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Kodak Retina IIIc (021 I)

The Kodak Retina IIIc (type 021) is a folding 35mm rangefinder camera produced by Kodak AG in Stuttgart during the mid-1950s. It features a coupled rangefinder, an uncoupled selenium meter, and interchangeable front lens elements mounted in a leaf shutter. When new it sat at the top of Kodak's German-built Retina line, positioned above the meterless IIc.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Retina IIIc (021) have ranged from about £56 to £240, with a median around £100 across 2024–2025 sales. As of today the market is condition-sensitive: clean, working examples with a responsive meter and clear rangefinder sell for more, while examples with haze, fungus or a dead selenium cell sell for the lower end of that range. A standout 2025 result of £239 shows what a tidy outfit is worth to collectors, while scruffier bodies sell for well under £100 at saleroom level.

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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: September 2025

Date Price Source
Sep 2025 £120 Special Auction Services
Aug 2025 £75 Flints Auctions
Mar 2025 £239 Chiswick Auctions
Jun 2024 £80 Special Auction Services
Jan 2024 £56 Flints Auctions
May 2009 EUR 160 Leitz Auction
Nov 2008 EUR 320 Leitz Auction
May 1998 £57 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Kodak Retina IIIc (021) worth today?

Recent UK auction hammer prices sit in the £56–£240 range, with a median close to £100 for a typical working example.

How much does a Retina IIIc sell for in clean condition?

A clean, fully functional IIIc with a responsive meter and clear rangefinder has sold for around £240 at UK auction in 2025, while average examples change hands closer to £80–£120.

What affects the price of a Retina IIIc?

The biggest value drivers are a working selenium meter, clean optics, a light-tight bellows and a serviced shutter; the presence of matched accessory front lens elements and the original case also lifts the price.

Is the Retina IIIc the same as the Retina IIIC?

No — the small-c IIIc (type 021) has a smaller viewfinder than the later big-C IIIC, and the two models trade at different price points, so it is worth confirming which variant you are buying.

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