Nikon S3
Rangefinder camera (1958)
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: November 2022
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| Nov 2022 | USD 1,700 | pedia_sales_tamarkin | |
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Auction: November 2022 Results (Lot 85) Title: Nikon S3 Special Edition set
Description:
Nikon S3 Special Edition set |
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| Jun 2022 | EUR 20,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 40 (Lot AI_40_40284) Title: Nikon S3+S36 Motor Drive chrome prototype
Description:
Extremely rare prototype of the Nikon S36 Motor Drive chrome, in near mint condition, note the absence of serial number, the unusual NKT black logo and the extra screw row on the sides of the bottom plate, with chrome Nikon S3 no.6310303 and Nikkor-S.C 1.4/5cm no.380344, with hood and front lens cap Estimate: EUR 40,000 - EUR 45,000 |
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| Nov 2021 | EUR 2,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 39 (Lot AI_39_39792) Title: Nikon S3 black paint Olympic
Description:
The special black paint version of the Nikon S3 was issued in 1964 - nearly three years after the original Nikon S3 was discontinued. Only approximately 2000 of these rare cameras have been produced, the offered example is in beautiful, near-mint condition (some traces of fungus in the finder), comes with matching all-black Nikkor-S 1.4/50mm no.140813 (very good optics, with front cap), leather case Estimate: EUR 4,000 - EUR 4,500 |
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| Apr 2021 | £558 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 159) Title: A Nikon S3 Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1958, chrome, serial no. 6306229, with Nippon Kogaku Nikkor-S.C f/1.4 50mm lens, black, serial no. 381178, body, G-VG, shutter working, lens, VG, |
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| Nov 2020 | £620 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 277) Title: A Nikon S3 Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1958, chrome, serial no. 6311828, with Nikon Nikkor-S.C. f/1.4 50mm lens, black, serial no. 347618, body, G, shutter working, lens, G, some marks to |
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| Nov 2020 | £471 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 278) Title: A Nikon S3 Rangefinder Body
Description:
1958, chrome, serial no. 6501735, body, G-VG, shutter working, complete with maker's box Note: Lot imported under Temporary Admission. 5% UK import |
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| Nov 2019 | EUR 2,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 35 (Lot AI_35_37629) Title: Nikon S3 Year 2000 Limited Edition black paint
Description:
special edition Nikon S3 (modern re-edition, issued to commemorate the year 2000), black version with matching Nikkor-S 1.4/50mm no.211181, brand new with all accessories, papers and boxes, also with boxed mint ever ready case Estimate: EUR 2,000 - EUR 2,400 |
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| Oct 2019 | £504 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine (Lot 315) Title: A Nikon S3 Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1958, chome, serial no. 6310824, with Nikkor-H f/2 50mm lens, black, serial no. 74971, body, G-VG, shutter working, lens, G, some internal haze and |
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| Jun 2019 | EUR 750 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 34 (Lot AI_34_37380) Title: Nikon S3 chrome
Description:
body in beautiful, near mint condition and in good working order, with Nikkor-S 1.4/5cm no.404557 (UV filter, cap), leather case, original strap, matching warranty card, English instructions and maker's box Estimate: EUR 1,200 - EUR 1,400 |
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| Jun 2019 | EUR 6,500 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 34 (Lot AI_34_37049) Title: Nikon S3 black paint
Description:
very rare early S3 black paint with all original features like early levers, cloth shutter curtains etc., fine cosmetic condition and good working order - only around 250 of these cameras have been made in two batches (serial numbers from 6307453-6307508 and 6312108-6312278), which makes it one of the most rare Nikon black paint rangefinder cameras, incl. black Nikkor-S 1.4/5cm no.399954 (minimal cleaning marks, otherwise good optics) Estimate: EUR 6,000 - EUR 7,000 |
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| Nov 2018 | EUR 8,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 33 (Lot AI_33_36792) Title: Nikon S3 black paint
Description:
very rare early S3 black paint with all original features like early levers, cloth shutter curtains etc., in near mint condition and in good working order (tiny dents in top and front plate) - only around 250 of these cameras have been made in two batches (serial numbers from 6307453-6307508 and 6312108-6312278), which makes it one of the most rare Nikon black paint rangefinder cameras, incl. black Nikkor-S 1.4/5cm no.409820 (slight cleaning marks, otherwise good optics) and late black version universal viewfinder no.544921 Estimate: EUR 5,000 - EUR 5,500 |
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| Mar 2018 | EUR 800 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 32 (Lot AI_32_35787) Title: Nikon S3 chrome
Description:
chrome camera in perfect working order, slight signs of use on the base plate, otherwise near mint condition, with near mint Nikkor H.C 2/5cm no.745797, lens cap Estimate: EUR 1,600 - EUR 1,800 |
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| Mar 2018 | EUR 4,500 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 32 (Lot AI_32_35786) Title: Nikon S3 black paint
Description:
