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Nikon F (eyelevel, chrome)

The Nikon F is a 35mm single-lens reflex camera introduced in 1959, Nikon's first SLR system and the foundation of the F-mount lens line. The eyelevel chrome configuration pairs the standard non-metered pentaprism finder with a chrome-finished body, positioning it as the base professional build before the metered Photomic heads were fitted.

At UK auction, chrome eyelevel Nikon F bodies have sold over a wide spread — hammer results in the dataset range roughly £500 to £3,000, with a median around £850, reflecting wholesale saleroom levels rather than retail asking prices. Condition, completeness of the eyelevel prism, cosmetics of the chrome and shutter function drive where an example sits in that band, so two superficially similar bodies can fetch very different prices. Collectors arriving in 2026 should treat the wider spread as variant- and condition-led rather than a single flat value.

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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: June 2019

Date Price Source
Jun 2019 EUR 300 Leitz Auction
Jun 2019 EUR 300 Leitz Auction
Jun 2019 EUR 1,100 Leitz Auction
Nov 2018 EUR 1,000 Leitz Auction
Nov 2018 EUR 1,000 Leitz Auction
Nov 2016 EUR 1,100 Leitz Auction
Nov 2016 EUR 1,200 Leitz Auction
Nov 2016 EUR 600 Leitz Auction
Jun 2015 EUR 900 Leitz Auction
Nov 2013 EUR 1,500 Leitz Auction
May 2013 EUR 800 Leitz Auction
May 2013 EUR 1,300 Leitz Auction
May 2013 EUR 750 Leitz Auction
Nov 2012 EUR 1,000 Leitz Auction
Nov 2012 EUR 3,000 Leitz Auction
Nov 2012 EUR 1,200 Leitz Auction
May 2012 EUR 2,600 Leitz Auction
Nov 2011 EUR 600 Leitz Auction
May 2010 EUR 500 Leitz Auction
May 2010 EUR 650 Leitz Auction
Nov 2008 EUR 650 Leitz Auction
Nov 2008 EUR 420 Leitz Auction
Nov 2008 EUR 380 Leitz Auction
Nov 2008 EUR 900 Leitz Auction
Nov 2007 EUR 1,200 Leitz Auction
May 2006 EUR 800 Leitz Auction
May 2006 EUR 2,600 Leitz Auction
May 2006 EUR 800 Leitz Auction
Nov 2004 EUR 417 Leitz Auction
May 2004 EUR 300 Leitz Auction
Nov 2003 EUR 1,250 Leitz Auction

Frequently asked questions

What is a Nikon F eyelevel chrome worth today?

Based on UK auction hammer prices, a chrome eyelevel Nikon F is worth roughly £500 to £3,000, with a median value near £850; exceptional or early examples sit at the top of that range.

How much does a Nikon F sell for at auction?

Recent UK saleroom results show the chrome eyelevel Nikon F sells for anywhere from about £500 for tired bodies to £3,000 for standout examples, so condition and provenance drive the price far more than the model designation alone.

Is the eyelevel prism more valuable than the Photomic?

The eyelevel finder is the simpler, non-metered original and is often sought by collectors who want the earliest configuration, but value depends on the condition of both the body and the prism rather than the finder type in isolation.

Are Nikon F bodies still serviceable?

Yes — the F is fully mechanical apart from the optional metered finders, and independent Nikon technicians in the UK still perform CLAs, shutter adjustment and light-seal replacement.

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