One-of-a-Kind Leica ‘Camera Rifle’ Could Fetch Big Money at Auction

A rare Leica camera system built to resemble a rifle and developed for the German Luftwaffe during World War II is heading to auction, carrying a €60,000 ($69,000) starting bid and a claim that it is the only known example of its kind.

The unusual outfit will be offered by Leitz Photographica Auction on June 13, 2026. According to the auction house, the setup dates back to 1944 and combines a specially designed camera stock with a military Leica IIIc and a 300mm telephoto lens. It is described as the only known surviving example of the Astro Berlin camera stock created for the German air force.

At first glance, the system looks more like a military rifle than a camera. A lightweight stock, twin wooden grips, shoulder support, and a left-hand shutter release were designed to help operators stabilize the camera during handheld use. It could also be mounted on a tripod for longer observation work.

The outfit includes an Astro Fernbildlinse 300mm f/5 lens finished in olive green paint, along with a matching viewfinder. The camera itself is a Leica IIIc painted in a similar military green finish. According to Leitz Photographica Auction, it is among the latest Luftwaffe-owned Leica cameras listed in the company archives.

Military cameras are not unusual in Leica’s history, but this configuration stands out for its appearance and rarity. The auction house describes it as one of the most sophisticated military camera outfits it has handled.

The camera is also documented in Lager I: Cameras. That provenance is likely to add further interest among Leica collectors and military photography historians.

A Camera Designed for Surveillance

Long telephoto lenses played an important role in military reconnaissance before the era of digital sensors, satellites, and drones. Systems like the Astro rifle allowed operators to capture distant targets while maintaining stability in the field.

The rifle-style stock was not intended as a weapon. Instead, it functioned as a support platform for photography. The design distributed weight across the operator’s body and helped reduce camera shake when using long focal lengths.

While modern photographers might rely on image stabilization, high ISO performance, or compact super-telephoto lenses, military photographers of the 1940s had to solve those problems through mechanical engineering.

Leica’s History of Unusual Auction Lots

Leica auctions have become famous for attracting collectors willing to spend extraordinary sums on rare and unusual pieces of photographic history.

Some of the most surprising sales have included prototype cameras, military variants, and one-off experimental models. In recent years, Leica 0-Series cameras have repeatedly set auction records, with several examples selling for millions of euros due to their significance as some of the earliest Leica cameras ever produced.

Not every high-profile Leica auction item has been historically serious, however. Collectors have also shown strong interest in unusual promotional items, rare color variants, factory prototypes, and cameras with celebrity ownership histories. Some pieces attract attention simply because they represent unusual chapters in Leica’s long history rather than groundbreaking technology.

The Astro rifle falls firmly into that category. It combines military history, industrial design, and photographic heritage in a package that looks unlike almost anything else produced by Leica.

With a starting bid of €60,000 and its status as a one-of-a-kind survivor, it will be interesting to see just how high collectors are willing to go when bidding opens in June.

[Images via Leitz Photographica Auction]

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