Nikon F High Speed Sapporo
The Nikon F High Speed Sapporo is a specialised variant of the Nikon F 35mm SLR, modified with a fixed pellicle mirror to enable high frame-rate shooting. It was produced in very small numbers in connection with the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics, supplied primarily to professional sports and press photographers.
Auction hammer prices for this model are exceptionally high, reflecting its rarity: the two recorded UK saleroom results stand at £11,000 (2014) and £18,000 (2007), giving a wholesale range of roughly £11,000–£18,000 before commission. With so few examples surfacing, what a Nikon F High Speed Sapporo is worth today depends heavily on completeness, originality of the pellicle assembly, and accompanying documentation, and any sale price in 2026 would be set on a case-by-case basis.
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: March 2014
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| Mar 2014 | EUR 11,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 25 (Lot AI_25_30147) Title: Nikon F High Speed 'Sapporo'
Description:
early first version for 7 exposures with F36 HS motor drive no.152308, special finder for 135-300mm lenses, special eye-level finder with shoe, power pack type 3, Nikkor-H.C 2/50mm no.2211718, extremely rare camera produced for the Olympic games in Sapporo in fully original condition Estimate: EUR 12,000 - EUR 15,000 |
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| May 2010 | EUR 10,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 17 (Lot AI_17_11195) Title: Nikon F High Speed 'Sapporo'
Description:
first version for 7 exposures with F36 HS motor drive no.152329, special finder for 135-300mm lenses, special eye-level finder with shoe, power pack type 3, extremely rare camera is in near mint original condition Estimate: EUR 15,000 - EUR 18,000 |
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| Dec 2009 | EUR 17,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 16 (Lot AI_16_19588) Title: Nikon F High Speed 'Sapporo'
Description:
type I Nikon F High Speed for 7 exposures with F36 HS motor drive no.1528335, special finder for 135-300mm no.30, special eye-level finder no.30 with shoe, power pack type 4, cables, back door, Nikon F instructions, copy of High Speed instructions manual, all original maker's boxes with matching serial numbers of camera and motor, extremely rare camera in near mint and perfect working original condition (lit. Uli Koch Nikon F.The Camera) Estimate: EUR 26,000 - EUR 28,000 |
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| May 2007 | EUR 18,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 11 (Lot AI_11_16162) Title: Nikon F High Speed 'Sapporo'
Description:
extremely rare Nikon F High Speed for 7 exposures per second in fine original condition (only some wear around strap lugs) with special finder for 135-300mm lenses, special prism finder, HS motor drive no.152323, power pack type 3 for motor drive (16 AA-batteries), cable, only 54 cameras of this type were produced, in this condition very few are known to exist Estimate: EUR 24,000 - EUR 28,000 |
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| May 2006 | EUR 26,500 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 9 (Lot AI_9_26839) Title: Nikon F High Speed 'Sapporo'
Description:
first version for 7 exposures with F36 HS motor drive no.1528313, special finder for 135-300mm lenses, special eye-level finder no.48 with shoe, power pack type 3, Nikkor-S 1.4/50mm no.1038879, extremely rare camera is in near mint original condition Estimate: EUR 24,000 - EUR 28,000 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Nikon F High Speed Sapporo worth at UK auction?
Recorded UK auction hammer results sit between £11,000 and £18,000, but with only two data points the value of any given example is highly individual.
How much does a Nikon F High Speed Sapporo sell for compared to a standard Nikon F?
It sells for many multiples of a standard Nikon F price, because the Sapporo high-speed variant was made in tiny numbers for professional use around the 1972 Winter Olympics.
Why is the price so high?
Production was extremely limited and tied to a specific professional press/sports context, so collector demand far exceeds supply whenever an example reaches the saleroom.