Sanderson Field Camera (Tropical)
The Sanderson Field Camera (Tropical) is a wooden-bodied, large-format folding field camera produced in a tropical specification, built for use with sheet film. Tropical-finish field cameras of this style were typically fitted with brass bindings and polished hardwood for resistance to humid climates, and were sold as professional field instruments.
Auction data for this model is thin: a single recorded UK saleroom hammer result of £105 (April 2003) provides the only reference point for what a Sanderson Field Camera (Tropical) is worth at wholesale level, and that figure predates today's collector market by more than two decades. Because hammer prices for early wooden field cameras are highly condition-sensitive, current value in 2026 will depend heavily on the integrity of the bellows, the brasswork, and any original lens fitted, so a single 2003 result should not be read as a reliable guide to what one sells for now.
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: May 2025
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| May 2025 | £90 | Tennants Auctioneers | |
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Auction: Scientific & Musical Instruments, Cameras & Tools (Lot 286) Title: The Sanderson Tropical Plate Camera
Description:
with mahogany body and brass fittings, Koilos shutter and maroon bellows |
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| Oct 2017 | £1,200 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 402) Title: A Sanderson Tropical Model Roll Film 4×5 Plate & Rollfilm Camera
Description:
1912, polished teak body with lacquered-brass fittings, with Taylor, Taylor & Hobson f/6.8 6" Cooke-Luxor lens, serial no. 32754, body, G-VG slight |
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| Apr 2003 | £105 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT.THE PROP OF DRS.M.SORRELL (Lot 457) Title: Sanderson tropical model field camera no. 25244
Description:
Sanderson tropical model field camera no. 25244 Estimate: £150 - £200 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Sanderson Field Camera (Tropical) worth?
Auction evidence is extremely limited — the only recorded UK hammer price in our data is £105 from April 2003, so any current value figure would be speculative without further sales.
How much does a Sanderson Field Camera (Tropical) sell for at auction today?
There are no recent UK hammer results in our dataset to quote a 2026 price; condition, completeness and the fitted lens will drive whatever a clean example fetches at saleroom level.
What should I check before buying one?
Focus on bellows light-tightness, the condition of the wood and brass fittings, and whether the camera retains its original back, ground glass and any period lens.