CameraWorth.com

Minolta CLE

The Minolta CLE is a 35mm rangefinder camera introduced in 1980, using the Leica M bayonet mount and offering aperture-priority automatic exposure with TTL metering. Positioned as a compact, electronically controlled rangefinder, it followed on from the earlier Leitz-Minolta CL and gave Minolta a foothold in the M-mount system market.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Minolta CLE body have ranged from about £380 to £1,000, with a median in the low-to-mid £800s across the past two years. As of 2026, clean working examples sell for around £750–£1,000 at saleroom level, while cameras with cosmetic wear or electronic faults are worth closer to the lower end; condition and inclusion of the dedicated 40mm Rokkor lens are the main factors that move the price.

Variants

Select a variant to filter the sales history below.

Variant Years Edition Sales Price Range
black 9 £388£975
gold 1 £2,889£2,889

Sales History

Prices shown are realised prices — auction results and completed eBay sales, never asking prices. Most saleroom figures are hammer prices, before commission; some houses publish a premium-inclusive figure, and we do not adjust for condition. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher. How this figure is calculated.

Based on 26 recorded sales.

Last checked on eBay: 24 August 2026. Most recent sale: August 2026.

Date Price Value GBP Source Variant
Aug 2026 USD 770 £569 🇺🇸 eBay black
Aug 2026 USD 770 £569 🇺🇸 eBay black
Aug 2026 USD 600 £443 🇺🇸 eBay
Aug 2026 USD 600 £443 🇺🇸 eBay
Jul 2026 USD 1,050 £785 🇺🇸 eBay black
Jul 2026 USD 1,050 £785 🇺🇸 eBay black
Jul 2026 USD 1,100 £823 🇺🇸 eBay black
Jul 2026 £388 £388 🇬🇧 eBay black
Jul 2026 £620 £620 🇬🇧 eBay black
Jun 2026 £975 £975 🇬🇧 eBay black
Oct 2025 £600 £600 🇬🇧 Tennants Auctioneers
Jun 2025 EUR 3,400 £2,889 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction gold
Apr 2025 £1,000 £800 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions black
Mar 2025 £945 £750 🇬🇧 Chiswick Auctions
Oct 2024 £500 £500 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services
Oct 2024 £380 £380 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services
Oct 2024 £750 £750 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services
Apr 2024 £650 £650 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services
Oct 2022 £880 £704 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
May 2007 EUR 1,150 £784 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
May 2005 EUR 1,760 £1,204 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2004 £203 £170 🇬🇧 Christie's
Jun 2002 £763 £649 🇬🇧 Christie's
May 2000 £1,116 £950 🇬🇧 Christie's
Jan 2000 £575 £500 🇬🇧 Christie's
Oct 1999 £805 £700 🇬🇧 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Minolta CLE worth today?

Recent UK auction hammer prices put the value of a Minolta CLE body between roughly £380 and £1,000, with most clean working examples selling for £750 to £1,000.

How much does a Minolta CLE sell for at auction?

In the last two years the CLE has sold for a median price in the low-to-mid £800s at UK auction, with the top price in the dataset reaching £1,000 in April 2025.

Why does the price of a Minolta CLE vary so much?

Because the camera is electronically controlled, a fully functional body with working meter and auto exposure commands a strong premium, while examples with electronic faults or heavy wear sell nearer £380–£400.

Does the Minolta CLE take Leica M lenses?

Yes, the CLE uses the Leica M bayonet mount, which is part of why values have held up against other Minolta rangefinders of the period.