Zeiss Ikon Tropica (285)
The Zeiss Ikon Tropica (285) is an early 20th-century tropical plate camera, produced in a wood-and-metal body designed for use in humid climates. It sits in the specialist collector category of pre-war German field cameras rather than everyday consumer equipment.
At UK auction, hammer prices for the Tropica (285) have ranged from around £130 to £700, reflecting how condition and completeness drive value for tropical cameras today in 2026. With only a small number of recorded results, each sale tends to set its own benchmark rather than point to a stable median, so what a Tropica (285) sells for in the saleroom depends heavily on the specific example offered.
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: June 2019
| Date | Price | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2019 | EUR 700 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 34 (Lot AI_34_37255) Title: Zeiss Ikon Tropica
Description:
very rare 10x15cm tropical camera, except for two small flaws (top handle replaced, ground glass broken) in very good condition with original black bellows, Tessar 4.5/15cm no.562418, it was the second most expensive camera in 1930's Zeiss line Estimate: EUR 1,200 - EUR 1,400 |
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| Nov 2003 | £129 | Christie's | |
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Auction: MAGIC LANTERNS, CINE CAMERAS AND CAMERAS (Lot 749) Title: Tropica camera no. 49188
Description:
Tropica camera no. 49188 Estimate: £100 - £150 |
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| May 2003 | EUR 573 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 2-3 (Lot AI_2_21682) Title: Zeiss Ikon Tropica 285
Description:
10x15cm, Tessar 4.5/16.5cm no.891197 in Compur shutter double extension, teak body with nickel fittings, black bellows, decorative tropical camera, with case Estimate: EUR 1,921 - EUR 893,127 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Zeiss Ikon Tropica (285) worth today?
Recent UK auction hammer results place the value between roughly £130 and £700, with the price a given example fetches depending strongly on condition, originality and included accessories.
How much does a Zeiss Ikon Tropica (285) sell for at auction?
Documented hammer prices range from about £129 to £700, so a clean, complete Tropica (285) can sell for several hundred pounds while incomplete or cosmetically tired examples sit at the lower end of that range.
Why do prices for the Tropica (285) vary so much?
As a tropical plate camera, its value is tied to the integrity of the wooden body, bellows and brasswork, and the presence of original lens and plate holders, so two examples can command very different prices.