Contax Contax RTS
The Contax RTS is a 35mm film SLR introduced in 1975 as the first body in the Contax/Yashica bayonet system, developed in collaboration with Carl Zeiss. It was positioned as a professional manual-focus body designed around the new range of Zeiss T* prime lenses.
UK auction data for the Contax RTS is thin: a single hammer result of £75 was recorded in July 2025 at saleroom level (wholesale, before commission). On that limited evidence, today's typical worth sits around the £75 mark for a working body, though a wider price range cannot be reliably stated and condition has a strong influence on what an example sells for.
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: July 2026
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| Jul 2026 | £94 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 168) Title: A Contax RTS 35mm SLR Camera & Motor Drive
Description:
black, serial no. 027805, body F-G, shutter & meter working when battery is inserted, with Contax Data Back, red check LED illuminates when battery (Qty: 1) |
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| Jul 2026 | £75 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 167) Title: An Unusual Contax RTS 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, serial no. 095647, body F-G, with taller shutter button shroud & shutter speed dial lock, similar to Sci/Med Contax RTS, but with all other (Qty: 1) |
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| Jul 2026 | £62 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 166) Title: A Contax RTS 35mm SLR Camera & Motor Drive
Description:
black, body F, shutter & meter working when batteries are inserted, together with a Contax Professional Motor Drive, Contax PMD Power Pack, & Contax (Qty: 1) |
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| Jul 2026 | £81 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 170) Title: A Contax RTS Specialist Scientific/Medical 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, serial no. 089775, with raised shutter button collar, shutter speed locking button to front plate, & quick release battery terminal cover, (Qty: 1) |
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| Jul 2026 | £62 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 169) Title: A Contax RTS 35mm SLR Camera & Motor Drive
Description:
black, serial no. 098991, body F-G, shutter & meter working when battery is inserted, together with a Contax Real Time Winder, working when batteries (Qty: 1) |
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| Jul 2026 | £100 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 165) Title: A Contax RTS 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, serial no. 007592, body G, shutter & meter working when battery is inserted, together with a Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.7 lens, optics G, (Qty: 1) |
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| Jul 2026 | £56 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 171) Title: A Contax RTS 35mm SLR Camera & Motor Drive
Description:
black, serial no. 011506, body G, shutter & meter working when batteries are inserted, with Contax Real Time Winder W-3, working when batteries are (Qty: 1) |
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| Jul 2026 | £62 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 164) Title: A Contax RTS Specialist Scientific/Medical 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, serial no. 094351, with raised shutter button collar, shutter speed locking button to front plate, & quick release battery terminal cover, no (Qty: 1) |
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| Jul 2026 | £69 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 198) Title: A Contax RTS 35mm SLR Camera & Winder - BMW Interest
Description:
black, serial no. 006682, body G-VG, shutter & meter working when batteries are inserted, no engravings to the camera to designate model type, with (Qty: 1) |
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| Jul 2026 | £106 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 163) Title: A Contax RTS 35mm SLR Camera
Description:
black, serial no. 034705, body G-VG, shutter & meter working when battery is inserted, with Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 35mm f/2.8 lens, optics F, some (Qty: 1) |
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| Apr 2026 | £438 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 202) Title: A Contax RTS SLR Camera Outfit
Description:
1974-75, black, serial no. 002972, with Carl Zeiss Tessar T* f/2.8 45mm lens, black, serial no. 6713091, body, G, shutter working, with Carl Zeiss |
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| Jul 2025 | £75 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 78) Title: A Contax RTS 35mm SLR CAmera Body
Description:
black, serial number 005362, body VG, shutter works, with cap. |
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| Jul 2025 | £80 | 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 107) Title: A Contax RTS SLR Camera
Description:
A Contax RTS SLR Camera, shutter working, meter responsive, self timer working, body G, ding to top of finder, missing leatherette top of winder, |
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| Aug 2024 | £189 | 🇬🇧 Chiswick Auctions | |
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Auction: Photographica Timed Online (Lot 1037) Title: RARE Contax RTS I/II 250 Film Back & Pro Motor Drive Outfit.
