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 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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| Jun 2024 | EUR 800 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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.