Nettel Kamerawerk Sonnet Tropen (Tropical) (4.5x6)
The Nettel Kamerawerk Sonnet Tropen (Tropical) in 4.5x6cm format is an early 20th-century German folding plate camera built in a tropical specification, typically using teak or other hardwood with brass fittings rather than the leather-covered metal of standard models. Nettel Kamerawerk produced cameras in Sontheim before merging with Contessa in 1919 to form Contessa-Nettel, placing this Sonnet Tropen firmly in the pre-merger era.
Auction data for this specific 4.5x6 Sonnet Tropen is extremely thin: the only recorded UK saleroom hammer result on file dates to 2004 at £573, so any current value estimate carries significant uncertainty. As of 2026, comparable small-format tropical folders generally sell for and are worth meaningfully more than that two-decade-old figure when offered with original wood and bellows intact, but without recent hammer prices we cannot quote a reliable current range or median price for what one sells for today.
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: November 2004
| Date | Price | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2004 | EUR 573 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 6 (Lot AI_6_24037) Title: Nettel Kamerawerk Tropen Sonnet
Description:
4.5x6cm, brown leather bellows, Tessar 4.5/7.5cm no.291440 in Compound shutter - very rare by Nettel! Estimate: EUR 700 - EUR 800 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Nettel Sonnet Tropen 4.5x6 worth today?
The only verified UK auction hammer record on file is a single 2004 sale at £573, which is too old and too isolated to establish a reliable current value — a fresh saleroom appearance would be needed to price one accurately.
How much does a Sonnet Tropen sell for at auction?
Recent UK hammer prices for this exact 4.5x6 Tropen variant are not on record here; condition of the wood, bellows and shutter would be the main drivers of any price achieved.
What makes the Tropen version different from a standard Sonnet?
Tropical (Tropen) models were built with exposed hardwood bodies and brass fittings instead of leather-covered metal, intended to better withstand humid climates where leather and standard finishes degraded quickly.