Fairchild Camera Fairchild K 20
The Fairchild K-20 is a large-format aerial camera produced in the United States during the Second World War for hand-held use from aircraft. It exposes 4x5 inch frames on roll film and was issued in significant numbers to US military photographic units in the 1940s.
Sales data for the K-20 is thin: a single UK auction hammer result from April 2023 shows the camera selling for £60, which sits at saleroom wholesale level before commission. With only one data point to work from, today's value for a comparable example is best treated as broadly in line with that £60 figure, and condition, completeness of the film magazine, and presence of the original handle will materially affect what one sells for.
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: April 2023
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| Apr 2023 | £60 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 131) Title: A Fairchild K-20 Aircraft Camera
Description:
A Fairchild K-20 Aircraft Camera, U.S Air Force camera, serial no AF42-62211, cocking mechanism and shutter working, body G, some paint scratches, |
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| May 2004 | EUR 521 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 5 (Lot AI_5_23173) Title: Fairchild Aircraft Camera Type K-20
Description:
compact reconnaissance camera for images in 4x5” format on a film roll, in very nice overall condition, closed aluminium body, IIex Paragon f4.5/163, olive green transport case, unopened toll of film in a sealed tin, red and yellow filters, not checked for function. The camera has a special suction plate which holds the film flat during exposure. The same model was used by Margarete Bourke-White for her war reports for Life magazine. Estimate: EUR 1,942 - EUR 4 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Fairchild K-20 worth today?
Based on the limited UK auction record available, a K-20 has sold for around £60 at hammer, though this is drawn from a single sale and the true price for any given example depends heavily on condition and completeness.
How much does a Fairchild K-20 sell for at auction?
The one recorded UK auction result shows a hammer price of £60 in 2023; cleaner, more complete examples could reasonably sell for more, but there is not enough data to quote a reliable range.
Is the Fairchild K-20 a usable camera or a collector's piece?
Most surviving K-20s are bought as militaria and aviation collectibles rather than working cameras, although examples with functioning shutters and intact magazines can still be loaded with appropriate roll film.