LEICA Barnack Berek Blog

Sunday, July 28, 2019

FOUR EXTREMELY RARE LEICA CAMERAS

Recent auctions have resulted in astonishingly high prices for rare Leica cameras, a trend for which there seems no limit in sight. Here is a group of four extremely rare Leica cameras. One can only wonder what the current market price might be.

On top is a Leica 250 in excellent condition. These cameras were usually subjected to a great amount of wear and tear which makes the condition of this camera all the more surprising. This particular example was derived from a Leica IIIa, making it a Leica 250 GG Reporter model. It was produced from the second half of 1935 up to 1943.

At the last Leica Camera auction two Leica 250 FF Reporter models sold for 6,500 Euros each. However, those cameras could also be equipped with an electric motor. At the same auction, a Leica 250 GG Rporter with the electric motor sold for 380,000 Euros.

Below, in the middle of the right side and to the left of it are two Leica Compours, equipped with an Elmar 50mm f/3.5 lens with central leaf shutter, giving a range of shutter speeds between 1 sec and 1/300 sec. These were the first Leica cameras to offer shutter speeds down to 1 sec. The version with the black dial set shutter was produced in just 628 examples between 1928 and 1929, while the other, dial set version was produced in 1024 units between 1928 and 1931.

At the bottom is an extremely rare Leica Anastigmat, a Leica 1 or model A, dating back to 1925. It is part of the first production batch of these cameras. Equipped with a 5 element, 50mm f/3.5 Anastigmat lens, it was manufactured in less than 150 units.

An example of this camera was sold at the last Leica Camera auction for 5,500 euros.