Minolta CLE (gold)
The Minolta CLE is a 35mm rangefinder camera using the Leica M lens mount, introduced in 1980 as a compact aperture-priority body developed jointly between Minolta and Leitz. The gold edition is a special-finish variant of that body, produced in very small numbers and aimed at collectors rather than working photographers.
With only one UK auction record to reference, pricing for the gold CLE is thin: a single hammer result of £3,400 in June 2025 sets the most recent saleroom benchmark. Today, what a Minolta CLE (gold) is worth at auction in 2026 depends almost entirely on completeness — original presentation case, matching gold-finish 40mm Rokkor and unworn plating drive value, and condition-sensitive examples can sell for materially less than pristine sets. These figures are UK auction hammer prices and exclude buyer's and seller's commission.
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 2025
| Date | Price | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2025 | EUR 3,400 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 46 (Lot A01967) Title: Minolta CLE Gold outfit 'the last one'
Description:
Very rare gold edition with brown lizard skin, this is the very last of only 300 made, no other CLE has been produced since (!), in very good condition, some traces on the top plate, with matching black/gold M-Rokkor 2/40mm no.2124972 (hood, front cap and outfit maker's box), special leather case (in maker's box), with special wooden presentation box. Estimate: EUR 2,400 - EUR 2,800 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Minolta CLE (gold) worth today?
The most recent UK auction hammer price on record is £3,400 from June 2025, though with only one data point this should be treated as indicative rather than a firm market value.
How much does a Minolta CLE (gold) sell for at auction?
A clean example sold for £3,400 hammer in 2025; price realised is highly dependent on plating condition and whether the matching gold 40mm Rokkor and presentation case are included.
Why is the gold CLE more valuable than a standard CLE?
It was produced as a limited special-finish edition in far smaller numbers than the standard black CLE, so collector demand rather than photographic utility sets the price.