Rollei Rolleiflex Automat I (Model 1)
The Rolleiflex Automat I (Model 1) is a medium-format twin-lens reflex camera made by Franke & Heidecke of Germany, taking 6x6cm frames on 120 roll film. It introduced automatic first-frame sensing and combined film advance with shutter cocking, positioning it as a professional-grade TLR when launched in the late 1930s.
At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Rolleiflex Automat I have sat in a narrow band of roughly £110–£130, with a median around £120 based on the limited records to hand. As of 2026, this places the model at the more affordable end of the prewar Rolleiflex market, though condition of the taking lens, shutter timing and leatherette covering all influence what an 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: March 2026
| Date | Price | Value GBP | Source | |
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| Mar 2026 | £60 | £60 | 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 293) Title: A Rolleiflex Automat TLR Camera
Description:
A Rolleiflex Automat TLR Camera, model 1, 1937, serial no 730766, shutter working, body G, with Carl Zeiss Jena 7.5cm f/3.5 Tessar lens, elements F-G, |
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| Feb 2024 | £50 | £40 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 171) Title: A Rollei Rolleiflex Automat I Model 1 TLR Camera
Description:
serial no.843132, with a Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar f/3.5 7.5cm lens, serial no.2485145, circa 1938, shutter working, body F, age-related wear, mirror |
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| Oct 2022 | £88 | £70 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 343) Title: A Rolleiflex Automat Model 1 TLR Camera
Description:
serial no. 656564, with Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar f/3.5 7.5cm lens, shutter working, body P-F, leatherette lifting and corrosion, paint losses, heavy |
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| Nov 2020 | £112 | £90 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 384) Title: A Rollei Rolleiflex Automat TLR Camera
Description:
1938, black, serial no. 797192, with Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar f/3.5 75mm lens, serial no. 2361490 body, G, shutter working, lens, G, some light |
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| Oct 2019 | £60 | £60 | 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services (archive) | |
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Auction: Photographica (Lot 192) Title: A Rolleiflex Automat I TLR Camera
Description:
A Rolleiflex Automat I TLR Camera, serial no 804497, single bayonet model, body, F, shutter not working, paint losses and handling wear, mark on screen, dust on mirror, a Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 7.5cm f/3.5 lens, no 2458737, 1938, F, with Rolleilux exposure meter, reacts to light, lens cap and maker's ERC Estimate: £100 - £150 |
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| Apr 2018 | £132 | £110 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine (Lot 1196) Title: A Rollei Rolleiflex Automat I TLR Medium Format Camera
Description:
black, serial no. 662081, with Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar f/3.5 75mm lens, black, serial no. 2161218, body, G-VG, shutter working, lens, G, some internal |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Rolleiflex Automat I (Model 1) worth today?
Based on UK auction hammer results, a Rolleiflex Automat I is typically worth around £110–£130, with the value depending on shutter accuracy and lens condition.
How much does a Rolleiflex Automat I sell for at auction?
Recent UK saleroom results show the camera sells for figures close to its £120 median, though clean, fully-working examples can push toward the upper end of that price range.
Is the Rolleiflex Automat I a good buy at this price?
At current values it is one of the more accessible vintage Rolleiflex TLRs, but factor in the likely cost of a service when assessing whether the asking price represents fair value.