Since its birth 100 years ago, German camera Leica has been wooed by collectors and fans from Europe, the US and Japan. Chinese collectors have recently jumped on the bandwagon, with their favorite being vintage Leica to make up for the missing years.

In June, Hong Kong-based L&H Auction held a photographic auction for the growing collection market from the Chinese mainland. A custom-made M6 camera for the Brunei sultan's 50th birthday was sold at a hammer price with commission of HK$4.47 million ($576,231) to a collector from the mainland.

"In the past seven years, the number of Chinese Leica buyers has been spiraling upwards. Many of the record hammer prices are offered by buyers from the Chinese mainland," says Henry Chau, president of L&H Auction.