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Leitz Leica CL

The Leica CL is a compact 35mm rangefinder camera introduced in 1973, developed jointly by Leitz and Minolta and produced until 1976. It uses the Leica M bayonet mount and features through-the-lens metering, positioning it when new as a smaller and more affordable companion to the full-size M-series bodies.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Leica CL body have spanned roughly £200 to £600, with a 2025 Chiswick result at £605 and a Special Auction Services sale at £460 bracketing where clean examples sell for today. Across the longer saleroom record the overall range is about £120–£900, with a median near £420, and condition, completeness of the meter and the presence of the matching 40mm Summicron-C drive most of the price variation in the auction market.

Variants

Select a variant to filter the sales history below.

Variant Years Edition Sales Price Range
50 Jahre (50th Anniversary) Edition 0
50 Jahre Leica (50th Anniversary) 4 £382 – £881
50th Anniversary 8 £350 – £1,600
Betriebskamera 0
Cut-Away 0
Dummy 0
Dummy (w/hand) 0
Everest Expedition outfit 0

Sales History

Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.

Prices updated: June 2026

Date Price Source Variant
Jun 2026 £400 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
Mar 2026 £140 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services
Nov 2025 £400 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
Nov 2025 EUR 1,500 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Jul 2025 £202 🇬🇧 Chiswick Auctions
Jul 2025 £605 🇬🇧 Chiswick Auctions
Jun 2025 £119 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
May 2025 £460 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services
Apr 2025 £625 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
Nov 2024 EUR 850 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Oct 2024 £650 🇬🇧 David Duggleby
Oct 2024 £750 🇬🇧 Harper Field Auctions
Oct 2024 £550 🇬🇧 Harper Field Auctions
Oct 2024 £260 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services
Nov 2023 EUR 1,300 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2023 £812 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
Nov 2023 £1,000 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
Jun 2023 EUR 2,200 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2022 EUR 1,400 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2022 EUR 2,200 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2022 EUR 1,400 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Oct 2022 £500 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
Oct 2022 £600 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
Oct 2022 £500 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
May 2022 £400 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
Dec 2021 £149 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
Nov 2021 £496 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
Nov 2021 £719 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
Nov 2021 £769 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
May 2021 £260 🇬🇧 Harper Field Auctions
May 2021 £400 🇬🇧 Harper Field Auctions
Nov 2020 EUR 700 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2020 USD 1,600 🇺🇸 pedia_sales_tamarkin 50th Anniversary
Jun 2020 EUR 1,400 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction 50th Anniversary
Nov 2019 USD 900 🇺🇸 pedia_sales_tamarkin 50th Anniversary
Oct 2019 £624 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
Jun 2019 EUR 900 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Jun 2019 EUR 380 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction 50th Anniversary
Nov 2018 USD 350 🇺🇸 pedia_sales_tamarkin 50th Anniversary
Nov 2018 £720 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
Apr 2018 £624 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
Mar 2018 EUR 600 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Oct 2017 £576 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions
Nov 2016 EUR 600 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2016 EUR 850 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction 50 Jahre Leica (50th Anniversary)
Nov 2014 EUR 900 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Mar 2014 EUR 700 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2011 EUR 950 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2011 EUR 850 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
May 2010 EUR 12,500 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
May 2009 EUR 460 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Jun 2007 £384 🇬🇧 Christie's
Jun 2007 £288 🇬🇧 Christie's
May 2006 EUR 770 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
May 2006 £264 🇬🇧 Christie's
Feb 2006 £420 🇬🇧 Christie's 50 Jahre Leica (50th Anniversary)
Nov 2005 £240 🇬🇧 Christie's
Sep 2005 £600 🇬🇧 Christie's
May 2005 £780 🇬🇧 Christie's
Nov 2004 EUR 1,250 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction 50th Anniversary
Nov 2004 EUR 688 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Nov 2004 EUR 859 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Sep 2004 £382 🇬🇧 Christie's 50 Jahre Leica (50th Anniversary)
Feb 2004 £478 🇬🇧 Christie's
Dec 2003 £282 🇬🇧 Christie's
Dec 2003 £423 🇬🇧 Christie's 50th Anniversary
Dec 2003 £117 🇬🇧 Christie's
Apr 2003 £705 🇬🇧 Christie's
Nov 2002 £293 🇬🇧 Christie's
Nov 2002 £352 🇬🇧 Christie's
Jul 2002 £352 🇬🇧 Christie's
Jul 2002 £446 🇬🇧 Christie's
Feb 2002 £646 🇬🇧 Christie's
Feb 2002 £293 🇬🇧 Christie's
Nov 2001 £646 🇬🇧 Christie's
Oct 2000 £646 🇬🇧 Christie's
Jun 2000 £881 🇬🇧 Christie's 50 Jahre Leica (50th Anniversary)
May 2000 £493 🇬🇧 Christie's
Sep 1999 £690 🇬🇧 Christie's
Sep 1999 £345 🇬🇧 Christie's
Jun 1999 £1,150 🇬🇧 Christie's 50th Anniversary
Jun 1999 £552 🇬🇧 Christie's
Nov 1998 £632 🇬🇧 Christie's
Sep 1998 £402 🇬🇧 Christie's
Jul 1998 £586 🇬🇧 Christie's
Jun 1998 £517 🇬🇧 Christie's
Jun 1998 £207 🇬🇧 Christie's
Mar 1998 £437 🇬🇧 Christie's
Mar 1998 £414 🇬🇧 Christie's
Mar 1998 £253 🇬🇧 Christie's
Mar 1998 £437 🇬🇧 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Leica CL worth today in 2026?

Working bodies in honest cosmetic condition typically sell for around £400–£600 at UK auction, with tatty or non-metering examples dropping toward £200 and exceptional outfits with the 40mm Summicron-C reaching higher.

How much does a Leica CL sell for at auction?

Recent UK hammer prices range from about £200 for a body-only example to £605 for a cleaner one, broadly in line with the longer-term median value of roughly £420.

Does the Leica CL take Leica M lenses?

Yes, the CL uses the Leica M bayonet and accepts M-mount lenses, though some later and longer focal lengths can foul the internal meter arm and are not officially recommended.

Is a Leica CL with a broken meter still worth buying?

It can be, but the price should reflect it: meter-dead bodies generally sell at the bottom of the range because CdS cell replacement is specialist work and parts supply is limited.