Olympus M-1
The Olympus M-1 is a 35mm SLR introduced in 1972 as the original designation of what became the OM-1 after Leica objected to the "M" naming. Only a small number of M-1 bodies were produced before the rename, which is the main reason collectors treat it differently from the much more common OM-1.
Sales data for the M-1 is thin: a single UK auction hammer result from October 2024 sold for £106, which gives a reference point rather than a reliable range. Because that figure is a wholesale saleroom result rather than a retail price, what an M-1 is worth in 2026 in a dealer window or on a collector marketplace today can sit noticeably higher, and condition and completeness (correct M-1 engraved top plate, matching lens) materially affect what a clean example sells for.
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: July 2026
| Date | Price | Value GBP | Source | |
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| Jul 2026 | £141 | £141 | 🇬🇧 eBay | |
Title: No corrosion[Near MINT] Olympus M-1 35mm SLR Film Camera Silver Body From JAPAN
Description:
★ Optics 【 View Finder】. Body Appearance : NEAR MINT. Condition is a personal opinion. View finder : NEAR MINT. 【NEAR MINT 】. Body : 125969. There is no haze. There is no fungus. Location: Saitama, Japan |
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| Jul 2026 | £155 | £155 | 🇬🇧 eBay | |
Title: Olympus M-1 35mm SLR Camera + M-System Zuiko 50mm F1.8 Lens + Hotshoe 1 - VGC
Description:
M-System Zuiko 50mm f1.8 lens. Original Hotshoe 1. The sale includes the following Functionally everything works, the film wind.on is smooth, all shutter speeds sound accurate with no sticky slow speeds. Location: Kettering, United Kingdom |
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| Jun 2026 | £170 | £170 | 🇬🇧 eBay | |
Title: Tested [ Near Mint ] Olympus M-1 35mm SLR Camera ZUIKO 50mm F1.8 Lens From JAPAN
Description:
There are traces of mold after disassembly and cleaning. Front lens cap, Rear lens cap, Lens filter. It has been cleaned, maintained, and tested. It's a good product. Lens Hood. tiny scuffs from normal use. Location: Fukuoka, FUKUOKA, Japan |
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| May 2026 | £178 | £178 | 🇬🇧 eBay | |
Title: tested【NEAR MINT+++】Olympus M-1 / F.Zuiko auto-S 50mm F/1.8 From Japan
Description:
NEAR MINT+++. tiny scuffs from normal use. ・For the United States. Important Notice There is scratches -no. There is fungus-no. Pre-owned, almost no signs of use. ■ Optics Lens. Location: KANAGAWA, Japan |
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| May 2026 | £136 | £136 | 🇬🇧 eBay | |
Title: Olympus M-1 Film Camera (From UK) Body only
Description:
They were at the very beginning of the Olympus story, with a much admired design by Yoshihisa Maitani. You don’t have to buy from Japan to get this, as it is in the UK! Olympus lens cap. I used my friend's M-1 for many months, and shot several rolls of film. Location: Teignmouth, United Kingdom |
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| Apr 2026 | £475 | £380 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 319) Title: An Olympus M-1 SLR Camera Outfit
Description:
1972, chrome, serial no. 136911, with Olympus M-System F.Zuiko f/1.8 50mm lens, black/chrome nose, serial no. 108080, body, VG, shutter working, lens, |
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| Jun 2025 | EUR 4,500 | £3,824 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 46 (Lot A01934) Title: Olympus M-1 black paint 'Sample' with 1.8/50mm
Description:
One of the rarest Japanese cameras ever made, in original black paint finish, demo camera with 'SAMPLE' engraved on the back, introduced in 1972, the M-1 was meant to be a part of a 'M-System', Leica quickly protested against the name of the system and Olympus decided to change the name to 'OM-System', the camera offered is in beautiful, mint condition, with matching very rare M-System F.Zuiko Auto-S 1.8/50mm no.110731 (front lens cap) with ever-ready leather case, only a few of these cameras are known to exist! Estimate: EUR 4,000 - EUR 5,000 |
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| Oct 2024 | £106 | £85 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 153) Title: An Olympus M-1 SLR Camera
Description:
1972, chrome, serial no. 113943, with Olympus M-System F.Zuiko f/1.8 50mm 'chrome nose' lens, serial no. 105816, body, G, shutter working, marks to |
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| Jul 2023 | £120 | £120 | 🇬🇧 David Duggleby | |
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Auction: Maritime, Scientific Instruments & Cameras (Lot 3038) Title: Olympus M-1 camera body, serial no. 110865, circa 1972, with ' Olympus M-System F.Zuiko Au...
Description:
Olympus M-1 camera body, serial no. 110865, circa 1972, with ' Olympus M-System F.Zuiko Au... |
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| Nov 2019 | EUR 3,000 | £2,573 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 35 (Lot AI_35_37905) Title: Olympus M-1 black paint
Description:
one of the rarest Japanese cameras ever made - an Olympus M-1 in original black paint finish, the camera offered is in beautiful, near mint condition, with matching M-System F.Zuiko Auto-S 1.8/50mm no.124437, lens cap, leather case, strap, instructions, unnumbered maker's box, a black paint M1 never went into production, only a few of these cameras are known to exist Estimate: EUR 5,000 - EUR 5,500 |
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| May 1998 | £345 | £300 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND OPTICAL TOYS (Lot 223) Title: Olympus M-1 no. 119178
Description:
Olympus M-1 no. 119178 Estimate: £20 - £120 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is an Olympus M-1 worth today?
Based on a single 2024 UK auction hammer price of £106, that figure is the only verified data point available; the market value of a genuine M-1 in clean condition is typically higher at retail, but a precise range cannot be given from one sale.
How much does an Olympus M-1 sell for at auction?
The one recorded UK auction result in our data shows an M-1 selling for £106 hammer in October 2024, which excludes buyer's premium.
Why is the Olympus M-1 different from the OM-1?
The M-1 was the original 1972 name for the camera; after Leica objected to the use of "M", Olympus renamed it the OM-1, making early M-1-marked bodies scarcer than the OM-1 that followed.
Is the price of an Olympus M-1 driven by condition?
Yes — because the premium over an OM-1 depends on the original M-1 engraving and overall originality, cosmetic and mechanical condition strongly influence what a body sells for.