Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa
The Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa is a 35mm rangefinder camera introduced in the mid-1950s as the post-war Stuttgart-built development of the pre-war Contax line. It was positioned as a top-tier rangefinder with a built-in uncoupled selenium meter, distinguishing it from the meterless Contax IIa.
At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Contax IIIa have ranged from about £130 to £240, with a median near £160 — wholesale saleroom results that exclude buyer's and seller's commission. Values today in 2026 are strongly condition-sensitive: a working meter, clean rangefinder patch and smooth shutter make the difference between the lower and upper end of what this body sells for. Bodies offered without a lens, or with a seized shutter, tend to sit at the bottom of the price range.
Variants
Select a variant to filter the sales history below.
| Variant | Years | Edition | Sales | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stereotar | — | — | 1 | £1,080 – £1,080 |
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: April 2026
| Date | Price | Source | Variant | |
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| Apr 2026 | £625 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 200) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1950-61, chrome, serial no. D79289, with Carl Zeiss Sonnar f/1.5 50mm lens, chrome, serial no. 1168873, body, G-VG, shutter working, lens lock broken |
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| Apr 2026 | £138 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 36) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa 35mm Rangefinder Camera
Description:
chrome, black dial, serial number A58290, body VG, shutter works well, light meter responding, RF patch visible and moving, with a Zeiss Opton Sonnar |
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| Mar 2026 | £90 | Special Auction Services | — | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 307) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa Rangefinder Camera
Description:
A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa Rangefinder Camera, black dial, serial no T 36857, shutter sticking in slow speeds, light cell unresponsive, rangefinder |
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| Mar 2026 | £31 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 198) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa Rangefinder Camera
Description:
silver, serial number A59371, body G, advance works, shutter fires but curtains need attention, exposure meter not responding, RF patch working, with |
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| Nov 2025 | £120 | Special Auction Services | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 113) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa Rangefinder Camera
Description:
A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa Rangefinder Camera, second model (coloured dial), serial no R 35590, shutter sluggish in slow speeds, light cell responsive, |
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| Jan 2025 | £180 | Special Auction Services | — | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 248) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa Rangefinder Camera
Description:
A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa Rangefinder Camera, serial no L 78280, shutter working, light cell responsive, self timer working, rangefinder working, body |
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| Oct 2024 | £238 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 118) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa 35mm Rangefinder Camera Body
Description:
silver, serial number L81365, body VG-E, shutter works, rangefinder works, light meter responds to light, self timer works. |
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| Oct 2024 | £180 | Harper Field Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Buying & Selling (Lot 1429) Title: Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa 35mm rangefinder camera, serial number C3174, circa 1936, with Zeiss Sonnar
Description:
Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa 35mm rangefinder camera, serial number C3174, circa 1936, with Zeiss Sonnar |
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| Jun 2024 | £40 | Special Auction Services | — | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 330) Title: A Zeiss Ikon IIIa Rangefinder Camera
Description:
A Zeiss Ikon IIIa Rangefinder Camera, coloured dial, serial no L76484, shutter sluggish in slow speeds, meter responsive, self timer working, body F, |
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| Jun 2024 | £175 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 109) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa 35mm Rangefinder Camera
Description:
chrome, early 1950s, serial no.A62474, early-type flash sync socket, with Zeiss-Opton T Sonnar f/1.5 50mm lens, serial no.1052886, shutter sticking |
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| Jun 2024 | £262 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 117) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa 35mm Rangefinder Camera
Description:
chrome, 1954-61, serial no.R34836, late model with PC flash socket and red 100 to 1250 shutter speed numbers, with a Zeiss-Opton Biogon T f/2.8 35mm |
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| Apr 2023 | £160 | Special Auction Services | — | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 159) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa Rangefinder camera
Description:
A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa Rangefinder camera, black dial, serial no A61604, shutter working, meter unresponsive, rangefinder functions, self-timer |
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| Mar 2023 | £162 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 57) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa Rangefinder 35mm Camera
Description:
chrome, circa 1956, serial no.L79020, with a Carl Zeiss Tessar f/3.5 50mm lens, serial no.1525515, shutter working, body VG, lens G, glass edge |
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| Jan 2023 | £175 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 112) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa Rangefinder Camera
