The next 2025 Autumn Lidong Camera & Photo Auction will take place on December 14 in Hangzhou, China (see previous Lidong auctions):
Lidong Camera & Photo Auction · 2025 Autumn will take place on December 14, Making Its Debut in Hangzhou, China
Following the exceptional market reception of its Spring 2025 sale in June, Shanghai Lidong Auction Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Lidong”) is pleased to announce the Lidong Camera & Photo Auction · 2025 Autumn, to be held from December 6 to 14, 2025, at the Liangzhu Culture & Arts Center in Hangzhou.
As China’s first professional auction platform systematically integrating both cameras and photo works under a dual-track model, Lidong is staging its auction in Hangzhou for the first time — signaling a more open, diverse, and inclusive approach to bringing photographic collecting culture into broader public awareness.
Strengthening Market Confidence and a Notable Shift Toward Younger Collectors
At its Spring 2025 sale held at the Hengfu Arts Center in Shanghai, Lidong successfully presented 265 rare cameras and photo works. Both the Camera and Photo sessions achieved sell-through rates exceeding expectations, demonstrating robust collector confidence and market vitality — even amid a generally more rational market climate. Notably, a wave of new, younger collectors emerged, driven by deep interest in analog processes, vintage equipment, and photographic aesthetics. This new generation is redefining contemporary collecting — not as mere possession, but as a form of understanding; not as ownership, but as a dialogue.
Autumn Highlights: Iconic Treasures and Elevated Cultural Engagement
Upholding Lidong’s rigorous curatorial standards, which focus on rarity, historical significance, and artistic merit, the Autumn 2025 sale features the following core categories:
- Classic Cameras: Including globally rare models such as the black paint Leica MP and early Leica M3, military-issue Leicas, and a selection of exceptional vintage lenses.
- Photo Art: A thoughtfully curated survey tracing the trajectory of Chinese photographic history, alongside vintage silver gelatin prints by Japan’s “Golden Generation” and internationally acclaimed masters.
- Special Curated Section: Enhanced with an “Photography Knowledge Wall” and expert-led guided tours offering in-depth insights into the historical context and aesthetic value of each lot.
Moreover, Lidong is transforming the auction into a multifaceted cultural destination by integrating exhibition, marketplace, education, and commerce into a single immersive experience — making it “viewable, engaging, educational, and collectible”:
- Photographers’ Talks: Renowned photographers from China and abroad will deliver a series of lectures on documentary practice, building photo collections, and the history of photographic equipment.
- Photo Lifestyle Market: Open to the public free of charge, featuring photo-related merchandise, film supplies, vintage accessories, and more.
- Urban Dialogue Space: Themed “Seeing the Light of Time”, this space invites a cross-media conversation on time, memory, and contemporary life.
Why Hangzhou? Bridging Ancient Heritage and Youth Culture
Hangzhou was chosen as the venue for its unique blend of historical depth and contemporary dynamism. As the archaeological heartland of the 5,000-year-old Liangzhu Civilization, Hangzhou offers a profound resonance with photography — a modern medium of visual memory. At the same time, the city’s vibrant youth culture introduces fresh perspectives and participatory energy into photo collecting. Lidong believes that collecting photography should transcend specialist circles and become an accessible, tangible, and participatory lifestyle for the public.
Event Schedule
Auction Times:
- December 14, 2025, Sunday
- Photo Auction: 13:00 (UTC+8, CST) / 06:00 (UTC+1, CET)
- Camera Auction: 17:00 (UTC+8, CST) / 10:00 (UTC+1, CET)
Preview Times:
- December 6-13 10:00-20:00 (UTC+8, CST)
- December 14 10:00-13:00 (UTC+8, CST)
Venue:
- Liangzhu Culture & Arts Center
- Liangzhu Subdistrict, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
The online preview catalogue will be available on the official website (www.lidong-auction.com) in early November.
Camera Highlights
Lot 44 Leica MP black paint No. MP-132
- Starting Price: RMB 3,000,000
- Estimate Price: RMB 6,000,000 – 7,000,000
Lot 35 Leica M3 No.700584 ‘one corner’
- Starting Price: RMB 140,000
- Estimate Price: RMB 280,000 – 320,000
Lot 11 – Leica II Mod. D New York outfit
- Starting Price: RMB 40,000
- Estimate Price: RMB 80,000 – 100,000
Photo Highlights
Lot 1 Cat • Flower
- Starting Price: RMB 10,000
- Estimate Price: RMB 15,000 – 18,000
Lot 128 Gentlemen in Top Hats and Rolls-Royce before Royal Ascot
- Starting Price: RMB 10,000
- Estimate Price: RMB 15,000 – 18,000
Lot 151 Côte d’Azur-Sala at the Rocher de la Vierge, Biarritz
- Starting Price: RMB 16,000
- Estimate Price: RMB 26,000 – 32,000
Contact info:
- Shanghai Lidong Auction Co., Ltd.
- Email: [email protected]
- Whatsapp: (+852) 4618 4826
- Tel: (+86) 199 9286 9110
- Wechat: SH-Lidong
- Website: www.lidong-auction.com
Leica cameras and lenses at the upcoming 2025 Spring Lidong Camera & Photo Auction
