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Berning Robot Royal 36 (Mod. III)

The Berning Robot Royal 36 (Mod. III) is a 35mm viewfinder camera from the Robot series made by Otto Berning & Co. of Germany, distinguished by its spring-motor wind that advances film automatically between exposures. It was aimed at users who needed rapid sequential shooting on the full 24x36mm frame.

At UK auction, hammer prices for the Robot Royal 36 (Mod. III) have ranged from about £350 to £530, with a median near £360 based on the three recorded sales. As of 2026, the most recent saleroom result sits at £525, indicating that clean, working examples can sell for noticeably more than the long-run average, while tired bodies tend to cluster at the lower end of that range.

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Sales History

Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.

Prices updated: November 2025

Date Price Source
Nov 2025 £525 Flints Auctions
Jun 2022 £525 Flints Auctions
Oct 2019 £228 Flints Auctions
Dec 2010 EUR 360 Leitz Auction
Nov 2002 £352 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Berning Robot Royal 36 (Mod. III) worth today?

Recent UK auction hammer results place the value between roughly £350 and £530, with a median around £360, so a typical working example is worth a few hundred pounds rather than a four-figure sum.

How much does a Robot Royal 36 (Mod. III) sell for at auction?

The three recorded UK hammer prices are £352 (2002), £360 (2010) and £525 (2022), showing that the price a given camera sells for depends heavily on condition and on whether the spring motor still functions correctly.

Is the Robot Royal 36 (Mod. III) a good buy at its current price?

For collectors of Robot-series cameras the current price level is reasonable, but because servicing is specialised, buyers should factor potential repair costs into the value they are willing to pay.

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