Description:
chrome, 1950-61, serial no. A55437, with a Zeiss-Opton Sonnar f/1.5 50mm lens, chrome, serial no.1015540, 1951-53, shutter working, body VG, lens G, |
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| Mar 2022 | £125 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: The Collectors sale (Lot 492) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax III Rangefinder Camera
Description:
chrome, with Carl Zeiss Sonnar f/1.5 50mm lens, body, F, shutter fires but slow speeds inaccurate, lens, F, some internal fungus, in maker's case |
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| Feb 2022 | £150 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 501) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa Rangefinder Camera
Description:
chrome, with Zeiss-Opton Sonnar T f/2 50mm lens, body, VG, shutter working, lens, F-VG, requires attention as body of lens is loose |
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| Nov 2021 | £347 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 200) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1950-61, chrome, serial no. R36361, with Carl Zeiss Sonnar f/1.5 50mm lens, chrome, serial no. 1612208, body, VG, shutter working, lens, VG, in maker' |
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| Oct 2019 | £624 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine (Lot 310) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa Rangefinder Outfit
Description:
1950-61, chrome, serial no. D90659, with Carl Zeiss Sonnar f/1.5 50mm lens, chrome, serial no. 1442945, body, VG-E, shutter working, lens, G, some |
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| Oct 2019 | £288 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine (Lot 303) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1950-61, chrome, serial no. D78298, with Zeiss-Opton Sonnar T f/2 50mm lens, chrome, serial no. 688700, body, G-VG, shutter working, rangefinder not |
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| Oct 2019 | £420 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine (Lot 302) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1950-61, chrome, serial no. L77371, with Carl Zeiss Sonnar f1.5 50mm lens, black nosed, serial no. 1443447, body, G-VG, shutter working, rangefinder |
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| Apr 2019 | £180 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine (Lot 286) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1950-61, chrome, serial no. T39975, with Zeiss-Opton T Sonnar f/2 50mm lens, chrome, serial no. 823218, body, VG, shutter working, lens, G-VG, some |
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| Nov 2018 | £180 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine (Lot 1161) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1950-61, chrome, serial no. D83946, with Zeiss-Opton T Sonnar f/2 50mm lens, chrome, serial no. 827502, body, VG, shutter working, lens, G, some haze |
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| Nov 2018 | £144 | Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine (Lot 1163) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1955/56, 'colour dial', chrome, serial no. C1923, with Zeiss-Opton f/1.5 50mm lens, chrome serial no. 1163748, body, shutter working, lens, G-VG, |
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| Nov 2018 | £1,080 | Flints Auctions | Stereotar | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science & Medicine (Lot 1162) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa Stereotar Rangefinder Camera
Description:
1950-61, chrome, serial no. C480, with Zeiss Ikon Sterotar C f/3.5 35mm lens, chrome, serial no. 12252, body, VG, shutter working, lenses, VG-E, with |
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| Nov 2016 | EUR 320 | Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 30 (Lot AI_30_34153) Title: Contax IIIa
Description:
in very good condition and perfect working order, with clean Carl Zeiss Sonnar 1.5/50mm no.1439738, matching 'Carl Zeiss' lens cap and everready case Estimate: EUR 600 - EUR 700 |
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| May 2006 | EUR 460 | Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 9 (Lot AI_9_26917) Title: Contax IIIa outfit
Description:
body, 2.version in optically mint condition (exposure meter inoperable), Carl Zeiss Sonnar 1.5/50mm no.1606339 (clean lenses), cap, ever-ready case, Carl Zeiss Sonnar 4/135mm no.1897890, clean lenses, both caps Estimate: EUR 600 - EUR 800 |
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| Apr 2003 | £223 | Christie's | — | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT.THE PROP OF DRS.M.SORRELL (Lot 325) Title: Contax IIIa no. D80242
Description:
Contax IIIa no. D80242 Estimate: £200 - £300 |
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| Jun 2000 | £446 | Christie's | — | |
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Auction: Leica Cameras (Lot 45) Title: Contax IIIa no. R35420
Description:
Contax IIIa no. R35420 Estimate: £200 - £300 |
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| Mar 1998 | £276 | Christie's | — | |
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Auction: CAMERAS & OPTICAL TOYS (Lot 247) Title: Contax IIIa no. A60063
Description:
Contax IIIa no. A60063 Estimate: £300 - £350 |
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| Mar 1998 | £80 | Christie's | — | |
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Auction: CAMERAS & OPTICAL TOYS (Lot 277) Title: Contax IIIa no. T33422
Description:
Contax IIIa no. T33422 Estimate: £150 - £200 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa worth today?
Based on recent UK auction hammer results, a Contax IIIa body is worth roughly £130 to £240, with typical examples changing hands around £160.
How much does a Contax IIIa sell for at UK auction?
Recent sales show the Contax IIIa sells for between about £125 and £240 at hammer, depending on meter function, shutter condition and whether a lens is included.
What affects the price of a Contax IIIa most?
The biggest factors in value are a working selenium meter, a clean and aligned rangefinder, and an accurate shutter; any of these being faulty pushes the price toward the lower end of the range.