Screw-mount Barnack bodies, M-series rangefinders and Leitz lenses all sell here — from a single M3 to an inherited outfit with several lenses. We identify the model from the top plate and serial number, then assess the optics, rangefinder and shutter rather than pricing by badge alone.
Working or not, with or without a case. Written valuation. Free insured postage. Paid in 72 hours.
Ernst Leitz of Wetzlar helped define 35mm photography, and the cameras that carry the Leica name fall into a few distinct families. Knowing which one you have is the first step to a sensible valuation, because a screw-mount body from the 1930s, an M-series rangefinder from the 1950s onward, and a later reflex body are assessed quite differently. You do not need to identify yours precisely before contacting us — that is our job — but a little orientation helps.
The original compact Leicas — the II, III and their variants — with a threaded 39mm lens mount and separate viewfinder and rangefinder windows. Small, mechanical and long-lived; condition of the shutter curtains and the coupled rangefinder matters here.
The M3 introduced the bayonet M mount and a single combined viewfinder with projected framelines. The M2, M4 and later the M6 followed. These are the bodies most people picture when they think of a Leica, and demand for clean examples is strong.
Leica R-series SLRs and the wider family of Leitz lenses — Elmar, Summicron, Summilux and others. Lenses are assessed on version, mount, coating and optical condition, and often carry meaningful value alongside the body.
Almost everything we need to identify a Leica is visible without opening anything. The name and any model designation are engraved on the top plate; the serial number is usually there too, and Leica serial numbers can be cross-referenced against published lists to date a body and confirm the model. The lens mount tells you the family at a glance — a threaded mount points to a Barnack screw-mount body, a bayonet mount to an M-series camera.
| Family | Mount | How to recognise it |
|---|---|---|
| Barnack (LTM) | 39mm screw thread | Separate viewfinder and rangefinder windows; small, all-mechanical body |
| M-series | Leica M bayonet | Single combined viewfinder with bright framelines; lever wind |
| R-series | Leica R bayonet | Reflex body with a pentaprism finder rather than a rangefinder |
| Leitz lenses | Screw, M or R | Elmar, Summicron, Summilux and others — engraved focal length and serial |
We do not describe any particular model as automatically rare or valuable — that depends on the specific example in front of us. What we can say is that the model, the version and the condition together decide the figure, which is why we identify each item precisely before valuing it.
With Leica, the lens is frequently worth as much attention as the body. A Leitz lens can carry value in its own right, and a clean, correctly functioning lens can lift an outfit considerably; in some cases a lens is worth more than the camera it arrived on. This does not mean a famous name guarantees a high figure — a hazy or fungused lens, or an uncommon-but-damaged one, is assessed honestly for what it is. If you have Leica lenses with no body, they are still very much worth sending. For standalone optics from other makers, our Carl Zeiss camera lenses page covers Zeiss glass specifically.
Leica values are driven by a handful of well-understood factors, and we record each one in writing for every body and lens received:
Haze, fungus, coating marks, scratches and internal dust in the lens all affect the result. Even a small fungus colony near an element influences contrast, so we describe the glass precisely: clean, light haze, fungus present, and so on.
On screw-mount and M bodies the rangefinder patch must align correctly at infinity and close focus. A misaligned or faint patch means the camera needs attention, which we note and reflect rather than gloss over.
Cloth shutter curtains can develop pinholes, and speeds slow as old lubricants thicken. We test what we can and record what the shutter actually does; if a camera is untested we say so explicitly.
Top-plate finish and brassing, vulcanite or leatherette condition, viewfinder clarity, plus original caps, hood, case, box and papers. Honest wear is not a barrier — it is simply described accurately.
Please note that photographs can help identify the model and condition, but a physical inspection may be needed before a final valuation or offer — internal haze, shutter accuracy and rangefinder alignment are hard to judge from images alone. And please do not attempt invasive cleaning or repair before valuation; original condition can be useful to assess.
If you would like an early view before sending anything, clear photographs let us give you a considered indication. The most useful shots are:
Send your Leica alongside other pieces and we will value each individually. If your Leica is one part of a larger holding, the broader sell vintage cameras & lenses guide explains how we handle mixed outfits, and for another classic 35mm system with its own rangefinder history see sell Contax cameras.
Fair Vintage is an independent vintage and collectables buyer and is not affiliated with, authorised by or endorsed by Leica Camera AG. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used here only to describe the cameras and lenses we buy.
Tell us roughly what you have — "an M3 and a couple of Leitz lenses" is plenty. We email a free prepaid, tracked and insured label the same working day.
Wrap each body and lens separately, include any caps, cases and papers, and use a sturdy box. Your parcel is insured to £5,000 from the first courier scan.
We email a unique parcel code and your opening time. Your parcel is opened on camera and photographed before a specialist identifies each item.
Each body and lens itemised — model, condition and figure, in pounds. Accept what you want to sell; the rest comes back free. Payment within 72 hours, or we add 3%.
If your question isn't here, call us on 01234 815116 or email support@fairvintage.co.uk. We respond within one working day.
Get your free label →We buy across the range — Barnack screw-mount (LTM) bodies such as the II, III and their variants, M-series rangefinders including the M3, M2, M4 and M6, and Leica R-series SLRs, along with Leitz lenses such as the Elmar, Summicron and Summilux. We also look at accessories, cases and paperwork. Send a note of what you have; if you are not sure of the model, a photo of the top plate and lens is usually enough for us to identify it.
Often, yes. A Leitz lens can carry value in its own right, and in some cases a clean lens is worth more than the body it came with. That said, we do not promise that any particular lens guarantees a high figure — focal length, version, mount, coating and optical condition all matter. If you have lenses without a body, they are still worth sending. For standalone optics from other makers, our Carl Zeiss camera lenses page covers Zeiss glass specifically.
The engraving on the top plate and the serial number are the starting points. Screw-mount Barnack bodies have a threaded lens mount and separate viewfinder and rangefinder windows; M-series bodies have a bayonet mount and a single combined viewfinder. You do not need to work this out yourself — photograph the top plate, baseplate and lens mount and we will identify the model. Photographs help identify the model and condition, but a physical inspection may be needed before a final valuation or offer.
Yes, we assess non-working cameras on their merits. A stiff shutter, a misaligned rangefinder or a hazy lens does not automatically rule a Leica out — some bodies and lenses are sought after even when they need servicing. We describe the faults we find in writing and reflect them in the figure rather than turning the camera away. Please do not attempt invasive cleaning or repair before valuation; original condition can be useful to assess.
No. Please do not have the camera serviced or attempt to clean the optics yourself in the hope of raising the value — you risk marking coatings or disturbing a lens, and a recent unrecorded service is not something we can verify. Leave the camera as it is, note any service history you genuinely have paperwork for, and send it as found. We would rather assess the original state and be straight with you about what, if anything, it needs.
Request your free label today. Every body and lens identified by model and serial, assessed on optics, rangefinder and shutter. Written valuation. Paid within 72 hours — or we add 3%.
Also see: Vintage cameras & lenses · Sell Contax cameras · Sell Carl Zeiss lenses