CameraWorth.com

Nicca IIIS

The Nicca IIIS is a Japanese 35mm rangefinder camera in the Leica screw-mount lineage produced in the 1950s by Nicca Camera Works of Tokyo. It was sold as a domestic alternative to contemporary Leica-style rangefinders and is built around the M39 thread lens mount used by that family of cameras.

Sales data for the Nicca IIIS is very thin: a single recorded UK auction hammer result from 2005 sits at £145, so any sense of what one is worth today rests on that lone wholesale saleroom figure rather than a meaningful range. As of 2026, with so few data points, the price a Nicca IIIS sells for at auction is highly condition-sensitive, and a clean working body with original finish would be expected to outperform that benchmark while a tired example would trade lower. Buyers should treat the £145 figure as indicative only and watch live listings before committing to a value.

I have one to sell

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
Dec 2021 £186 Flints Auctions
Nov 2013 EUR 440 Leitz Auction
May 2012 EUR 550 Leitz Auction
May 2009 EUR 200 Leitz Auction
Jun 2008 EUR 340 Leitz Auction
Nov 2007 EUR 600 Leitz Auction
Nov 2005 EUR 145 Leitz Auction
Apr 2003 £376 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Nicca IIIS worth today?

On the only UK auction record available, a Nicca IIIS achieved a hammer price of £145, so that figure is the best current reference for its value, with clean examples likely to command more and rough ones less.

How much does a Nicca IIIS sell for at auction?

The single tracked UK saleroom result shows a Nicca IIIS selling for £145 at hammer, excluding buyer's premium, which is the only confirmed price point in our data.

Is the Nicca IIIS compatible with Leica screw-mount lenses?

Yes, the Nicca IIIS uses the M39 Leica thread mount, so it accepts the wide range of LTM lenses made by Leitz, Canon, Nikon and other manufacturers of that era.

What should I check before buying a Nicca IIIS?

Focus on shutter accuracy and curtain condition, rangefinder clarity and alignment, and confirmation that the body matches a genuine IIIS specification rather than a relabelled or modified sibling model.

Other Nicca cameras