CameraWorth.com

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 — — 1 £1,141 – £1,141
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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: May 2026

Date Price Source Variant
May 2026 £380 Special Auction Services —
Nov 2025 £750 Flints Auctions —
Jun 2023 £270 Special Auction Services —
May 2021 £200 Harper Field Auctions —
Apr 2021 £719 Flints Auctions —
Nov 2020 £1,141 Flints Auctions Ti
Dec 2010 EUR 1,100 Leitz Auction —
Nov 2006 EUR 550 Leitz Auction —

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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