Contax RTS II
The Contax RTS II is a 35mm single-lens reflex camera introduced in the early 1980s as the successor within Contax's RTS line. It was positioned as a professional-grade body built in collaboration between Yashica and Zeiss, carrying Carl Zeiss optics via a bayonet mount.
At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the RTS II have spanned roughly £160–£350, with the two recorded sales sitting either side of the £250 mark. At saleroom level these are wholesale figures, and today's values remain sensitive to cosmetic condition and whether the electronics still fire cleanly, so a tested working body tends to sell for more than a cosmetically tidy but untested one.
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 2023
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| Nov 2023 | £350 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 177) Title: A Contax RTS II Quartz 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, serial no.310030, with a Carl Zeiss Planar T* f/1.4 50mm lens, shutter working, LEDs light up in viewfinder, body G-VG, lens VG, with Contax |
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| Mar 2023 | £162 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 115) Title: A Contax RTS II SLR 35mm Camera
Description:
with Yashica ML f/2.8 35mm lens, body, VG, shutter not tested, lens, VG, some light haze to perieter of innter elements |
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| Mar 2003 | £164 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT (Lot 172) Title: Contax RTS II Quartz no. 180639
Description:
Contax RTS II Quartz no. 180639 Estimate: £200 - £300 |
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| Nov 2000 | £258 | Christie's | |
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Auction: MAGIC LANTERNS, OPTICAL TOYS AND CAMERAS (Lot 216) Title: Contax RTS II Quartz no. 180639
Description:
Contax RTS II Quartz no. 180639 Estimate: £200 - £300 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Contax RTS II worth today?
Based on recent UK auction hammer results, a Contax RTS II body has sold for between roughly £160 and £350, with the price largely driven by working condition.
How much does a Contax RTS II sell for at auction?
The two most recent UK hammer prices on record are £162 and £350, giving a working reference range around those figures before commission.
Why do RTS II prices vary so much?
Value depends heavily on whether the electronic shutter and meter are fully functional, since the RTS II is an electronically controlled body and repair options are narrow.