Nicca 3-F (lever wind)
The Nicca 3-F (lever wind) is a Japanese 35mm rangefinder camera produced by Nicca Camera Works, built in the Leica screw-mount tradition that defined much of postwar Japanese rangefinder design. The lever-wind variant updated the earlier knob-wind 3-F by replacing the top-plate winding knob with a rapid-advance lever, a feature buyers often look for when assessing what a 3-F is worth on the used market.
Sales data for the 3-F (lever wind) is extremely thin: a single Christie's UK auction hammer result of £329 from 2002 is the only verified record we hold, so a meaningful current-day price band cannot be drawn from this evidence alone. As of 2026, that wholesale, saleroom-level figure should be treated as a historic data point rather than a guide to what the camera sells for today, and any current valuation needs corroboration from fresh comparable sales before relying on it.
Sales History
Prices shown are realised prices — auction results and completed eBay sales, never asking prices. Most saleroom figures are hammer prices, before commission; some houses publish a premium-inclusive figure, and we do not adjust for condition. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher. How this figure is calculated.
Based on 4 recorded sales — indicative only.
Most recent sale: June 2024.
| Date | Price | Value GBP | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2024 | EUR 800 | £677 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 44 (Lot AI_20220721_1227_41751) Title: Nicca 3-F
Description:
Very well made copy of a Leica IIIf, second version with winding lever, in near mint condition and working order, with Nikkor-H.C 2/5cm no.740068, Nicca hood and ever-ready case. Estimate: EUR 800 - EUR 1,000 |
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| Jun 2022 | EUR 500 | £429 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 40 (Lot AI_40_40308) Title: Nicca 3-F
Description:
very well made copy of a Leica IIIf, second version with winding lever, in near mint condition and working order, with Nikkor-H.C 2/5cm no.740068, Nicca hood and ever ready case Estimate: EUR 1,000 - EUR 1,200 |
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| Nov 2003 | EUR 469 | £325 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 4 (Lot AI_4_22961) Title: Nicca 3F
Description:
Mit Transporthebel, synchonisiert Estimate: EUR 1,957 - EUR 1,566,850 |
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| Sep 2002 | £329 | £280 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT (Lot 124) Title: Nicca 3-F no. 92939
Description:
Nicca 3-F no. 92939 Estimate: £200 - £300 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Nicca 3-F (lever wind) worth today?
On the limited evidence we hold, a verified UK auction hammer price of £329 was achieved in 2002, but with only one record on file a reliable current value cannot be quoted without further comparable sales.
How much does a Nicca 3-F lever-wind sell for at UK auction?
The only verified saleroom result in our database is £329 hammer at Christie's in 2002; this is a wholesale auction figure and excludes buyer's premium.
Is the lever-wind 3-F more valuable than the knob-wind version?
Collectors often pay a premium for the lever-wind update, but we do not have enough comparable sales on file for either variant to quantify the price difference reliably.