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Zeiss Ikon Contaflex 126

The Zeiss Ikon Contaflex 126 is a 35mm-style SLR built for the Kodak 126 instant-loading cartridge, introduced in the late 1960s. It was positioned as a high-specification cartridge SLR, pairing Zeiss optics and through-the-lens metering with the simpler loading of the 126 format, and was offered in both black and chrome finishes.

Auction data for the Contaflex 126 is extremely thin: the only verified UK saleroom result on file is a hammer price of £625 from 2003, so any current value figure would be speculative. Today, with 126 cartridge film effectively obsolete, collector demand drives what little market exists, and clean, working examples with original lens are the ones that sell for meaningful money at auction; rough bodies often go unsold. Treat the 2003 hammer price (wholesale, pre-commission) as a historical reference rather than a guide to what one is worth in 2026.

Variants

Select a variant to filter the sales history below.

Variant Years Edition Sales Price Range
black — — 0 —
chrome — — 0 —
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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 2003

Date Price Source Variant
May 2003 EUR 625 Leitz Auction —
May 2003 EUR 245 Leitz Auction —
May 2003 EUR 250 Leitz Auction —
May 2003 EUR 625 Leitz Auction —
Sep 1998 £184 Christie's —
Jan 1998 £86 Christie's —

Frequently asked questions

What is a Zeiss Ikon Contaflex 126 worth today?

There is too little recent UK auction data to give a reliable current value; the only verified hammer result on file is £625 from 2003, and prices today depend heavily on cosmetic condition, meter accuracy and whether a working lens is included.

How much does a Contaflex 126 sell for at auction?

Verified saleroom evidence is limited to a single £625 hammer price in 2003, so current sells-for figures cannot be quoted with confidence.

Is the Contaflex 126 still usable?

It is mechanically usable but practically limited because Kodak 126 cartridge film is no longer in mainstream production, which is the main reason its market price and collector demand stay narrow.

Does the black or chrome variant carry a price premium?

Both black and chrome finishes were offered, but the available sales history is not deep enough to confirm a reliable price difference between the two variants.

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