If you’re interested in learning about or seeking to buy rare film cameras, look no further.

In 1983 at the height of the golden age of cameras, Modern Photography published an article featuring literal gold cameras. Needless to say, it took a dedicated and wealthy photographer to purchase one. I was curious though, as to their value today, and if I could even find some of them listed for sale.

This 1983 article in Modern Photography, written by Jason Schneider, doesn’t just include gold cameras. There’s a Hasselblad Space Camera, a Titanium Nikon and Leica R3 Safari. For the sake of this article, we’ll stick to the gold ones.

I included the information provided, accounted for inflation, checked collectors websites for its current estimated sale price, and snooped eBay. At the end of the day the prices will fluctuate and what it really comes down to is what an individual actually ended up paying for one of these. Read on to discover strange, gold plated and rare film cameras of the 1980s

Mamiya M645 Gold

First on the list is probably the least gold, golden camera, the Mamiya M645.

“The 1981 model shown is covered in genuine lizard skin with gold-plated trim and nameplate and it’s fitted with a standard finish 80mm f/1.9 Mamiya-Sekor lens.”

How many were made is unknown, but the suggested price is $1500 USD, and adjusting for inflation that’s about $4600. While I did not find a listing on a collectors website, I did see one on eBay for $2150.

Rollei 2.8F Aurum

Next on the list is the Rollei 2.8F Aurum, Released in 1983. “Aurum” is Latin for “gold” and this 24k plated twin lens reflex marks a bittersweet milestone for the camera. It is to commemorate the 60^th anniversary of its manufacturer, but also represents the phasing out of the Rolleiflex TLR, which modern photography calls “one of the world’s most famous and long running professional cameras”

This special edition was limited to 1000 with a suggested retail price of $3000 USD.

When we adjust for inflation that’s just under $9200.

According to a collector’s website the value as of 2022 was $4742, which means the price has depreciated by about 50%.

If you want to get a better look at it I also found this unboxing.

Rollei 35 Gold

Here is another Rollei camera glittering in the spotlight, the Rollei 35 Gold.

“This gold-plated, Tessar-lensed version of the highly successful (and alas, discontinued) Rollei 35 pocket camera was released around 1970 to celebrate the one-and-a-half-millionth Rollei 35 produced. Assembled in Germany, about 1200 were made. A Sonnar-lensed, gold plated version, the Rollei 35S Gold, was made in Singapore in honor of the 2 millionth Rollei 35. About 1500 of these glorious beasts were produced with the U.S. version in lizard skin, the rest in genuine endangered-species alligator. No official list price was published for the gold 35S, but most of them retailed for just under $1000. Neither is available brand new, but used examples of either camera in good condition fetch a pretty $600-750.”

After inflation that’s $2300, and there are a number of them listed on eBay. The average price based on five listings is just under $1400. The collectors website gives a similar price of just under $1200 as of 2021.

Contax RTS Gold

Made in 1981 the Contax RTS Gold was limited to just a few hundred copies. And sports a 50mm f1.4 planar lens which is also plated in 24k gold. The 35mm SLR is wrapped in Brown lizard skin (seriously, what’s with the lizard skin), both the camera and the lens. With a suggested retail price in 1983 of $4000 USD, that clocks in at over $12,200 by today’s standards.

Despite the claim of just a few hundred copies existing, I found multiple listings for them on eBay. Three of them with the lens. Taking all three prices, converting to US dollars and averaging it out we get a value of $3200 USD. Even worse, the collectiblend website valued it at a mere $1763 as of 2018, a staggering 85% loss in value.

Pentax LX

With a 50mm f1.2, brown leather and of course, a gold-plated finish, the Pentax LX represents the most expensive camera on our list so far. At $6000 USD, or $18,300 after inflation, only 300 of these were made in 1981.

“the gold LX was never officially listed in the U.S. Pentax catalog,” says Jason Schneider of Modern Photography, “and most examples of this rare breed were snapped up by friends of the factory and others with inside connections in Japan.”

A complete, unused model is listed on eBay for about $9000 USD, but lists as a mere $3800 on collectiblend. Oddly the leather looks different as well.

Gold Tessina

The cheapest and tiniest of the rare film cameras on our list is next, the Gold Tessina.

