Nikon Nikonos I (Calypso)
The Nikonos I, sometimes referred to by its original Calypso name, is a 35mm underwater film camera Nikon introduced in 1963, based on a French design that Nikon licensed and rebadged for global distribution. Built as a sealed body for direct submersion without an external housing, it was positioned for divers, marine researchers and underwater photojournalists.
Auction-hammer evidence for the Nikonos I (Calypso) is thin, with only a single recorded UK saleroom result of £117 in our dataset, so a reliable current-year median cannot be quoted with confidence. Buyers asking what a Nikonos I is worth in 2026 should treat that figure as a historic data point rather than a guide to today's price, and look to completed sales of comparable early Nikonos bodies when judging value.
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: May 2025
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| May 2025 | £40 | David Duggleby | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 3026) Title: Nikon Calypso/Nikkor underwater camera serial no. 1051523, with a W-Nikkot 1;2.5 f=35mm le...
Description:
Nikon Calypso/Nikkor underwater camera serial no. 1051523, with a W-Nikkot 1;2.5 f=35mm le... |
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| May 2004 | EUR 208 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 5 (Lot AI_5_23827) Title: Nikonos I
Description:
first underwater-camera by Nikon, W-Nikkor 2.5/35mm no.199826 Estimate: EUR 908,308 - EUR 4 |
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| Oct 2000 | £117 | Christie's | |
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Auction: LEICA, CAMERAS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT (Lot 169) Title: Nikonos I no. 907571
Description:
Nikonos I no. 907571 Estimate: £150 - £250 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Nikon Nikonos I (Calypso) worth at UK auction?
Auction-hammer data for this model is sparse; the only verified UK saleroom result in our records is £117, so the price a clean example sells for today depends heavily on condition and the small number of comparable lots that appear.
How much does a Nikonos I sell for compared with later Nikonos models?
Because the Nikonos I is the earliest body in the line and surfaces less often than the Nikonos II–V, individual sales can vary widely; the value is driven by originality, working seals and cosmetic condition rather than by a settled market price.
Is the Calypso the same camera as the Nikonos I?
The Calypso was the original French-built underwater 35mm camera that Nikon licensed and reissued as the Nikonos in 1963, so the two share the same underlying design and are often catalogued together.