Leica prototype sets new world record: Leica 0-series no.105 sold for € 14.4 million

The serial production of the Leitz Camera, or Leica for short, the world’s first 35mm camera, is considered a milestone of modern photography. Before the first cameras were available in the mid-1920s, Ernst Leitz produced around 23 models of the prototype 0 series in 1923 and 1924. One of these rare cameras – the 0-series no. 105 – has now been sold at the 40th Leitz Photographica Auction for a price of € 14.4 million including buyers premium. The 105 has thus broken the world record for the most expensive camera of all times.
The Leitz Photographica Auction, which takes place twice a year, is considered to be the world’s largest and most renowned auction for vintage cameras and other optical equipment. To commemorate the auction house’s 20th anniversary and the 40th rendition of the auction, a truly exceptional exhibit was up for auction on 11th June at Leitz-Park in Wetzlar (Germany): The Leica 0 series no.105. This nearly 100-year-old camera is one of the world’s first 35 mm cameras ever made and has a prominent previous owner. Number 105 belonged to Oskar Barnack, who had designed the “Liliput camera” shortly before the First World War. It was the prototype of the Leica and thus also the prototype of the 35 mm camera per se. Barnack captured numerous motifs from his family life with the 0 series No.105. He used the experience he gained in the process in the further development of the camera and its subsequent models. Barnack’s name is engraved on the top of the viewfinder of no.105.0-series claims yet another world record The historical significance of the camera and its direct connection to Barnack were reflected in its pre-determined estimate of 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 euros. “To put these numbers into perspective: The most expensive camera in the world to date – also a 0-series, serial number 122 – was sold at the 32nd Leitz Photographica Auction in 2018 for 2.4 million euros including buyers premium,1 ” said Alexander Sedlak, Managing Director of Leica Camera Classics, an Austrian subsidiary of Leica Camera AG. Leitz Photographica Auction operates under the umbrella of Leica Camera Classics. “We are fully specialised in historical cameras and accessories. It was therefore a special pleasure for us to be able to auction Oskar Barnack’s personal camera, a prototype of the camera generation that laid the foundation for modern photography in the mid-1920s, as part of our anniversary auction,” said Sedlak. The intangible value – the historical significance – of 0 series no.105 goes far beyond the sum of € 14.4 million for which this camera was ultimately sold. Nevertheless, the world record sum proves the continuous trend of the last few years: “The prices are rising – the interest in vintage cameras is greater than ever before.

« PLANÈTE FRANCE » LOÏC LAGARDE à BERCY Village

BERCY VILLAGE INVITE AU VOYAGE AVEC L’EXPOSITION « PLANÈTE FRANCE » SIGNÉE LOÏC LAGARDE Fidèle à ses engagements, Bercy Village ne cesse de diversifier son offre culturelle pour le plus grand plaisir de ses visiteurs. Après le succès de l’exposition « Complètement...

“Master Your Colorful Fine Art Portrait Photography with Rembrandt-Style Lighting”

Making art? Time to light up your masterpiece with a splash of color—Rembrandt-style!

Sacha Goldberger. “Portraits croisés”.

Sacha Goldberger est un photographe français connu pour ses travaux artistiques originaux et décalés. Né à Paris en 1970, il a commencé sa carrière en tant que photographe de mode et publicité, mais c'est sa série de portraits de super-héros en costume qui l'a...

Back to America. Les USA en couleurs

Elle a fait rêver toute une génération… Replongez dans une Amérique fantasméede 1936 à 1943 à travers 200 photographies de la Library of Congress coloriséespar Sébastien de Oliveira. Stations-services et diners, stetsons et rodéos, stades et couloirs de lycées,...

Quentin Caffier. Banquette Arrière.

Banquette Arrière est une ode à l’amour, à la nostalgie et au temps passé à l’arrière des voitures. C’est à cet endroit que de nombreux baisers ont été échangés, que quelques activités ont laissé quelques traces de buée, que des souvenirs se sont créés. Au-delà de la...

Ed Kashi. Abandoned Moments

Nature-ChristianVizlABANDONED MOMENTS A Love Letter to Photography  Photographs by Ed Kashi  Texts by Ed Kashi and Alison Nordström Perhaps most importantly, this book demonstrates an innovative and nuanced form for autobiography from someone whose entire working life...

STORIES 2021

STORIES 2021 IS OPEN FOR ENTRIES Stories seeks to discover, promote and amplify the important work being made by Australian photographers. Stories is an annual award for photographic storytellers operated by Photo Collective. We are calling for series work and...

FAUXLIAGE By Annette LeMay Burke

FAUXLIAGE By Annette LeMay Burke  Foreword by Ann M. Jastrab Disguised Cell Phone Towers of the American West.     In Fauxliage, Annette LeMay Burke artfully documents the proliferation of disguised cell phone towers in the American West. By attempting to...

JEANINE MICHNA-BALES: STANDING TOGETHER

“The gods of government help those who help themselves: Therefore, women and sisters, and one day fellow voters, let us help ourselves. Say to the rulers of this nation: You deal negligently with the interests of women at your peril. As you have sowed so shall ye...

Luminar AI Update 2 is here

Luminar AI update 2 brings a lot of improvements, and enhanced tools. 1er juillet – 1er novembre 2020Today, Skylum released LuminarAI Update 2, a free collection of powerful workflow enhancements to its groundbreaking photo editing tool. With these updated tools, it...

Prix Swiss Life à 4 mains

Nature-ChristianVizlA Photo Comp with Scores and Feedback for Everyone Better Photography Magazine Photo of the Year 2020 closes 22 August 2020uatrième édition du Prix Swiss Life à 4 mains, 2020-2021. Une rencontre inédite entre photographie et musique    Soutien...

Saison photographique de l’Epau 2020 1er juillet – 1er novembre 2020

L’Abbaye Royale de l’Epau, le cœur de la Saison Photo 1er juillet – 1er novembre 2020Imagine - Erik JOHANSSON - Leap of Faith « Imagine » Virtuose du montage, l’artiste crée des images digitales extrêmement réalistes de scènes complétement improbables, entre...
AI Chatbot Avatar

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This