CameraWorth.com

Contax Contax IIIa

The Contax IIIa is a 35mm rangefinder camera produced by Zeiss Ikon in Stuttgart from the early 1950s, distinguished from the companion IIa by an uncoupled selenium light meter set into the top plate. It uses the Contax bayonet rangefinder mount and was positioned as a premium rangefinder competing directly with the Leica M-series.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Contax IIIa have typically fallen in the £340–£700 band, with a median around £345 across the longer sales record and the most recent result in 2021 landing at £600. Saleroom values today are strongly condition-sensitive: working selenium meters, clean rangefinders and intact vulcanite push examples toward the upper end, while tired or non-functional bodies sell for less. An outlying 1998 result at £1,265 reflects an exceptional or complete outfit rather than the typical price a IIIa sells for.

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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: September 2025

Date Price Source
Sep 2025 £94 Flints Auctions
Jul 2025 £76 Chiswick Auctions
Nov 2021 EUR 600 Leitz Auction
Nov 2020 £360 Flints Auctions
Nov 2014 EUR 700 Leitz Auction
May 2010 EUR 340 Leitz Auction
Mar 2007 £168 Christie's
Sep 2005 £192 Christie's
Sep 2005 £144 Christie's
May 2005 EUR 500 Leitz Auction
May 2004 EUR 417 Leitz Auction
Nov 2003 £188 Christie's
Sep 2003 £164 Christie's
May 2003 £235 Christie's
Apr 2003 £188 Christie's
May 2001 £411 Christie's
May 2001 £940 Christie's
Nov 2000 £705 Christie's
Nov 2000 £352 Christie's
Oct 2000 £235 Christie's
Oct 2000 £705 Christie's
Aug 2000 £94 Christie's
Jul 2000 £188 Christie's
Nov 1999 £345 Christie's
Oct 1999 £322 Christie's
May 1999 £322 Christie's
Feb 1999 £172 Christie's
Feb 1999 £287 Christie's
Feb 1999 £230 Christie's
Feb 1999 £276 Christie's
Feb 1999 £276 Christie's
Feb 1999 £253 Christie's
Feb 1999 £103 Christie's
Nov 1998 £276 Christie's
Nov 1998 £184 Christie's
Sep 1998 £345 Christie's
Aug 1998 £460 Christie's
May 1998 £345 Christie's
Mar 1998 £230 Christie's
Mar 1998 £1,265 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Contax IIIa worth today?

Based on UK auction hammer results, a Contax IIIa is typically worth between about £340 and £700 depending on cosmetic condition and whether the shutter, rangefinder and selenium meter are all working.

How much does a Contax IIIa sell for at auction?

Recent UK saleroom results cluster around a £345 median, with clean working examples selling for £600–£700 and rough or meter-dead bodies fetching less.

What affects the price and value of a Contax IIIa most?

Shutter condition and a functioning selenium meter are the two biggest drivers of value; a IIIa with a dead meter often sells closer to IIa money because collectors discount the feature that defines the model.

Is the Contax IIIa worth more than the IIa?

In working order yes, because of the meter, but a IIIa with a failed selenium cell can sell for similar or lower prices than a comparable IIa in good health.

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