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Kodak Retina IIIc (028)

The Kodak Retina IIIc (type 028) is a 35mm folding rangefinder camera made by Kodak AG in Stuttgart, Germany, introduced in the mid-1950s. It used an interchangeable front-cell lens system, a coupled rangefinder, and a built-in selenium meter, positioning it as a premium travel camera when new.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Retina IIIc (028) have typically sat in the £81–£140 range, with the two most recent results being £81 (2023) and £138 (2022). Older saleroom records from the 2000s cluster around £240–£300, so today in 2026 the camera is worth less in real terms than it was a generation ago; condition of the bellows, meter accuracy, and shutter timing all drive where a given example sells for within that band.

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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: March 2023

Date Price Source
Mar 2023 £81 Flints Auctions
Oct 2022 £138 Flints Auctions
Nov 2016 EUR 300 Leitz Auction
May 2009 EUR 300 Leitz Auction
Nov 2007 EUR 260 Leitz Auction
May 2005 EUR 240 Leitz Auction
May 2005 EUR 220 Leitz Auction
Nov 2004 EUR 344 Leitz Auction
May 2003 EUR 178 Leitz Auction
Sep 1998 £126 Christie's
Jan 1998 £517 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Kodak Retina IIIc (028) worth today?

Recent UK auction hammer prices have been in the £81–£140 range, with clean, working examples achieving the upper end of that band.

How much does a Kodak Retina IIIc sell for at auction?

The two most recent UK auction results were £81 in 2023 and £138 in 2022, so current saleroom value sits around that level rather than the £240–£300 figures seen in the mid-2000s.

What affects the price of a Retina IIIc?

Bellows condition, shutter accuracy, a functioning selenium meter, and clear optics are the main value drivers; a tired meter or pinholed bellows pulls the price toward the bottom of the range.

Is the Retina IIIc (028) the same as the Retina IIIC?

No — the lowercase-c 028 has a smaller viewfinder without the bright-line frames found on the later uppercase-C (type 029), and the two models sell at different price points.

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