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Nagel Pupille (Elmar)

The Nagel Pupille is a compact strut-folding camera for 127 roll film, producing 3×4 cm exposures, introduced by Dr. August Nagel's Stuttgart works in the early 1930s. The Elmar variant denotes the version fitted with the Leitz Elmar 50mm f/3.5 interchangeable lens, positioning it as a high-specification pocket camera when new.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Pupille with Elmar lens have typically fallen in the £120–£600 range, with a median around £300 across the records to hand in 2026. One exceptional Christie's result at £9,400 in 2002 stands well clear of the usual band and is best treated as an outlier tied to provenance or condition rather than a guide to what a standard example is worth or sells for today. Because these are wholesale saleroom results, retail dealer asking prices tend to sit higher than the value figures cited here.

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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 2023

Date Price Source
Nov 2023 EUR 300 Leitz Auction
Nov 2021 £174 Flints Auctions
Nov 2020 EUR 750 Leitz Auction
Nov 2016 EUR 220 Leitz Auction
Nov 2008 EUR 600 Leitz Auction
Nov 2002 £9,400 Christie's
Jun 2002 £117 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Nagel Pupille with Elmar lens worth today?

Typical UK auction hammer prices sit in the £120–£600 band, with a median near £300; one 2002 sale reached £9,400 but that result is an outlier rather than a benchmark.

How much does a Nagel Pupille Elmar sell for at auction?

Most clean, working examples sell for a few hundred pounds at the hammer, with the price driven by lens condition, shutter accuracy and completeness of accessories.

Why is the Elmar version of the Pupille sought after?

The Leitz Elmar 50mm f/3.5 was a premium optic of the period, and its presence on a Pupille body makes the camera attractive to collectors of both Nagel and Leitz-branded glass.

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