Rollei Rolleiflex (4.5x6, prototype)
The Rolleiflex (4.5x6, prototype) is a pre-production medium-format twin-lens reflex camera from Rollei, configured for the 4.5x6 cm frame format rather than the 6x6 cm size used by the production Rolleiflex line. As a prototype it never reached series production, which is the primary driver of its value today.
With only a single recorded UK auction result available, the price reference point is a £65,000 hammer figure achieved at saleroom level in March 2014 — wholesale rather than retail, and excluding commission. Prototype Rolleiflex cameras of this kind are essentially one-off collector pieces, so what one sells for in 2026 depends almost entirely on which specific example surfaces and who is bidding on the day. Buyers researching what a Rolleiflex 4.5x6 prototype is worth today should treat that 2014 figure as indicative rather than a reliable current market price.
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: March 2014
| Date | Price | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2014 | EUR 65,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 25 (Lot AI_25_30150) Title: 'Ur' Rolleiflex Prototype
Description:
the very first Rolleiflex twin lens prototype by Franke & Heidecke ever made, built in 1925/26 with one focusing wheel for viewing and taking lens (like all later Rolleiflex cameras), for 4.5x6cm plates, in fully original condition with certificate by DHW and original patent letter no.519590 (with copy of patent number 478904), the historical camera comes with a first type Rolleiflex no.80987 with very nice display box Estimate: EUR 35,000 - EUR 45,000 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Rolleiflex 4.5x6 prototype worth?
The only recorded UK auction sale, in March 2014, achieved a hammer price of £65,000, but with just one data point the current value of any specific example is highly variable.
How much does a Rolleiflex 4.5x6 prototype sell for at auction?
It sells for whatever a single determined collector is willing to bid; the one verified saleroom result on file is £65,000, and there is no median or range to quote beyond that.
Why is the price so high compared with a standard Rolleiflex?
This camera never entered series production, so surviving examples function as unique collector artefacts rather than user cameras, which is the main reason the price sits well above any production Rolleiflex.