Kiev III
The Kiev III is a Soviet-made 35mm rangefinder camera produced at the Arsenal plant in Kiev, developed from tooling and designs taken from the Zeiss Ikon Contax works after the Second World War. It sits in the early post-war Kiev rangefinder line and was positioned as a working photographer's camera using the Contax-derived bayonet lens mount.
UK auction hammer results for the Kiev III are thin and highly variable: the two recorded saleroom outcomes are £600 and £7,500, a spread driven almost entirely by rarity of the specific example, outfit completeness and provenance rather than by typical user-grade pricing. Because the sample is so small, today any single hammer price says more about the individual lot than about a stable market level, and buyers should treat headline figures with caution when judging what a Kiev III is worth.
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 2021
| Date | Price | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2021 | EUR 7,500 | Leitz Auction | |
|
Auction: Leitz Auction 38 (Lot AI_38_39393) Title: Kiev III 1948
Description:
extremely rare early Kiev in excellent original condition, unnumbered body with matching ZK (Sonnar Krasnogorsk) 1.5/5cm no.000706. The early Kiev was a mixture of „Jena“ and „Dresden“ shaped parts from the start, as can be seen in this example. Some parts of this unnumbered camera are shaped just like Dresden parts, (for example the focusing scales and the frame counter), while other important parts are shaped like „Jena“ parts. In later 1948 and 1949 the „Jena“ parts were gradually omitted during production in favour of „Dresden“ shaped parts. All in all this camera is an interesting document of the Kiev history in beautiful pristine condition. Only a few of these cameras are known - an unique opportunity for Zeiss and Kiev collectors! Estimate: EUR 4,000 - EUR 5,000 |
|||
|
Loading...
|
|||
| Nov 2016 | EUR 600 | Leitz Auction | |
|
Auction: Leitz Auction 29 (Lot AI_29_33935) Title: Kiev III outfit
Description:
beautiful mint outfit with 4 lenses: body in working condition, Jupiter-8M 2/5cm no.5805097, Jupiter-12 2.8/3.5cm no.5600557, Jupiter-9 2/8.5cm no.5600532, Jupiter-11 4/13.5cm no.5601045 - all lenses mint with caps, Universal finder, 6 filters, 3 original film cartridges, cable release - all in fitted leather case with red velvet inlet Estimate: EUR 1,000 - EUR 1,200 |
|||
|
Loading...
|
|||
Frequently asked questions
What is a Kiev III worth today?
Based on the two UK auction hammer results on file, a Kiev III has sold for as little as £600 and as much as £7,500, so its value depends heavily on the specific variant, condition and any accompanying lens or accessories.
How much does a Kiev III sell for at UK auction?
Recorded saleroom prices for the Kiev III range from £600 to £7,500 at hammer, excluding buyer's premium; with only two data points there is no reliable median price.
Why is there such a wide price range for the Kiev III?
The limited sales history shows one mid-range example and one exceptional result, and the gap reflects differences in rarity, completeness and provenance rather than a typical market price for a user-grade body.