Sold for Over 800 Million Yen! The Legendary Leica 0-Series and the Origins of Camera History | Release #533
Cover photo by みわ
In June 2025, at the 'Leitz Photographica Auction' held in Wetzlar, Germany, the 1923 Leica 0-Series No.112 was sold for approximately 850 million yen (7.2 million euros). This is the second-highest auction price in history, following the 2022 world record set by No.105 (approximately 2.1 billion yen).
©︎ Leica | The highest-priced Leica ever sold, No.105
Both cameras are rare prototypes that were handed to Oskar Barnack himself, marking the birth of the 35mm film camera.
The 'Origin' That Transformed Photographic Culture
The Leica 0-Series was the prototype for the Leica I, the first 35mm camera designed for the general market. It revolutionized photography by condensing bulky and expensive equipment into a compact, high-performance tool that anyone could carry, turning it into a 'daily recording device.'
Photo by bbb
Its existence paved the way for modern smartphone cameras and mirrorless cameras.
Feeling the Past, Capturing the Future
The presence of such historically significant cameras goes beyond mere museum value. For us living in the present, they pose a question: How do we capture and preserve our moments?
Whether it's shooting with a film camera, observing the light on a street corner, or treating everyday moments with family as 'art,' perspectives from the past can expand our creative expression for the future.
