Kowa Optical Kowa SW
The Kowa SW is a fixed-lens film camera produced by Kowa Optical of Japan, a maker active in still-camera production from the late 1950s through the early 1970s. It sits in the wide-angle compact category, aimed at photographers wanting a dedicated wide-field 35mm body rather than an interchangeable-lens SLR.
Auction data for the Kowa SW is extremely thin, so a meaningful price range cannot be quoted with confidence; the single UK saleroom hammer result on file, from 2012, was £300. With only one verified data point, today's worth in 2026 is best treated as indicative rather than authoritative, and a fresh sale could shift the picture either upward or downward depending on cosmetic condition and working order.
Variants
Select a variant to filter the sales history below.
| Variant | Years | Edition | Sales | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| black | — | — | 2 | £850 – £1,700 |
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 2024
| Date | Price | Source | Variant | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2024 | EUR 1,700 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | black | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 44 (Lot A00823) Title: Kowa SW black paint
Description:
Rare Japanese wide-angle camera with fixed Kowa 3.2/28mm no.704202 mounted in Seikosha shutter, in outstanding, mint condition and working order, complete set with strap, lens cap, hood, warranty card, price tag, leather pouch and maker's box, note the unusual finder. Estimate: EUR 2,400 - EUR 2,800 |
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| Apr 2021 | £298 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | — | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 205) Title: A Kowa SW Compact Camera
Description:
1964, chrome, serial no. 702513, with Kowa f/3.2 28mm lens, serial no. 701084, body, VG, shutter not working, lens, VG, with maker's cap Note: Lot |
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| May 2012 | EUR 850 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | black | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 21 (Lot AI_21_13680) Title: Kowa SW Black Paint
Description:
rare black painted version wide-angle camera with 3.2/28mm Kowa no.705445, hood Estimate: EUR 800 - EUR 900 |
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| May 2012 | EUR 300 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 21 (Lot AI_21_13679) Title: Kowa SW Chrome
Description:
chrome version, rare wide-angle camera with 3.2/28mm Kowa no.703624 Estimate: EUR 500 - EUR 600 |
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| Nov 2003 | EUR 750 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | — | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 4 (Lot AI_4_22372) Title: Kowa SW
Description:
Chrom Version, seltene Weitwinkelkamera mit 3,2/28mm Kowa Nr.700289, Filter, Blende, Deckel, Tasche, Anleitung Estimate: EUR 19,640 - EUR 7,017,030 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Kowa SW worth today?
Verified UK auction data is limited to a single hammer result of £300 from 2012, so any current value should be treated as a rough reference point rather than a firm market price.
How much does a Kowa SW sell for at UK auction?
Only one tracked saleroom result exists in our records, at £300, which means the price a clean example sells for today could vary noticeably from that figure.
Is the Kowa SW a collectable camera?
It has niche interest among collectors of Japanese fixed-lens wide-angle cameras, but the shallow sales record means demand is harder to gauge than for mainstream models.