Pignons Alpa 8b
The Alpa 8b is a 35mm SLR made in Switzerland by Pignons SA, part of the Alpa Reflex line produced in Ballaigues from the early postwar period. It was a precision-built, hand-assembled camera positioned at the top of the market when new, sold in small numbers to professional and serious amateur users.
With only one tracked UK auction result, the Alpa 8b is a thinly traded model: a single example sold in November 2025 for £5,750 hammer at saleroom level (wholesale, before commission). On that evidence the camera is worth several thousand pounds today, but with so little data the price a given body sells for in 2026 will depend heavily on cosmetic condition, working order and whether a period lens is included.
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 2025
| Date | Price | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | £5,750 | Flints Auctions | |
|
Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 186) Title: A Pignons Alpa Mod. 8b Lizard Skin Camera Body
Description:
1957-59, black with brown lizard-skin, serial no. 51678, body, VG, shutter working Notes: Undocumented variant in black paint with lizard-skin |
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Frequently asked questions
What is an Alpa 8b worth in the UK today?
Based on the only tracked UK auction result, an Alpa 8b sold for £5,750 at hammer in November 2025; with just one data point this should be treated as indicative rather than a firm market price.
How much does an Alpa 8b sell for at auction?
The most recent UK auction hammer price on file is £5,750, achieved in late 2025, which reflects wholesale saleroom value before buyer's premium.
Why is the Alpa 8b価 so expensive compared with other 35mm SLRs?
Alpa cameras were built in very small quantities by Pignons in Switzerland to high mechanical standards, and surviving examples in collectable condition are scarce, which supports prices well above mainstream 35mm SLRs of the same era.