Leitz R4S
The Leitz R4S is a 35mm single-lens reflex camera introduced in 1983 as a simplified, lower-cost version of the R4, using the Leica R bayonet mount. It sat below the full-featured R4 in the Leitz SLR line and was aimed at photographers who wanted the R-system body and lens compatibility at a reduced price.
At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the R4S have ranged from around £31 for rough examples to about £160 for clean working bodies, with a median close to £115 across 2024 and 2025 saleroom results. As of today in 2026 the R4S remains one of the more affordable entry points into the Leica R system at auction-wholesale level, though condition, working electronics, and variant type materially affect what a given body sells for.
Variants
Select a variant to filter the sales history below.
| Variant | Years | Edition | Sales | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| black | — | — | 6 | £31 – £200 |
| Jesse Owens | — | — | 0 | — |
| Mod. 2 black | — | — | 2 | £129 – £150 |
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: June 2026
| Date | Price | Source | Variant | |
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| Jun 2026 | £119 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 40) Title: A Leica R4S 35mm SLR Camera Body
Description:
black, serial number 1654475, body VG, shutter works, meter responds to light, viewfinder LEDs work, in presentation case and boxed. Note: A 5% |
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| Apr 2026 | £150 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 23) Title: A Leica R4s 35mm SLR Camera Body
Description:
black, serial number 1639392, body VG-E, shutter works, meter responds to light, in plastic presentation case and maker's box. Note: A 5% import Duty |
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| Mar 2026 | £162 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 25) Title: A Leitz Wetzlar Leica R4s Model II 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, serial number 1685377, body VG, shutter working, with a Tamron 35-70mm macro lens, with leather case. |
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| Jan 2026 | £138 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 26) Title: A Leica R4s 35mm SLR Camera Body
Description:
black, body G, shutter working, meter responding to light, in presentation case and box. |
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| Nov 2025 | £162 | Flints Auctions | black | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 9) Title: A Leitz Wetzlar Leica R4s 35mm SLR Camera Body
Description:
black, serial number 1683159, body VG, shutter works, meter responds to light, viewfinder LED's working, in presentation case and maker's box |
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| Mar 2025 | £44 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 38) Title: A Leica R4S 35mm SLR Camera Body
Description:
black, serial number,1640165, body G, shutter works but after a lag. |
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| Mar 2025 | £150 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 45) Title: A Leica R4s Model 2 SLR Camera Body
Description:
black, serial number 1685389, body VG, shutter works, viewfinder display works, with leather case, and rigid plastic presentation case, and |
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| Mar 2025 | £50 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 36) Title: A Leica R4S 35mm SLR Camera Body
Description:
black, serial number,1684141, body G, shutter works but after a lag. |
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| Jan 2025 | £95 | Special Auction Services | — | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 291) Title: A Leitz Wetzlar Leica R4s SLR Camera Body
Description:
A Leitz Wetzlar Leica R4s SLR Camera Body, black, serial no 1653383, 1984, shutter working, meter responsive, responsive in settings, self timer |
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| Oct 2024 | £150 | Flints Auctions | Mod. 2 black | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 19) Title: A Leica R4S Mod. 2 35mm SLR Camera Body
Description:
black, serial number 1683783, body VG-E, internal display lights up, shutter works, metering appears to work, in maker's case and packaging. |
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| Oct 2024 | £31 | Flints Auctions | black | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 20) Title: A Leica R4S 35mm SLR Camera Body
Description:
black, serial number 1652669, body F-G, battery cover missing, shutter works but action is delayed, with body cap. |
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| Oct 2024 | £170 | Harper Field Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Buying & Selling (Lot 1814) Title: Leica R4s 35mm shop display SLR camera, serial number removed, with Leitz Summicron-R 1:2/50 lens,
Description:
Leica R4s 35mm shop display SLR camera, serial number removed, with Leitz Summicron-R 1:2/50 lens, |
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| Apr 2024 | £340 | Special Auction Services | — | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 433) Title: A Leica R4s SLR Camera
Description:
A Leica R4s SLR Camera, made in Portugal, serial no 1639675, 1983, shutter working, meter responsive, body G-VG, with Leitz Canada 50mm f/2 Summicron- |
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| Apr 2024 | £80 | Special Auction Services | black | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 426) Title: A Leica R4s SLR Camera
Description:
A Leica R4s SLR Camera, black, made in Portugal, serial no 1632654, 1983, shutter working, meter responsive, camera responsive in settings, body G, |
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| Aug 2023 | £125 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 12) Title: A Leica R4S Mod.2 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, body G, shutter working, LEDs light up in viewfinder, together with strap & maker's display box, (Qty: 1) |
