02.08.2023
Vintage cameras are not just nostalgic pieces of technology, but also a lucrative, new investment category. Their impressive auction results have attracted both photography enthusiasts and savvy investors alike, and their historical significance offers a unique opportunity to invest in something that provides a tangible link to our shared past.
Vintage cameras are not just nostalgic pieces of technology, but also a lucrative, new investment category. Their iImpressive auction results and a growing community of camera collectors have shown cameras’ potential as an investment category. Rare or historically important cameras are particularly valuable. It may be hard to believe, but vintage cameras, especially rare or historically significant models, can fetch prices that compete with those of expensive artworks. For example, the Hasselblad camera used on the Apollo 15 mission in 1971 sold at auction for a reported USD $910,400 in 2020, while a rare Leica M co-created in 2012 by Apple designer Jony Ive sold for over USD $1.8 million at Sotheby’s auction in 2013.
Then in June of last year (2022), an astonishing, new record was set: A prototype Leica, the 0-series No. 105, changed hands for 14.4 million euros. The series was introduced 2 years before the commercial launch of the Leica A in 1925 as a test product. Of the already small number of prototypes, only a dozen remain today. But that’s not all: this particular specimen was the personal treasure of the famed camera creator himself – Oskar Barnack.
Leica’s iconic heritage combined with its financial potential is unparalleled. But what is the history behind the brand?
From the early camera obscura to film photography, cameras have shaped how we document the world. The Leica camera, invented in the early 20th century by Oskar Barnack for Ernst Leitz’s company (hence the brand’s original name), was an attempt to create a compact and portable camera using 35mm film. The “Ur-Leica” prototype, developed in 1913, became the foundation for all 35mm cameras that followed and continues to be a testament to the power of ingenuity.
Leica cameras quickly became favourites among photographers due to their compact size, high-quality lenses, and precision – ideal for street photography and for capturing more private, candid moments. They enabled the documentation of historical events with ease and agility.
Throughout the 20th century, Leica cameras played a vital role in capturing cultural shifts and historic moments like the fall of the Berlin Wall. Their unparalleled ability to immortalise raw emotions and fleeting scenes adds to the immense historical significance of vintage Leica cameras, making them the highly prized collectibles they now are.
Investing in cameras, especially legendary brands like Leica, offers the potential for significant returns and the chance to own a piece of history.
Buy fractions in unique assets in drop or trading.
Leica M2 Black Paint 1964
Leica M9 Monochrom “Leitz-Park”
Leica M4
*Inkl. MwSt., zzgl. Service Pauschale und Management Gebühr.
