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Berning Robot Royal III

The Berning Robot Royal III is a mid-twentieth-century German 35mm camera from the Robot series made by Otto Berning & Co., a line distinguished by its spring-motor film wind. It was positioned as a precision press and reportage tool when new, sold alongside other Robot Royal variants.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Robot Royal III have ranged from about £210 to £940, with a median around £370 across the recorded sales. The most recent result, in late 2022, reached £938 — the strongest saleroom figure on file — suggesting that today a clean, working example is worth materially more than the earlier 1999–2003 hammer prices would imply, though with only a handful of wholesale auction results the price any given example sells for remains condition-sensitive.

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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: July 2023

Date Price Source
Jul 2023 £325 Flints Auctions
Nov 2022 £938 Flints Auctions
Nov 2003 EUR 479 Leitz Auction
Feb 2002 £446 Christie's
Feb 1999 £207 Christie's
Feb 1999 £264 Christie's
Feb 1999 £92 Christie's
Feb 1999 £230 Christie's
Nov 1998 £195 Christie's
Mar 1998 £345 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Berning Robot Royal III worth today?

Based on UK auction hammer results, a Robot Royal III is worth roughly £210 to £940, with a median value near £370; the most recent 2022 sale reached the top of that range.

How much does a Robot Royal III sell for at auction?

Recorded UK auction sales span £207 to £938 in hammer price, so the figure any individual camera sells for depends heavily on cosmetic condition and whether the spring motor and shutter are fully functional.

Is the Robot Royal III a good collector's camera?

It has a dedicated collector following due to the spring-motor Robot lineage, and the rising price trend from under £300 in 1999 to £938 in 2022 suggests steady collector demand, though thin sales data means valuations can move with each result.

Other Berning cameras