An exceptionally rare Leica prototype lens is currently up for auction through Goodwill of the Great Plains in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, listed simply in “as is” condition by an organization that appears completely unaware of its actual value. Trevor Sehrer, founder of Lenstag, identified the optic as a previously unknown second copy of a prototype that most recently commanded nearly $50,000 on the collector market.
The item in question is the Leica / Hughes Leitz 17mm f/2 prototype fisheye lens, weighing a hefty 26 pounds. It looks identical to a piece that Leica Store Lisse sold in 2021 for $47,200, save for one crucial detail. While the 2021 prototype bore the model number C530-0007, the unit at Goodwill carries the model number C530-0004.
Goodwill has listed the rare piece of photographic history with a stark disclaimer for prospective buyers. “We do our best to describe items completely and accurately, but we are not experts,” the listing warns, directing bidders to rely entirely on the provided photographs.
An exceedingly rare, previously unknown Leica prototype lens is up for auction right now, and it's at Goodwill.https://t.co/MyGXJKUDt0
As of late October 30, after seven bids, the price sat at $3,008. Bidding for the auction was scheduled to close at 9:50 PM ET (6:50 PM PT) on October 30.
This discovery joins a small legacy of high-end camera gear slipping past thrift store staff. In 2021, PetaPixel reported on the original Leica / Hughes Leitz 17mm f/2 prototype sale, which had previously appeared on eBay in January 2018 with a $24,000 asking price. Beyond prototype rarities, everyday thrift hunters have occasionally struck similar luck. An Ontario photographer named Brandon Simpson found a $2,000 Leica at a thrift store for $10, a teenager in 2021 found an entire Leica M kit for $15 at a church sale, and a college student grabbed a Leica M5 at a thrift store for just $5.
