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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.

Prices updated: June 2024

Date Price Source
Jun 2024 £44 Flints Auctions
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
Feb 1999 £287 Christie's
Sep 1998 £51 Christie's
Jul 1998 £109 Christie's
Jun 1998 £46 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Contax III worth today?

Recent UK auction hammer prices sit in a £110–£1,800 range with a median near £470, so the value of a Contax III depends strongly on cosmetic condition and whether the meter and shutter still work.

How much does a Contax III sell for at auction?

Typical working examples sell for a few hundred pounds at UK auction, while the best-preserved bodies have reached £1,800 hammer; rough or non-working cameras can price under £150.

Does the selenium meter affect the price?

Yes — a live, reasonably accurate meter is the main reason to choose a III over a II, so bodies with a dead cell sell at a clear discount to those with a working one.

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