This burned, broken Leica M4 camera “completely” has just been successfully auctioned at 2000 USD

Leica users are often proud of the scratches on their cameras, showing that they are actually used to create beautiful photos, not as objects in a glass case. Leica cameras, even if they are scratched or peeled, still retain a high value when reselling, sometimes not inferior to new goods.

But with the case of the Leica M4 below, it’s a completely different story. Auction company Flints recently successfully sold a completely burned, unusable Leica M4 with a Summicron f/2 50mm lens for $2070. Made in 1968, this Leica M4 shipped very close to the launch date of the M4 lineup in 1966.

The auction company did not disclose any more information about who paid for the “toasted” Leica M4, but Jonathan Bloom – a photographer who once owned it shared with Kosmo Foto:

“I used to buy this Leica M4 at a fair for $900, then sold it to a collector and now it’s up for auction. It was damaged in a house fire and ‘taken off’.” all its features, only the exterior design remains. That’s what makes it so interesting.”

In 2018, two Hasselblad 500cs with 80mm lenses with lots of mold were also put up for auction, with the warning line: “Those who are allergic to mold are not allowed to participate in this auction” . This auction was not as successful as the above Leica M4 when the price step at the time of photography site Petapixel reported was only about 400 USD.