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, Austria, 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 four 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 $US1.7 million. [BBC]
Image: Altertuem Liches