Vintage

Leitz Photographica Auction Results: Leica presented to Pope Francis achieves €6.5 million for charity

The 47th Leitz Photographica auction featured a €6.5 million bid for a camera presented to Pope Francis, with proceeds supporting his chosen charity. Notable sales included rare black-paint models.

Leitz Auction No 47: Rare cameras and unique provenance from the Pope to Communism

The 47th Leitz Auction on November 22, 2025, features diverse items, including rare Leica cameras, a unique STASI spy camera, and a camera gifted to Pope Francis, attracting significant interest.

What Leica means to me: How I became a “collector extraordinaire”

The author reflects on his upbringing by antique-dealer mother and how this influenced his later passion for collecting Leica cameras.

Ilford Witness: How a Lancashire mill town nearly became the Wetzlar of England

In a parallel universe, the last of the rangefinders is not made in Wetzlar, Germany, but in Bolton, England. Here is an alternative Witness to a Century...

Lots of Interest: Auctioneer Dan Tamarkin finds pleasure in the odd and the unusual

Every November Tamarkin Auctions holds its annual rare camera auction which garners great interest. It's a thrill to attend,...

Leica Heritage: The remarkable story of the Leica company on the 100th anniversary of “The Leica”

Photography and camera enthusiasts know that ‘Leica’ is a concatenation of ‘LEItz’ and ‘CAmera’. The marque has a long history and, indeed, prehistory which certainly can be called a heritage…

James Jarché — A largely forgotten former London Fleet Street press photographer

James Jarché — a now largely forgotten former London Fleet Street press photographer — came to fame in 1936 as the first photographer to capture the future Edward VIII and Mrs. Simpson in public. He was also the grandfather of the famous actor, Sir David Suchet…

Meet the Praktica Family: a film camera and lens system at reasonable cost

The Praktica cameras from East Germany enjoyed a good reputation even in the West. Rightly so, as we see even after decades…
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