Premierinstrumentco. Kardon
The Kardon is a 35mm rangefinder camera produced in the United States by Premier Instrument Co. It was built in the late 1940s as a domestic alternative to the pre-war Leica II, sharing the same screw-mount lens interface and overall layout, and was supplied in both civilian and military-marked forms.
Auction evidence for the Kardon is thin, but the one tracked UK saleroom result hammered at £893 in November 2020 — a wholesale level achieved before buyer's premium. On that single data point the camera sells for a price well above typical post-war 35mm rangefinders, and as of 2026 today's value is best treated as indicative rather than settled, with condition, completeness and any military markings the main factors that move the price.
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.
| Date | Price | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2020 | £893 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 227) Title: A Premier Instruments Kardon Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1945, chrome, serial no. 1552, with Kodak Ektar f/2 47mm lens, chrome, serial no. EO25561, body, G-VG, shutter working, lens G, some internal fungus |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Premier Instrument Kardon worth today?
Auction data is sparse, but the single recorded UK hammer result was £893, so a clean example is worth a figure in that region rather than the low hundreds typical of contemporaneous 35mm rangefinders.
How much does a Kardon sell for at auction?
With only one tracked UK auction sale, the camera sold for £893 at the hammer; broader price guidance would require more recent comparable results.
Why is the price higher than a similar-era Leica copy?
The Kardon was produced in small numbers in the United States, and scarcity — particularly of military-issued examples — is the main reason the value sits above more common screw-mount rangefinders.