Description:
RARE Contax RTS I/II 250 Film Back & Pro Motor Drive Outfit. Comprising 250 film back, 2x 250 film magazines, bulk film loader, W-6 Pro Motor Drive, ... read more |
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| Jan 2021 | £81 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras, Scientific & Collectables (Lot 380) Title: A Contax RTS SLR Body
Description:
black, body, F-G, shutter working |
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| Nov 2018 | EUR 1,300 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 33 (Lot AI_33_36741) Title: Contax RTS Gold '50th Anniversary'
Description:
like new and very rare Contax RTS gold (no.15 of only 100 cameras) produced for the 50th Anniversary of Contax with matching Planar 1.4/50mm no.6453815, golden cap, strap, eyecup, papers, in wooden presentation box Estimate: EUR 2,000 - EUR 2,400 |
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| Nov 2014 | EUR 1,000 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 26 (Lot AI_26_30841) Title: Contax RTS Gold
Description:
mint and very rare Contax RTS gold with matching Planar 1.4/50mm no.5839909, golden cap, wooden presentation box, maker's box Estimate: EUR 1,200 - EUR 1,500 |
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| Nov 2013 | EUR 1,500 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 24 (Lot AI_24_29355) Title: Contax RTS Gold
Description:
like new and very rare Contax RTS gold (no.25 of only 100 cameras) with matching Planar 1.4/50mm no.6059285, golden cap, certificate, wooden presentation box Estimate: EUR 1,500 - EUR 1,800 |
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| May 2013 | EUR 1,600 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 23 (Lot AI_23_10386) Title: Contax RTS Gold
Description:
like new and very rare Contax RTS gold (no.10 of only 100 cameras) with matching Planar 1.4/50mm no.6453828, golden cap, strap, eyecup, papers, in wooden presentation box Estimate: EUR 1,500 - EUR 1,800 |
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| May 2011 | EUR 2,200 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 19 (Lot AI_19_12702) Title: Contax RTS Gold
Description:
never used gold plated RTS Edition with gold plated Planar 1.4/50mm T* no.6059292, golden cap, special display stand Estimate: EUR 1,000 - EUR 1,200 |
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| May 2009 | EUR 400 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 15 (Lot AI_15_18629) Title: Contax RTS Gold
Description:
from the first edition of only 100 gold-plated cameras with lizard skin, in like new condition Estimate: EUR 600 - EUR 800 |
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| May 2009 | EUR 1,800 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 15 (Lot AI_15_18628) Title: Contax RTS Gold
Description:
the very first golden RTS from the first edition of only 100 cameras with lizard skin, new with all papers in maker's box Estimate: EUR 1,100 - EUR 1,300 |
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| May 2009 | EUR 800 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 15 (Lot AI_15_18630) Title: Contax RTS Gold
Description:
mint and very rare Contax RTS gold (no.26 of 100) with matching Planar 1.4/50mm no.6453797, golden cap, strap, eyecup, papers, in wooden presentation box Estimate: EUR 1,600 - EUR 1,800 |
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| May 2007 | EUR 550 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 11 (Lot AI_11_15977) Title: Contax RTS Gold
Description:
3rd camera from the first edition of only 100 gold-plated cameras with lizard skin, new in maker's box with all papers Estimate: EUR 800 - EUR 1,000 |
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| Nov 2006 | EUR 600 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 10 (Lot AI_10_15545) Title: Contax RTS Gold Demo
Description:
one of only 10 gold-plated cameras with lizard skin engraved: "FOR DEMONSTRATI0N ONLY CONTAX DIVISION YASHICA JAPAN", Planar 1.4/50mm no.5818278, cap, leather soft case Estimate: EUR 1,200 - EUR 1,500 |
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| Nov 2006 | EUR 900 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 10 (Lot AI_10_15546) Title: Contax RTS Gold
Description:
from the first edition of only 100 gold-plated cameras with lizard skin, new in maker's box with all papers Estimate: EUR 1,800 - EUR 2,200 |
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| Nov 2006 | EUR 500 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 10 (Lot AI_10_15547) Title: Contax RTS Gold
Description:
from the first edition of only 100 gold-plated cameras with lizard skin, like new condition Estimate: EUR 800 - EUR 1,000 |
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| Nov 2006 | EUR 420 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 10 (Lot AI_10_15548) Title: Contax RTS Gold
Description:
from the second edition of only 100 gold-plated cameras with lizard skin, like new condition Estimate: EUR 800 - EUR 1,000 |
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| May 2005 | EUR 1,000 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 7 (Lot AI_7_24653) Title: Contax RTS Gold
Description:
gold plated RTS Edition with Planar 1.4/50mm no.6053205, cap Estimate: EUR 1,200 - EUR 1,500 |
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| May 2004 | £358 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS, MAGIC LANTERNS AND OPTICAL TOYS (Lot 199) Title: Contax RTS no. 98/100D
Description:
Contax RTS no. 98/100D Estimate: £300 - £500 |
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| Jun 1999 | £747 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: Leica Cameras (Lot 42) Title: Contax RTS (Gold) no. E-91
Description:
Contax RTS (Gold) no. E-91 Estimate: £25 - £200 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Contax RTS worth today?
On the limited UK auction evidence available, a Contax RTS body has sold for around £75 at hammer, though values vary with cosmetic and electronic condition.
How much does a Contax RTS sell for at auction?
The most recent UK saleroom result on file is £75 in 2025; with only one data point, this is indicative rather than a firm market price.
Is the Contax RTS a good buy?
It gives access to Zeiss T* lenses at a low body price, but because the camera is electronically dependent and unserviceable through the factory, buyers should prioritise a tested, fully functional example.