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Contax Contax III

The Contax III is a 35mm rangefinder camera introduced in 1936 as the top-tier model in the pre-war Contax line, adding a built-in selenium exposure meter to the body of the Contax II. It used the Zeiss Ikon bayonet mount and was positioned as a premium alternative to the Leica of its day.

At UK auction, hammer prices for the Contax III have ranged from about £110 to £1,800, with a median around £470. Condition and completeness drive a wide spread: the strongest results have gone to clean, working bodies with a functioning meter, while tired examples with a dead selenium cell sell for a small fraction of that. In 2026 the camera still trades actively at saleroom level, though what a Contax III is worth today depends heavily on cosmetics and mechanical state.

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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.

Date Price Source
Mar 2018 EUR 1,000 Leitz Auction
Nov 2012 EUR 1,800 Leitz Auction
May 2007 EUR 850 Leitz Auction
May 2004 EUR 115 Leitz Auction
May 2003 £117 Christie's
Mar 2001 £411 Christie's
May 2000 £528 Christie's
Jun 1999 £69 Christie's
Jul 1998 £109 Christie's
Jun 1998 £46 Christie's

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