CameraWorth.com

Kodak Bantam Special

The Kodak Bantam Special is a folding 35mm-format viewfinder camera introduced by Eastman Kodak in the late 1930s, using the company's 828 roll-film. Designed by Walter Dorwin Teague, it was positioned at the top of Kodak's pre-war Bantam line, with an Art Deco enamelled body and a fast coupled-rangefinder lens that targeted serious amateurs.

Sales data for the Bantam Special is extremely thin: the only verified UK saleroom record on file is a single Christie's hammer of £195 from 1998, so a meaningful current price band cannot be quoted today. Buyers researching what a Bantam Special is worth in 2026 should treat that figure as a historical reference point only and seek further auction comparables before assigning a value.

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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: June 2024

Date Price Source
Jun 2024 £280 David Duggleby
Jun 2017 EUR 400 Leitz Auction
Jun 2015 EUR 360 Leitz Auction
Jun 2008 EUR 220 Leitz Auction
May 2007 EUR 220 Leitz Auction
Mar 2007 £144 Christie's
Mar 2007 £108 Christie's
Feb 2006 £168 Christie's
May 2005 EUR 366 Leitz Auction
May 2005 EUR 295 Leitz Auction
May 2005 EUR 310 Leitz Auction
May 2004 £143 Christie's
Mar 2004 £215 Christie's
Apr 2003 £94 Christie's
Jul 2001 £199 Christie's
Nov 1998 £195 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Kodak Bantam Special worth at UK auction today?

The only verified UK auction hammer price in our records is £195 at Christie's in 1998; with just one data point, no reliable current value or price range can be given.

How much does a Kodak Bantam Special sell for compared to other Bantam models?

The Bantam Special was the top-of-range Bantam when new and generally sells for more than the plainer Bantam variants, but the single sale on file is insufficient to quantify that premium in current money.

Can you still use a Kodak Bantam Special?

The camera was built for Kodak 828 roll-film, which is long discontinued, so practical use today requires respooling 35mm film onto 828 backing or treating the camera as a collector's display item.

Other Kodak cameras