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Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex I

The Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex I is a medium-format twin-lens reflex camera taking 6x6cm images on 120 roll film, introduced in the mid-1930s. It sits at the entry level of the Ikoflex TLR range and is known to collectors by the nickname 'Coffee Can', a reference to the cylindrical pressing used for the earlier and later body variants.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Ikoflex I have ranged from around £15 to £75, with a median close to £50 — wholesale saleroom levels that sit well below dealer retail. In today's market the Coffee Can body is not a high-value Zeiss Ikon collectable, and the price a buyer pays is driven almost entirely by cosmetic condition and whether the shutter and focusing are working. Two 2003 Leitz-auction results of £136 and £172 show that clean, early examples have historically sold for more, but recent data suggests the camera is worth substantially less today than twenty years ago.

Variants

Select a variant to filter the sales history below.

Variant Years Edition Sales Price Range
Coffee Can (earlier) — — 3 £50 – £75
Coffee Can (later) — — 0 —
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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: February 2026

Date Price Source Variant
Feb 2026 £56 Flints Auctions —
Jan 2026 £69 Flints Auctions —
Aug 2025 £50 Flints Auctions Coffee Can (earlier)
Oct 2024 £75 Flints Auctions Coffee Can (earlier)
Aug 2024 £75 Flints Auctions —
Aug 2024 £15 Special Auction Services —
Jun 2024 £40 Special Auction Services —
Sep 2023 £94 Flints Auctions —
Mar 2023 £38 Flints Auctions —
Aug 2022 £62 Flints Auctions —
Mar 2022 £75 Flints Auctions Coffee Can (earlier)
May 2007 EUR 150 Leitz Auction —
Nov 2003 EUR 136 Leitz Auction —
Nov 2003 EUR 172 Leitz Auction —
May 2003 EUR 120 Leitz Auction —
May 2003 EUR 125 Leitz Auction —
May 2003 EUR 104 Leitz Auction —

Frequently asked questions

What is a Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex I worth today?

Based on recent UK auction hammer prices, an Ikoflex I is typically worth between £15 and £75, with a median value around £50 depending on cosmetic and mechanical condition.

How much does a Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex I sell for at auction?

Recent UK saleroom results show the Ikoflex I Coffee Can selling for roughly £40 to £75 when the shutter works and the lenses are clean, and as little as £15 for rough, untested examples.

Is the Ikoflex I 'Coffee Can' a valuable collectable?

It is an affordable entry into Zeiss Ikon TLR collecting rather than a high-value piece; the price realised reflects condition more than the earlier-versus-later Coffee Can variant.

What film does the Ikoflex I use?

It takes standard 120 roll film and produces 6x6cm square negatives through its twin-lens reflex viewing system.

Other Zeiss Ikon cameras