Multiscope & Film Co. Al-Vista 5B
The Al-Vista 5B is an early panoramic roll-film camera produced by the Multiscope & Film Co. It used a swinging lens design to capture wide-format images on roll film, a body type that places it among the turn-of-the-twentieth-century panoramic cameras aimed at landscape and group photography.
UK auction data for the Al-Vista 5B is extremely thin, with a single recorded hammer result at saleroom level of £184 in 1998. With only one verified sale on file there is no meaningful range or median to quote in 2026, so what the camera is worth today depends heavily on condition, completeness and whether the swinging-lens mechanism still functions when it next sells for a price at auction.
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.
Prices updated: January 2015
| Date | Price | Value GBP | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2015 | £100 | £100 | 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services (archive) | |
|
Auction: Express Camera Auction Tuesday 20th January 2015 at 10:00 (Lot 152) Title: A Multiscope & Film Al-Vista Model 5B Camera
Description:
A Multiscope & Film Al-Vista Model 5B Camera, body, G, holes to bellows, shutter working, lens, F-G, some internal marks, compelte with finder Estimate: £40 - £60 |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| May 2004 | EUR 344 | £231 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
|
Auction: Leitz Auction 5 (Lot AI_5_23310) Title: Multiscope & Film Co. Al-Vista 5B
Description:
panoramic camera for rollfilm, leather covered wood body, with swinging brass lens, (lacking film wind key) Estimate: EUR 1,900 - EUR 8 |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| May 1998 | £184 | £160 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
|
Auction: CAMERAS AND OPTICAL TOYS (Lot 487) Title: Al-Vista 5B panoramic camera
Description:
Al-Vista 5B panoramic camera Estimate: £150 - £200 |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
Frequently asked questions
What is an Al-Vista 5B worth today?
On the limited evidence available, one UK auction hammer result of £184 has been recorded, so any current value estimate carries significant uncertainty and depends on condition.
How much does an Al-Vista 5B sell for at auction?
The only verified UK saleroom price in our records is £184, achieved in 1998; more recent comparable sales would be needed to establish a reliable current price.
What affects the value and price of an Al-Vista 5B?
Working condition of the swinging lens mechanism, the state of the wooden body and covering, and overall completeness are the main factors that influence what one of these cameras is worth.