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| Nov 2022 | £362 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 70) Title: A Leica R4s Factory Sealed SLR Body
Description:
1983, black, serial no. 1687506, unopened in original wrapping, untested Note: This lot incurs VAT, due to being imported into the UK, at a |
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| Oct 2022 | £200 | Flints Auctions | black | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 74) Title: A Leitz R4s 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, body G-VG, shutter working, with body cap, instructions, base cover, hard shell box, & maker's outer box Note: Lot imported under Temporary |
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| Dec 2021 | £56 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 388) Title: A Leica R4s Model II 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, body VG-E, shutter sometimes wont wind on, shutter speeds sound accurate, viewfinder clear, LEDs in viewfinder light up when batteries are (Qty: 1) |
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| Oct 2019 | £228 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine (Lot 205) Title: A Leica R4s SLR Camera
Description:
1983, black, serial no. 1636233, with Leitz Vario-Elmar-R f/3.5 35-70mm lens, black, serial no. 3173058, body, VG, shutter working, lens, VG-E, with |
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| Nov 2018 | EUR 2,000 | Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 33 (Lot AI_33_36764) Title: Leica R4s outfit 'Will McBride'
Description:
Leica R4s camera owned and used by famous U.S. photographer Will McBride (1931-2015), known for his controversial nude photography (like for youth magazine Twen or photography book 'Show Me!'), the set includes a camera body, Elmarit-R 2.8/24mm no.3404631, Macro-Elmarit-R 2.8/60mm no.2830479, also included in this lot is 'Leica Fotografie' magazine issue 6/1963, signed inside by McBride, two of his photo books: Siddhartha and 'I, Will McBride'; selling invoice signed by Mr. McBride with the R4s, 24 and 60mm and noted serial numbers - from the German camera store, where he sold his camera outfit in 1999 Estimate: EUR 4,000 - EUR 4,500 |
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| Nov 2016 | EUR 320 | Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 30 (Lot AI_30_34401) Title: Leica R4s MOD.2 black
Description:
brand new in unopened, sealed maker's box with all papers Estimate: EUR 400 - EUR 500 |
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| Mar 2007 | £288 | Christie's | — | |
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Auction: Cameras, Photographs and Optical Toys (Lot 187) Title: Leica R4s no. 1657079
Description:
Leica R4s no. 1657079 Estimate: £100 - £150 |
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| Dec 2003 | £129 | Christie's | Mod. 2 black | |
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Auction: LEICA CAMERAS THE PROPERTY OF A COLLECTOR (Lot 107) Title: Leica R4S model 2 no. 1656503
Description:
Leica R4S model 2 no. 1656503 Estimate: £150 - £200 |
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| Dec 2003 | £129 | Christie's | black | |
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Auction: LEICA CAMERAS THE PROPERTY OF A COLLECTOR (Lot 108) Title: Leica R4S model P no. 1687414
Description:
Leica R4S model P no. 1687414 Estimate: £200 - £300 |
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| Dec 2003 | £164 | Christie's | black | |
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Auction: LEICA CAMERAS THE PROPERTY OF A COLLECTOR (Lot 109) Title: Leica R4S no. 1646221
Description:
Leica R4S no. 1646221 Estimate: £280 - £350 |
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| Sep 2003 | £105 | Christie's | — | |
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Auction: CAMERAS & PHOTO EQUIP, INCLUDING A EUROPEAN LEICA COLLECTION (Lot 245) Title: Leica R4S no. 1636368
Description:
Leica R4S no. 1636368 Estimate: £200 - £400 |
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| Nov 2002 | £176 | Christie's | — | |
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Auction: PHOTOGRAPHS, MAGIC LANTERNS AND OPTICAL TOYS AND CAMERAS (Lot 350) Title: Leica R4S no. 1636455
Description:
Leica R4S no. 1636455 Estimate: £100 - £150 |
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| Sep 2001 | £293 | Christie's | — | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT (Lot 68) Title: Leica R4s no. 1635749
Description:
Leica R4s no. 1635749 Estimate: £250 - £350 |
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| Mar 2001 | £493 | Christie's | — | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT (Lot 88) Title: Leica R4s Model 2 no. 1693014
Description:
Leica R4s Model 2 no. 1693014 Estimate: £300 - £500 |
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| Jun 1999 | £437 | Christie's | — | |
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Auction: Leica Cameras (Lot 306) Title: Leica R4-S-mod. 2 no. 1683432
Description:
Leica R4-S-mod. 2 no. 1683432 Estimate: £250 - £350 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Leitz R4S worth today?
Based on recent UK auction hammer results, a Leitz R4S is typically worth between about £80 and £160, with a median value near £115 for standard black bodies in working order.
How much does a Leitz R4S sell for at auction?
Hammer prices in 2024 and 2025 have ranged from £31 for a rough or non-working example up to £162 for a clean, functioning body.
Is the Jesse Owens edition R4S more valuable than the standard model?
The Jesse Owens commemorative is a recognised special edition of the R4S and is generally priced separately from standard black bodies, but sample data at auction level is limited so buyers should judge each sale on its merits.
What drives the price of a Leitz R4S?
Working electronics, clean cosmetics, a bright uncontaminated prism, and variant type are the main factors — a non-functioning body can sell for under £40 while a clean standard example sells for roughly four times that.