CameraWorth.com

Kiev III

The Kiev III is a Soviet-made 35mm rangefinder camera produced at the Arsenal plant in Kiev, developed from tooling and designs taken from the Zeiss Ikon Contax works after the Second World War. It sits in the early post-war Kiev rangefinder line and was positioned as a working photographer's camera using the Contax-derived bayonet lens mount.

UK auction hammer results for the Kiev III are thin and highly variable: the two recorded saleroom outcomes are £600 and £7,500, a spread driven almost entirely by rarity of the specific example, outfit completeness and provenance rather than by typical user-grade pricing. Because the sample is so small, today any single hammer price says more about the individual lot than about a stable market level, and buyers should treat headline figures with caution when judging what a Kiev III is worth.

Variants

Select a variant to filter the sales history below.

Variant Years Edition Sales Price Range
1654-1954 Commemorative Edition 0
Pre-series 2 £6,000 – £14,000

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 2022

Date Price Source Variant
Jun 2022 EUR 6,000 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction Pre-series
Jun 2021 EUR 7,500 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction
Jun 2019 EUR 14,000 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction Pre-series
Nov 2016 EUR 600 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction

Frequently asked questions

What is a Kiev III worth today?

Based on the two UK auction hammer results on file, a Kiev III has sold for as little as £600 and as much as £7,500, so its value depends heavily on the specific variant, condition and any accompanying lens or accessories.

How much does a Kiev III sell for at UK auction?

Recorded saleroom prices for the Kiev III range from £600 to £7,500 at hammer, excluding buyer's premium; with only two data points there is no reliable median price.

Why is there such a wide price range for the Kiev III?

The limited sales history shows one mid-range example and one exceptional result, and the gap reflects differences in rarity, completeness and provenance rather than a typical market price for a user-grade body.