Contax T3
The Contax T3 is a 35mm compact film camera with a fixed Carl Zeiss Sonnar lens, introduced in the early 2000s as the final model in Contax's premium T-series of pocketable rangefinder-style compacts.
Sales data for the T3 is thin: a single UK auction hammer result from January 2022 reached £620, which gives a reference point rather than a reliable market median. Demand for premium 35mm compacts has stayed firm into 2026, and clean, fully-working examples typically command the strongest prices at saleroom level, though buyers should expect a wide spread depending on cosmetic condition and whether the original case and box are present.
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: October 2024
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| Oct 2024 | £1,400 | Harper Field Auctions | |
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Auction: Buying & Selling (Lot 1834) Title: Contax T3 compact titanium 35mm rangefinder camera, serial number 023270, with Zeiss Sonnar 2.8/35T*
Description:
Contax T3 compact titanium 35mm rangefinder camera, serial number 023270, with Zeiss Sonnar 2.8/35T* |
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| Oct 2024 | £800 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 141) Title: A Contax T3 Compact Camera
Description:
A Contax T3 Compact Camera, black, shutter working, responsive in settings, flash working, self timer working, body G, slight wear to front edges, |
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| Apr 2023 | £1,400 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 179) Title: A Contax T3 Compact Camera
Description:
A Contax T3 Compact Camera, powers up, shutter working, flash working, appears to function as should, body VG, with Carl Zeiss T* 35mm f/2.8 Sonnar |
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| Aug 2022 | £1,025 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 388) Title: A Contax T3 Compact 35mm Film Camera
Description:
with Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* f/2.8 35mm lens, body, VG, shutter working and recently film tested*, the flash button needs pressing hard to function, |
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| Jan 2022 | £620 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 153) Title: A Contax T3 35mm Compact Camera
Description:
champagne, body VG-E, lens sticks and does not extend or retract, therefore untested, optics G, some light haze and dust present, (Qty: 1) |
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| Nov 2005 | EUR 720 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 8 (Lot AI_8_25532) Title: Contax T3 'Travel Kit'
Description:
Contax T3 in black Titanium, Contax flash TLA200 no.1021926, Contax flash adapter SA-2, in special metal case, all in mint condition with original maker's boxes Estimate: EUR 700 - EUR 900 |
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| Jun 2004 | £239 | Christie's | |
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Auction: LEICA, NIKON AND 35MM CAMERAS (Lot 164) Title: Contax T3 no. 26101
Description:
Contax T3 no. 26101 Estimate: £300 - £500 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Contax T3 worth today?
Auction evidence is limited, but the one verified UK hammer result on file sold for £620 in 2022, which is a useful anchor for what a clean T3 sells for at saleroom level rather than a guaranteed current value.
How much does a Contax T3 sell for at UK auction?
With only a single recorded sale, the available price point is £620 hammer; condition, completeness and working electronics drive most of the variance around that figure.
Why is the Contax T3 price so high for a compact?
The T3 carries a fixed Carl Zeiss Sonnar lens and was the top of Contax's premium compact line, and with no replacement model after Kyocera left the camera market, scarcity supports its value.