Showa Kogaku Leotax Special B
The Leotax Special B is a Japanese 35mm rangefinder camera built by Showa Kogaku, part of the Leotax line of Leica screw-mount bodies produced in the post-war era. It was a domestic Japanese answer to the Leica II/III pattern, aimed at photographers seeking a compact coupled-rangefinder 35mm camera.
The Leotax Special B is a thinly traded collector item, and the two UK auction hammer results on record sit at £1,488 (2021) and £1,700 (2016), giving a median around £1,600. At this saleroom level — wholesale prices excluding buyer's premium — today's value is highly condition- and completeness-sensitive, with clean working examples at the upper end and cosmetically tired bodies worth noticeably less. Because surviving sales data is sparse, any price a Special B sells for in 2026 should be read as an indicative guide rather than a firm market.
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: April 2021
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| Apr 2021 | £1,488 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 129) Title: A Showa Kogaku Leotax Special B Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1940-, chrome, serial no. 2218, with Letana Anastigmat f/3.5 50mm lens, chrome, serial no. 10416, body, G, shutter working, lens, G-VG, some internal |
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| Nov 2016 | EUR 1,700 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 30 (Lot AI_30_34358) Title: Showa Kogaku Leotax Special B
Description:
very rare Leotax in with Letana Anastigmat 3.5/5cm no.18101, in very fine condition with working shutter and rangefinder, original cap - only about 100 of these cameras were produced during WW2 Estimate: EUR 2,000 - EUR 2,500 |
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| Nov 2014 | EUR 1,200 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 26 (Lot AI_26_31029) Title: Showa Kogaku Leotax Special B
Description:
very rare Leotax in with M39 Letana Anastigmat 3.5/5cm no.10143 in Meter, working shutter and rangefinder, original cap and everready case Estimate: EUR 2,000 - EUR 2,500 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Leotax Special B worth today?
Based on the two UK auction hammer results on file, a Leotax Special B is worth roughly £1,500–£1,700, with the median price around £1,600.
How much does a Leotax Special B sell for at UK auction?
Recorded hammer prices are £1,488 in 2021 and £1,700 in 2016, so clean examples sell for in the £1,500–£1,700 bracket before buyer's premium.
What affects the value of a Leotax Special B?
Condition of the rangefinder and shutter, cosmetic wear, and whether the camera is offered with a period-correct LTM lens are the main factors that move the price up or down.