Leica cameras and lenses at the upcoming 2025 Spring Lidong Camera & Photo Auction

Lot 35 – Leica II Mod. D Luxus

• Starting Price: RMB 1,200,000
• Estimated Price: RMB 2,400,000 – 3,000,000
• Sn: 34812
• Condition: B-

The extremely rare ‘Luxus’ Leica II, with a serial number of 34812 and equipped with an Elmar 50mm f/3.5 lens in gold, is part of an official batch of 16 Leica I mod.A cameras (serial numbers 34803-34818). This specific camera was delivered to Mr. Jakobi in Trier, Germany, on 19 December, 1929, as documented in the factory delivery book. In December 1932, it was converted into a Leica II by Leitz, as evidenced by the records from the Leitz repair factory. The ostrich leather covering is unusual, as it was attached at the customer’s request during the conversion.

The camera has been inspected by Mr. Ottmar Michaely, who issued a signed certificate of authenticity. A similar Leica II, with a serial number of 34809, is featured on page 32 of “An Illustrated History” by Lager I. The offered camera and lens are in perfect working condition.

Lot 63 – Leica Hektor 2.5/12.5cm M39 Mount prototype

• Starting Price: RMB 340,000
• Estimated Price: RMB 500,000 – 600,000
• Year: c. 1955
• Sn: 0000152
  
• Condition: A

A very special prototype Hektor 2.5/12.5cm lens with rangefinder coupling and a direct M39 mount. It has a sophisticated construction, sharing only a few parts with the production Visoflex-mount Hektor. It is made from lightweight aluminium instead of brass for better balance when mounted on a camera; its aperture ring is knurled, similar to that of the rigid Summicron 5cm, and rotates in a different direction. There is a broader focusing ring on the mount, among other features.

The lens is in excellent condition, and its optics are very good. Only a few examples of this special lens are known to exist. This particular example can be found in the book ‘An Illustrated History’ (Lager II ‘Lenses’) on page 95, alongside the slightly different model numbered 0000151. It comes with a standard hood, an LTM adapter, and both lens caps.

Lot 68 – Leica M3 no.700423 ‘one corner’

• Starting Price: RMB 160,000
• Estimated Price: RMB 340,000 – 400,000
• Year: 1954
• Sn: 700423
  
• Condition: A-

A very early M3 camera body with a distinctive corner at the front of the top plate (this feature is only found on the earliest examples of the Leica M3). It retains all of its original features, such as the double-stroke mechanism, the early casting type, long strap lugs, the absence of an ‘L’-seal, an early viewfinder, and an early back door. The camera is in excellent condition.

Lot 69 – Early Leica M3 Double Stroke no. 700708 & 700709 Consecutive pairs

• Starting Price: RMB 160,000
• Estimated Price: RMB 400,000 – 500,000
• Year: 1954
• Sn: 700708 – 700709
• Condition: A-

A beautiful pair of very early M3 cameras, with consecutive serial numbers 700708 – 700709. Both cameras are in near-mint, original, unmodified condition, and they possess all the distinctive early features, such as the double-stroke film advance mechanism, long strap lugs, and an early back door, etc. An interesting fact is that the M3 with serial number 700709 is one of the “corner” M3s, and coincidentally, the chassis number of the camera with serial number 700708 is “101” while that of the camera with serial number 700709 is “100”. Usually, the chassis numbers are assigned randomly. Both cameras come with two matching Summicron 2/5cm lenses, serial numbers 1143608 and 1143572.

Lot 75 – Leica MP chrome No. MP-386

• Starting Price: RMB 200,000
• Estimated Price: RMB 400,000 – 450,000
• Year: 1958
• Sn: MP-386
• Condition: B

A fully original chrome Leica MP camera in perfect working condition. The number “MP – 386” is also engraved internally on the camera chassis. It comes with a matching Leicavit MP and a Summicron 2/5cm lens with the serial number 1192498.

Lot 129 – Leica Dual-range Summicron 2/5cm Prototype

• Starting Price: RMB 300,000
• Estimated Price: RMB 700,000 – 800,000
• Year: c. 1968
• Sn: N/A
  
• Condition: A

A unique experimental 6-element dual-range Summicron 2/50mm lens. The heavily scalloped focusing ring was specially made for close focus. The silver button inside the barrel is used to release the close focus lock, allowing for switching between the normal focus range from 1m to infinity and the close focus range from 1m to approximately 56cm. A special viewfinder was constructed with an easily attachable system to the focusing barrel. This viewfinder is unlike anything seen in either normal production models or close focus prototypes, similar in function to the SDPOO viewfinder in normal production.

This lens once belonged to one of the world’s largest Leica collectors, Mr. Surat Osathanugrah, and was featured in the book ‘Leica Prototype’ by Lars Netopli on page 429. The lens has clear optics and is in working order.

Lot 158 – Leica IIIg Black Paint ‘Swedish Army’

• Starting Price: RMB 160,000
• Estimated Price: RMB 300,000 – 340,000
• Year: 1960
• Sn: 987949
  
• Condition: B

An extremely rare full original military Leica IIIg black paint with matching Elmar 2.8/5cm lens, serial number 1635372, in perfect working condition. This offer lot comes with beautifull patina of use around the edges. Only 125 units of these cameras were built by special order of the Swedish Army, all finished in black paint. Their serial numbers range from 987901 to 988025, and they are engraved with the three “Crowns of Sweden” on the rear side of the top plate. The corresponding Elmar 2.8/5cm lenses, which are in silver chrome finish, also bear the same engraving of the three “Crowns of Sweden”.

Lot 164 – Leica M4 Olive

• Starting Price: RMB 200,000
• Estimated Price: RMB 400,000 – 600,000
• Year: 1970
• Sn: 1266126
  
• Condition: A

This is one of the rarest M cameras, presented in mint condition and perfect working order! Only 31 units of the M4 were finished in olive green for the German Bundeswehr, with serial numbers ranging from 1266101 to 1266131. Notably, this camera does not have the ‘Bundeswehr’ engraving on the rear of the top plate. This camera was offered on 28th Leitz Auction (Before Westlicht), according to Ottmar Michaely in Wetzlar, all outer and inner parts are original, including the paint, engravings, and leather covering. It is believed that this camera was never supplied to the German Bundeswehr due to the absence of the ‘Bundeswehr’ engraving.

Lot 165 – Leica M4-2 Olive/ Safari prototype

• Starting Price: RMB 150,000
• Estimated Price: RMB 300,000 – 400,000
• Year: 1977
• Sn: *1528073
  
• Condition: A

An extremely rare Leica M4-2 Olive/ Safari prototype. In 1977, Leitz projected the Safari version for R3 and M4-2. Only a few examples were built in Canada, but Leitz decided to produce the Safari version only for the R3. This camera set is in mint condtion and comes with a sought-after matching olive sample lens Tele-Elmarit 2.8/90mm no. 3003244, never seen on the book or market. A similar set with a lens summicron 2/35 was shown in Mr. Nakamura’s ‘Leica Collection’ on page 90.