Zeiss Ikon Sonnet 303 Tropen (Tropical)
The Zeiss Ikon Sonnet 303 Tropen is a tropical-finish folding camera from Zeiss Ikon, the German optical group formed in 1926 from the merger of several established camera makers. Tropical ("Tropen") variants were built with teak or light-coloured wood bodies and brass fittings intended to resist humidity, and they typically command a premium over standard black-leather equivalents.
Auction evidence for this exact model is thin: the only recorded UK saleroom result we hold is a single hammer price of £400 in 2017, so today's value guide rests on that one data point rather than a price range. Tropical Zeiss Ikon folders are condition-sensitive at auction, and what a clean example sells for now depends heavily on the state of the wood, bellows and shutter — buyers should treat the £400 figure as indicative of wholesale auction level (excluding commission) rather than a retail asking 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.
Prices updated: June 2019
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| Jun 2019 | EUR 550 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 34 (Lot AI_34_37254) Title: Zeiss Ikon Sonnet Tropical
Description:
rare tropical camera for 6.5x9cm, brown leather bellows, uncommon Dominar-Anastigmat 4.5/10.5cm no.851512 in Compur shutter, with matching focusing screen back, in excellent condition Estimate: EUR 600 - EUR 800 |
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| Jun 2017 | EUR 400 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 31 (Lot AI_31_35044) Title: Zeiss Ikon Tropen-Sonnet
Description:
4.5x6cm, very rare camera in good working order, original brown leather bellows, nickel fittings, original focusing screen (stamped Contessa-Nettel), Tessar 4.5/7.5cm no.696403 in Compur shutter Estimate: EUR 800 - EUR 1,000 |
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| Jun 2008 | EUR 480 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 13 (Lot AI_13_16711) Title: Zeiss Ikon Sonnet Tropical
Description:
6.5x9cm, rare Zeiss Ikon Sonnet in very good original condition, brown leather bellows, Tessar 4.5/12cm no.1097570 in Compur shutter, complete with focusing screen adapter Estimate: EUR 600 - EUR 700 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Zeiss Ikon Sonnet 303 Tropen worth today?
Based on the limited UK auction record we hold, one example sold for £400 at hammer in 2017; with only a single data point, current value is best confirmed against fresh saleroom results rather than a fixed price.
How much does a Sonnet 303 Tropical sell for at auction?
The single recorded hammer price in our data is £400, and that figure excludes buyer's and seller's commission.
Why do tropical Zeiss Ikon cameras command a higher price?
Tropical models were produced in smaller numbers with teak or light-wood bodies and brass fittings, and that scarcity plus the distinctive finish is what drives their value above standard leather-covered equivalents.