Voigtlander& Sohn Bessa L (chrome)
The Voigtländer Bessa L is a 35mm rangefinder-style body without a built-in viewfinder or rangefinder, introduced in the late 1990s as part of the Cosina-made Bessa line using the Leica thread mount (LTM/M39). The chrome finish version was sold as a budget entry into the system, intended for use with external optical or wide-angle finders.
UK auction data for the chrome Bessa L is thin: a single hammer result of £112 has been recorded in the saleroom, so the price reference today rests on that one data point rather than a meaningful range. Because all figures here are wholesale auction-hammer results before commission, dealer asking prices for a clean, working example will sit higher than this benchmark.
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: January 2022
| Date | Price | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2022 | £112 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 175) Title: A Voigtlander Bessa-L 35mm Camera
Description:
chrome, bod VG, shutter working, meter untested, with a Jupiter-8 50mm f/2 lens, optics G-VG, in makers box with case and strap, (Qty: 1) |
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| Nov 2006 | EUR 600 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 10 (Lot AI_10_15412) Title: Voigtländer Bessa-L chrome outfit
Description:
with Super Wide Heliar 4.5/15mm chrome, 15mm finder, Ultron 1.7/35mm chrome, 35mm finder, Color-Heliar 2.5/75mm chrome, 50/75 finder, all new with original maker's boxes Estimate: EUR 1,100 - EUR 1,300 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Voigtländer Bessa L (chrome) worth today?
On the limited UK auction evidence available, a chrome Bessa L sells for around £110 at hammer, though a single recorded result means the value range is not well established.
How much does a Bessa L sell for at auction?
The only verified UK saleroom result on file is £112, so that figure is the current reference price rather than a typical median across many sales.
Is the Bessa L a good buy at this price?
At roughly £100–£150 it offers an inexpensive route into the Leica thread-mount system, but the absence of a viewfinder or rangefinder means you must budget for an accessory finder and use scale-focus or zone-focus lenses.