“This tiny, Swiss-made twin-lens reflex that takes standard 35mm film in special cartridges and makes 17 x 21 mm images has now been in limited production for over 20 years. The standard model in satin chrome lists at $399.95 and for a piddling $30 extra you can have it in special order gold finish as pictured, or in red or black if you prefer. While the gold Tessina isn’t really a commemorative edition, or one that will cease production after a certain number have been made, it’s a safe bet that you won’t find another one on your block—despite the camera’s long production run only a few hundred gold ones have been produced so far.”

That $430 gold version means just $1300 after inflation. While I didn’t find any on eBay I did see a collectable listed value of $800 as of 2016.

Wista 45DX View Camera

Following the smallest camera on this list is the largest. The Wista 45DX View Camera. With a black and Gold finish and made from ironwood this large format camera comes with a gold plated 90mm f5.6 Schneider Super Angulon Lens. Produced in 1980 to commemorate the 125^th anniversary of founder Jos Camera the value at the time of this 1983 publication was approximately $3700 or $11,300 counting for inflation. No surprise here I could not find an eBay listing or a collector’s value. If any have survived the 21^st century they are likely in someone’s private collection or a museum.

Alpa 11si Gold

This camera, I have to admit is one I have never heard of: The Alpa 11si Gold. “Alpa is one of the pioneers of limited-edition cameras and the special finishes and coverings available on special order Alpas is truly staggering, with over 15 different combinations possible.” Says Modern Photography. 

“Indeed, even in standard black leather and chrome body finish, the Alpa qualifies as a virtually handmade, limited production Swiss confection with annual production figures in the hundreds. This gold-bodied brown-lizard-skin-covered version first introduced in 1981 is one of the most striking. We’re informed that that gorgeous 18K gold plating is 10 microns thick and that the special dies used to make it will be destroyed once 750 gold Alpas have been produced. Furnished in a custom display box with customer’s initials engraved into its top plate, the gold 11si comes with a 50mm f/1.9 Macro Switar lens and lists at $4995.”

That insane price tag is no surprise when you consider the thickness of the gold plating and the personal engraving. That’s $15,300 after inflation, by the way. Oddly, I could only find pieces of it on eBay, A back, a body mount and a winding lever, all by the same seller who likely took it apart to maximize profit. In the collector’s corner though we have a better idea of its current value, which is the highest we’ve seen so far with an estimated value of $4855 as of 2020.

Leica M4-2 Gold

Last on this list of glittering limited editions is one I’m sure many of you have been waiting for: The Leica M4-2 Gold. A thousand of these were produced in 1979 and by 1983 there were some still available for purchase new, and one cannot be surprised when you consider, with the gold plated 50mm f1.4 Summilux the total drain on your bank account comes to $7479 USD, or $22,900 in today’s money. Now just to give you an idea of the absolute absurdity of that, in 1983, the average brand-new car cost $8600. I found a pair of eBay listings that look complete and averaged the price to $6800 USD. The estimated collection value as of 2021 is more conservative at $4700

My Closing Thoughts

We’ve definitely noticed a trend here when it comes to rare film cameras. Every single one of these cameras has depreciated in value since their release. Not just counting for inflation but just straight up sticker price in most cases. I think I know why though: It’s grossly impractical. 24k or even 18k gold is soft, and if you’re even planning on using this camera in the field with kid gloves, you’re almost certainly going to dent and scratch it. For example, two days after I got married, I rolled over in bed and hit my wedding ring against the wall and made the first of many signs of impact damage. On top of that many of these cameras we’ve seen listed on eBay remain unused, which means they’ve probably jammed over time. To get it serviced almost guarantees permanent damage when they take it apart.

I was actually surprised all of these cameras lost value, with the biggest loss going to the Contax RTS, at 85%, and the least going to the Tessina at 38%.

If you’re in the market for a gold plated camera and want to spend the least amount, The Tessina is your best bet, and if you have cash to burn, The Alpa 11si just edges out over the Leica M4-2 (which is insane). If you’re just looking to collect something rare, the Pentax LX wins, with just 300 produced.

This article was adapted from a YouTube Video I made in 2024.