 1957, two photographs showing the camera in black paint and five vintage prints by Mr Vatanen. Estimate: EUR 40,000 - EUR 50,000 |
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| Nov 2018 | EUR 130,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 33 (Lot AI_33_36788) Title: Leica MP black paint 'Gérard Bois'
Description:
original black paint MP delivered to New York in 1957 (codename IMOOP - Leica MP with Leicavit base), owned and used by French Photographer Gérard Bois (Gérard-Aimé, 1943-2018), known for his press coverage of the volatile period of civil unrest in France 1968, the camera has been in the possession of the photographer over a period of 50 years, he also decided to remove the disappearing rests of black paint from the top plate and from the Leicavit, despite the enormous wear the camera is still in perfect working condition, upgraded to single stroke. Included is a rare black paint, brass mount Summicron 2/5cm no.1468967 (fine original condition, good optics). Only 141 black paint MP cameras have been made, most of them have been sold to professional photographers - it is one of the most iconic Leica cameras. Estimate: EUR 160,000 - EUR 200,000 |
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| Dec 2009 | EUR 80,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 16 (Lot AI_16_19774) Title: Leica MS
Description:
This grey finished Leica was produced by Leitz Canada for the "U.S. air-to-ground reconnaissance" while the "Cuban Missile Crisis". It was used by the American pilots to shoot in low-altitude flights the Soviet ships loaded with rockets on the journey to Cuba. With the camera comes the special load/release rapid winder in grey finish, a Visoflex III with the specially for this camera produced fixed-focus (to infinity) Elmarit 2.8/135mm no.2064146, also included hand grip version E.Leitz New York electric motor (one of 2 existing). In total only 6 cameras were made (nos.3490-3495), this version was not used with the special viewfinder (shutter dial has three shutter speeds only engraved once). The camera, winder and lens are in very beautiful condition, the electric drive with grip is used.- First Leica MS to be offere in auction ! (lit.Lager I pages 222-227) Estimate: EUR 100,000 - EUR 120,000 |
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| Jun 2004 | £16,730 | Christie's | |
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Auction: LEICA, NIKON AND 35MM CAMERAS (Lot 401) Title: Leica MP no. 85
Description:
Leica MP no. 85 Estimate: £14,000 - £20,000 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Leitz MS worth today?
Recorded UK auction hammer prices sit between about £4,000 and £16,000, with a median near £9,000. Where an individual example lands within that range depends almost entirely on condition and originality.
How much does a Leitz MS sell for at auction?
Recent UK saleroom results show prices from £4,000 up to £16,000 at the hammer, before buyer's premium. Clean, fully working examples have achieved the upper end of that range.
Why does the price vary so much?
The model trades thinly, so each sale carries a lot of weight, and condition, completeness and provenance can swing the final price by a multiple rather than a percentage.