very rare early S3 black paint with all original features like the early levers, cloth shutter curtains, with black Nikkor-S 1.4/5cm no.412900, in fine condition and in good working order - only around 250 of these cameras has been made in two batches (serial numbers from 6307453-6307508 and 6312108-6312278), which makes it one of the most rare Nikon rangefinder cameras Estimate: EUR 6,000 - EUR 7,000 |
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| Nov 2015 | EUR 3,400 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 28 (Lot AI_28_32374) Title: Nikon S3 Olympic black paint
Description:
mint outfit in 100% original condition and in perfect working order, black Olympic Nikkor-S 1.4/50mm no.140677, cap, hood in maker's box, everready case, filter, caps, maker's box Estimate: EUR 6,000 - EUR 7,000 |
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| May 2013 | EUR 610 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 23 (Lot AI_23_10850) Title: Nikon S3 chrome
Description:
extremely early S3 in fine condition and good working order Estimate: EUR 1,000 - EUR 1,200 |
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| Nov 2012 | EUR 800 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 22 (Lot AI_22_14478) Title: Nikon S3 chrome
Description:
very early S3 in good condition with Nikkor-S 1.4/5cm no.396523 Estimate: EUR 1,400 - EUR 1,800 |
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| May 2012 | EUR 3,600 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 21 (Lot AI_21_14259) Title: Nikon S3 Black Paint
Description:
100% original and very early black paint S3 in very fine and perfect working condition, motor coupled, with black Nikkor-S 1.4/5cm no.400656 (mint condition, cap, black painted hood, black everready case) Estimate: EUR 5,000 - EUR 6,000 |
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| May 2011 | EUR 2,600 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 19 (Lot AI_19_12540) Title: Nikon S3 Schwarz Lackiert Olympic
Description:
black paint S3 in 100% original, very fine and perfect working condition, black Olympic Nikkor-S 1.4/50mm no.140983 (cap) Estimate: EUR 3,000 - EUR 3,500 |
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| Dec 2010 | EUR 480 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 18 (Lot AI_18_12250) Title: Nikon S3 Chrom
Description:
chrome body in good working order Estimate: EUR 700 - EUR 800 |
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| May 2009 | EUR 5,500 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 15 (Lot AI_15_18401) Title: Nikon S3 black paint
Description:
the very first verified 'Original Black' Nikon S3 from first batch of about 50 cameras (nos.6307453-6307508, see Robert J Rotoloni The Complete Nikon Rangefinder System page 140) in beautiful and absolute original condition, in good working order, with matching black/chrome Nikkor-S.C 1.4/5cm no.392000 (nice serial number), cap, ever-ready case, instruction book and maker's box Estimate: EUR 7,000 - EUR 8,000 |
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| Nov 2008 | EUR 460 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 14 (Lot AI_14_17799) Title: Nikon S3 chrome
Description:
body in good working order with cloth shutter Estimate: EUR 600 - EUR 700 |
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| Nov 2005 | EUR 800 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 8 (Lot AI_8_25840) Title: Nikon S3 Chrome
Description:
Nikkor-S 1.4/5cm no.398373, cap, top condition, in perfect order technically Estimate: EUR 1,500 - EUR 1,800 |
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| Jun 2005 | £720 | Christie's | |
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Auction: LEICA, NIKON AND 35MM CAMERAS (Lot 70) Title: Nikon S3 no. 6310184
Description:
Nikon S3 no. 6310184 Estimate: £300 - £500 |
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| May 2005 | EUR 880 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 7 (Lot AI_7_25048) Title: Nikon S3
Description:
late S3 in perfect technical order, W-Nikkor.C 2.5/3.5cm no.251158 (condition A/B), bottom part of the case, cap, Nikon 3.5cm finder in chrome (condition A-) Estimate: EUR 900 - EUR 1,100 |
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| May 2005 | EUR 1,700 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 7 (Lot AI_7_25047) Title: Nikon S3
Description:
mint S3 in original condition, in perfect technical order, Nikkor-S 1.4/5cm no.402867, cap Estimate: EUR 1,600 - EUR 2,000 |
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| May 2005 | EUR 1,900 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 7 (Lot AI_7_25049) Title: Nikon S3 Millenium
Description:
chrome S3 Edition with 1.4/50mm, 100% new and unused with maker's box, papers and accessories Estimate: EUR 3,000 - EUR 3,500 |
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| Nov 2003 | EUR 1,511 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 4 (Lot AI_4_23045) Title: Nikon S3 chrome set
Description:
Schönes S3 Gehäuse mit passendem 2/5cm Nikkor-H.C Nr. 738611, Deckel, Sonnenblende, Tasche, Anleitung, Schachtel Estimate: EUR 63,023,550 - EUR 4 |
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| Nov 2002 | £1,527 | Christie's | |
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Auction: PHOTOGRAPHS, MAGIC LANTERNS AND OPTICAL TOYS AND CAMERAS (Lot 368) Title: Nikon S3 no. 6312420
Description:
Nikon S3 no. 6312420 Estimate: £500 - £800 |
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| Oct 2000 | £940 | Christie's | |
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Auction: LEICA, CAMERAS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT (Lot 163) Title: Nikon S3 no. 6301358
Description:
Nikon S3 no. 6301358 Estimate: £600 - £800 |
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