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Olympus OM-3

The Olympus OM-3 is a mechanical 35mm SLR in the OM system, introduced in 1983 as a manual-exposure companion to the automatic OM-4. It uses a horizontal-travel mechanical shutter and includes the multi-spot metering system also found on the OM-4, positioning it in the 1980s as a specialist metering-focused body for working photographers. A later titanium variant, the OM-3Ti, was offered as a premium version of the same body.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the OM-3 have spanned roughly £270 to £1,100, reflecting the gap between a standard chrome OM-3 and the scarcer OM-3Ti variant. With only a small number of saleroom results on record, the market in 2026 remains thin and condition-sensitive — a clean, fully functional titanium example is what drives the upper end of what this camera is worth, while a tired standard body sells for considerably less. Buyers should expect the price a specific OM-3 fetches at auction to swing sharply on cosmetics, shutter accuracy and whether the meter is working.

Variants

Select a variant to filter the sales history below.

Variant Years Edition Sales Price Range
Ti — — 9 £459 – £2,348
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Sales History

Prices shown are realised prices — auction results and completed eBay sales, never asking prices. Most saleroom figures are hammer prices, before commission; some houses publish a premium-inclusive figure, and we do not adjust for condition. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher. How this figure is calculated.

Based on 19 recorded sales.

Last checked on eBay: 13 August 2026. Most recent sale: August 2026.

Date Price Value GBP Source Variant
Aug 2026 £350 £280 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions —
Aug 2026 £380 £380 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services —
Jul 2026 £306 £306 🇬🇧 eBay —
Jun 2026 £1,850 £1,850 🇬🇧 eBay Ti
Jun 2026 £2,348 £2,348 🇬🇧 eBay Ti
Jun 2026 £261 £261 🇬🇧 eBay —
May 2026 £585 £585 🇬🇧 eBay —
May 2026 £380 £380 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services —
May 2026 £960 £960 🇬🇧 eBay Ti
Nov 2025 £750 £600 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions —
Jun 2023 £270 £270 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services —
May 2021 £200 £200 🇬🇧 Harper Field Auctions —
Apr 2021 £719 £580 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions Ti
Nov 2020 £1,141 £920 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions Ti
Jun 2020 EUR 1,200 £1,079 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction Ti
Jun 2019 EUR 800 £713 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction Ti
Nov 2015 EUR 650 £459 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction Ti
Dec 2010 EUR 1,100 £933 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction Ti
Nov 2006 EUR 550 £371 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction —
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Frequently asked questions

What is an Olympus OM-3 worth today?

Based on UK auction hammer results, a standard OM-3 has sold for around £270, while the titanium OM-3Ti variant has reached over £1,100, so the value depends heavily on which version you have and its condition.

How much does an Olympus OM-3 sell for at auction?

Recorded UK saleroom prices for the OM-3 range from roughly £270 to £1,100 at the hammer, with the titanium variant accounting for the top of that range.

Why is the OM-3Ti more valuable than the standard OM-3?

The OM-3Ti was produced in smaller numbers with titanium top and bottom plates, and collector demand for the titanium version drives its price well above a standard chrome OM-3 in comparable condition.

Does the OM-3 need a battery to fire?

No — the shutter is fully mechanical and will fire without a battery; the battery powers only the meter, so a dead cell does not disable the camera but does disable exposure measurement.

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