Zeiss Ikon MBK 1000B (Aerial, Lichtbildmaschinengewehr)
The Zeiss Ikon MBK 1000B is an aerial camera built as a Lichtbildmaschinengewehr (photographic machine gun), a specialised military training apparatus shaped like a gun that records images instead of firing rounds. It is a low-volume, institutional-use instrument rather than a consumer camera, which shapes how its value and price are assessed today.
Public auction data for the MBK 1000B is extremely thin: a single UK saleroom hammer result of £4,000 from May 2012 is the only reference point available, so any sense of what the camera is worth in 2026 rests on that lone wholesale data point rather than a true range. Because hammer prices exclude buyer's and seller's commission, the realised cost to a winning bidder would have been higher, and condition, completeness of accessories and provenance would heavily influence what a comparable example sells for today.
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 2012
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| May 2012 | EUR 4,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 21 (Lot AI_21_13837) Title: Zeiss Ikon MBK 1000B 'Lichtbildmaschinengewehr'
Description:
very rare military gun camera used in WW2, developed by Zeiss Ikon for use on ground or in airplanes, used in a similar way as the Machine Gun 15, equipped with two bulky spring-wound drives and two film magazines for 22m film for 1125 exposures, with fast 1.5/2.5cm lens inside the front part and the original instruction book 'Kurzbeschreibung und Justieranweisung zur MBK 1000 B' (short instructions for uns and adjustment of the MBK 10000 B) - another camera was sold in our last Auction (Lot 485) Estimate: EUR 8,000 - EUR 10,000 |
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| Nov 2011 | EUR 19,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 20 (Lot AI_20_13001) Title: Zeiss Ikon MBK 1000B 'Lichtbildmaschinengewehr'
Description:
very rare military gun camera used in WW2, developed by Zeiss Ikon for use on ground or in airplanes, used in a similar way as the Machine Gun 15, equipped with bulky film magazine for 22m film for 1125 exposures, a fast 1.5/2.5cm lens inside the front part Estimate: EUR 8,000 - EUR 10,000 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Zeiss Ikon MBK 1000B worth today?
The only recorded UK auction hammer result is £4,000 from 2012; with just one data point, today's value is best estimated by comparing condition and completeness against that benchmark rather than treating it as a fixed price.
How much does a Zeiss Ikon MBK 1000B sell for at auction?
On the single available sale, it sold for £4,000 at hammer in a UK saleroom, excluding buyer's and seller's commission.
Why is the price data so limited?
The MBK 1000B is a specialised military photographic machine gun rather than a mass-market camera, so it appears in public sales records only rarely.