Showa Kogaku Leotax NR III
The Leotax NR III is a Japanese 35mm rangefinder camera produced by Showa Kogaku in the post-war era, when Leotax models were built around the Leica screw-mount tradition. It sat in the wider family of Leotax rangefinders aimed at photographers seeking a Japanese-built alternative to contemporary German bodies.
Auction data for the Leotax NR III is extremely thin: a single recorded UK auction hammer result of £3,100 from 2020 is the only reference point, so any sense of what this camera is worth in 2026 must be treated as indicative rather than a true market value. With only one sale on file, the price a clean example sells for today could deviate substantially in either direction depending on condition, completeness and bidder interest at saleroom level.
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: June 2021
| Date | Price | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2021 | EUR 5,000 | Leitz Auction | |
|
Auction: Leitz Auction 38 (Lot AI_38_39379) Title: Showa Optical NRIII
Description:
a very rare Japanese Leica copy made by Showa Optical Works for the U.S. military for use in news reporting during the Korean War, less then 50 cameras have been made, much less are still known to exist, the offered example is in very good condition, with matching Simlar 3.5/50mm, and original leather case stamped on the front with 'NRIII' Estimate: EUR 10,000 - EUR 12,000 |
|||
|
Loading...
|
|||
| Nov 2020 | USD 3,100 | pedia_sales_tamarkin | |
|
Auction: November 2020 Auction Results (Lot 344) Title: Showa NRIII with Leica 50mm Elmar f3,5
Description:
Showa NRIII with Leica 50mm Elmar f3,5 |
|||
|
Loading...
|
|||
Frequently asked questions
What is a Leotax NR III worth today?
Evidence is limited to one UK auction hammer result of £3,100 in 2020, so its current value is best described as in that region for a clean example, with wide uncertainty given the single data point.
How much does a Leotax NR III sell for at auction?
The only recorded hammer price in our data is £3,100, achieved at UK auction in 2020; more recent comparable sales were not available to refine that figure.
Why is the price range so uncertain?
With just one verified sale in the history, there is no reliable range or median, so the listed price should be read as a single reference point rather than a settled market value.