You're looking at a prototype Leica 35mm film camera, known as the 0-series. It was one of just 25 produced in 1923 for testing, and only 12 of them are known to have survived to this day. That's why it's just set a record, becoming the world's most expensive camera.


It was sold at the WestLicht Photographica auction in Vienna, eventually fetching an eye-watering €2.16 million. That's about $2.8 million. Bidding started at a relatively respectable $390,000, but in the course of 4 minutes offers reached $2.3 million. The final price is higher because it includes a—rather sizeable—buyer's premium. In fact, you can watch the auction take place in the video below.

The world's previous most expensive camera was also a 0-series Leica, but it sold for a paltry $1.7 million. [BBC]


Image by Altertuem Liches