Zeiss Ikon Contax III
The Zeiss Ikon Contax III (544/24) is a 35mm rangefinder camera produced in Germany before the Second World War, positioned as the top-tier model in the pre-war Contax line with a built-in selenium meter mounted above the viewfinder. It used the Contax bayonet mount and competed directly with Leica's screw-mount rangefinders in the professional market.
At UK auction in recent years, hammer prices for the Contax III (544/24) have ranged from about £30 to £160, with a median near £85 — wholesale saleroom results that exclude buyer's premium. As of 2026, what a Contax III is worth today depends heavily on cosmetic condition, shutter function and whether the selenium meter still responds; non-working meters and hazy finders push examples toward the lower end of that range, while clean, functional bodies sell for more.
Variants
Select a variant to filter the sales history below.
| Variant | Years | Edition | Sales | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| German Navy (Kriegsmarine) | — | — | 0 | — |
| Jena Contax | — | — | 0 | — |
| outfit case | — | — | 0 | — |
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 | |
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| May 2026 | £20 | Special Auction Services | — | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 193) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax III Rangefinder Camera
Description:
A Zeiss Ikon Contax III Rangefinder Camera, serial no E 38805, shutter not working, light cell responsive, rangefinder working, body F-G, chrome wear |
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| Mar 2026 | £60 | Special Auction Services | — | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 384) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax III Rangefinder Camera
Description:
A Zeiss Ikon Contax III Rangefinder Camera, serial no E 7167, shutter sluggish, light cell unresponsive, self timer working, rangefinder working, |
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| Jan 2025 | £119 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 71) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax III Rangefinder Camera
Description:
silver, serial number M37561, rangefinder patch works, shutter works but is not accurate, light meter not responding, has a Zeiss-Opton Sonnar f/1.5 |
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| Oct 2024 | £30 | Harper Field Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Buying & Selling (Lot 1427) Title: Zeiss Ikon Contax III 35mm rangefinder camera fitted with Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 1:2 f=5cm T lens,
Description:
Zeiss Ikon Contax III 35mm rangefinder camera fitted with Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 1:2 f=5cm T lens, |
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| Oct 2024 | £250 | Special Auction Services | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 147) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax III Kiregsmarine Rangefinder Camera
Description:
A Zeiss Ikon Contax III Kiregsmarine Rangefinder Camera, no serial number visible, shutter not working, light cell responsive, rangefinder working, |
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| Aug 2024 | £30 | Special Auction Services | — | |
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Auction: TWO DAY: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 460) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax III Camera and Soviet Lenses
Description:
A Zeiss Ikon Contax III Camera and Soviet Lenses, shutter not working, light cell unresponsive, body F-G, with Jupiter-8M 50mm f/2,, two FED 52mm f/2. |
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| Jun 2024 | £100 | Special Auction Services | — | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 155) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax III Rangefinder Camera
Description:
A Zeiss Ikon Contax III Rangefinder Camera, shutter working, slow to close in bulb, light cell unresponsive, rangefinder working, self timer working, |
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| Jun 2024 | £119 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 116) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax III 35mm Rangefinder Camera
Description:
chrome, circa 1937, serial no.E.39969, with a Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar f/1.5 5cm (50mm) lens, serial no.2037111, shutter working, rangefinder working, |
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| Aug 2023 | £50 | Special Auction Services | — | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 163) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax III Rangefinder Camera
Description:
A Zeiss Ikon Contax III Rangefinder Camera, shutter not working/sticking, meter responsive, rangefinder functions, body G, retro fit sync socket |
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| Aug 2023 | £70 | Special Auction Services | — | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 164) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax III Rangefinder Camera
Description:
A Zeiss Ikon Contax III Rangefinder Camera, shutter working, sluggish to return in bulb. meter responsive, self time not firing shutter, body G, some |
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| Jan 2023 | £125 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 114) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax III 35mm Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1936-42, chrome, serial no. G8455, with a Carl Zeiss Jena f/2 5cm collapsible lens, 1938, serial no. 2520855, shutter working, body G, lens G, slight |
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| Nov 2021 | EUR 8,000 | Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 39 (Lot AI_39_39833) Title: Contax III Jena prototype
Description:
An extremely rare VEB Carl Zeiss Jena variant of the Contax III. Only a few of these cameras have been made and this is the first time in over 20 years we have a pleasure to offer one in our auction. The camera is in beautiful, near-mint condition, shows all original features (like the heavy camera back), it is engraved with the same serial number 18246 on the flash shoe, on the chassis and on the camera back. Comes with a matching 1948 T Sonnar 2/5cm no.3094506, uncommon lens cap and original Jena post-war eveready case. It is an important historical camera and one of the rarest Zeiss collector's items. Estimate: EUR 12,000 - EUR 14,000 |
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| Apr 2019 | £156 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine (Lot 285) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax III Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1936-42, chrome, serial no. G12176, with Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar f/1.5 50mm lens, chrome, serial no. 2136014, body, G, shutter sticking, lens, G-VG, |
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| Jun 2017 | EUR 300 | Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 31 (Lot AI_31_35115) Title: Zeiss Ikon Contax III
Description:
very early camera with all original features like DIN scale 6-24 etc., with Sonnar 2/5cm no.1731765, in fine original condition, as most of the cameras in the number range 50001-51000 were Contax II cameras, this is one of the first Contax III produced Estimate: EUR 600 - EUR 700 |
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| Jun 2008 | EUR 1,700 | Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 13 (Lot AI_13_16624) Title: Contax III outfit
Description:
nice body with Sonnar 2/5cm no.1986528 (cap), Sonnar 1.5/5cm no.2186173 (cap), Tessar 8/2.8cm no.2078080 (caps), 2.8cm finder 432/3, Sonnar 4/13.5cm no.2679706 (caps), universal finder 436/7 no.8150 (2.8cm-13.5cm), collapsible hood, Contameter 1340 no.W.80824 with 3 Proxar lenses, 2 film spools, cable release, all in very good condition in matching original Zeiss Ikon outfit case Estimate: EUR 1,200 - EUR 1,400 |
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| Aug 2000 | £188 | Christie's | — | |
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Auction: Cameras and Photographic Equipment (Lot 240) Title: Contax III no. G14078
Description:
Contax III no. G14078 Estimate: £150 - £200 |
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| Mar 1998 | £552 | Christie's | — | |
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Auction: CAMERAS & OPTICAL TOYS (Lot 261) Title: Contax III no. F75165
Description:
Contax III no. F75165 Estimate: £250 - £300 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Zeiss Ikon Contax III (544/24) worth today?
Recent UK auction hammer prices have fallen between roughly £30 and £160, with most examples selling in the £50–£125 band depending on shutter and meter condition.
How much does a Contax III sell for at UK auction?
The median hammer price across recent saleroom results is around £85, though fully working examples with a responsive selenium meter achieve the higher end of the range.
Why does the price vary so widely?
Value is driven mainly by shutter accuracy, rangefinder clarity and whether the selenium meter still reads correctly; cosmetically tidy but mechanically tired bodies sell for far less than fully functional ones.