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.
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.
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| Mar 2023 | £81 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 167) Title: A Kodak Retina IIIc 35mm Rangefinder Camera
Description:
chrome, body G-VG, shutter working, RF patch visible but not good, with a Retina-Xenon C f/2 50mm lens, optics G-VG, some haze present, in maker's (Qty: 1) |
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| Oct 2022 | £138 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 193) Title: Kodak Retina 35mm Cameras and Lenses
Description:
comprising a Retina IIIC (028) folding rangefinder camera, serial no. 92172 with Retina-Xenon C f/2 50mm lens, serial no. 6341128, shutter working, |
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| Nov 2016 | EUR 300 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 30 (Lot AI_30_34347) Title: Kodak Retina IIIC 'Upgrade'
Description:
a very interesting and unique camera - an upgrade of the Retina IIIc Type 021 II to Type IIIC 028, the camera body and the lens comes from an earlier camera, the top plate, rangefinder and meter from a later one, there is no serial number engraved, judging by the quality of the modifications, we can assume that the camera could been made to order by Kodak itself, included is a Retina IIIc maker's box and German instructions Estimate: EUR 600 - EUR 700 |
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| May 2009 | EUR 300 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 15 (Lot AI_15_18759) Title: Kodak Retina IIIC outfit
Description:
near mint IIIC type 028 with Xenon C 2/50mm no.6224215 in perfect working order, ever-ready case, filter, close-up rangefinder with 2 close-up lenses in keeper Estimate: EUR 300 - EUR 400 |
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| Nov 2007 | EUR 260 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 12 (Lot AI_12_20262) Title: Retina IIIC Type 028 outfit
Description:
later version (ASA 10-3200) with 4 Schneider lenses (Xenon C 2/50mm no.6433316, Curtagon Xenon 4/28mm no.6116005, Curtagon 2.8/35mm no.8667645 in keeper, Tele-Arton 4/85mm no.6038409 in keeper), all in very good condition and fully working, everready case Estimate: EUR 400 - EUR 500 |
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| May 2005 | EUR 240 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 7 (Lot AI_7_25021) Title: Retina IIIC Typ 028
Description:
in very good condition, in perfect technical order with Xenon-C 2/50mm in Synchro-Compur, also included: a copy of the instructions Estimate: EUR 250 - EUR 300 |
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| May 2005 | EUR 220 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 7 (Lot AI_7_25022) Title: Retina IIIC Typ 028
Description:
near mint IIIC with Xenon-C 2/50mm no.5587173 Estimate: EUR 300 - EUR 350 |
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| Nov 2004 | EUR 344 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 6 (Lot AI_6_24108) Title: Kodak Retina IIIC (Typ 028)
Description:
in very nice technical and optical condition with Xenon 2/50mm in Synchro-Compur, case Estimate: EUR 300 - EUR 400 |
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| May 2003 | EUR 178 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 2-3 (Lot AI_2_21511) Title: Kodak Retina IIIC Type 028
Description:
IIIC with Taxo 24enon f/2 50mm lens, meter not working, with case Estimate: EUR 62,592 - EUR 4 |
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| Sep 1998 | £126 | Christie's | |
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Auction: COLLECTABLE CAMERAS FROM CLASSIC COLLECTION (Lot 157) Title: Retina IIIc no. 746675
Description:
Retina IIIc no. 746675 Estimate: £20 - £180 |
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| Jan 1998 | £517 | Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND OPTICAL TOYS (Lot 286) Title: Retina IIIC no. 92872
Description:
Retina IIIC no. 92872 Estimate: £200 - £300 |
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