Zeiss Ikon Contessa 35
The Zeiss Ikon Contessa 35 is a 35mm folding rangefinder camera introduced in the late 1940s, positioned as a compact precision-built model for amateur and enthusiast photographers in the postwar German camera market.
Sales data for the Contessa 35 is thin: a single tracked UK auction hammer result from January 2022 sold for £81, which gives a narrow reference point rather than a reliable median. As of today in 2026, that figure reflects wholesale saleroom pricing for one example and condition, so what a Contessa 35 is worth at auction can vary significantly with cosmetics, bellows integrity, and shutter function.
Variants
Select a variant to filter the sales history below.
| Variant | Years | Edition | Sales | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synchro Compur | — | — | 0 | — |
| Synchro Compur, gray | — | — | 0 | — |
| Tessar 50mm | — | — | 0 | — |
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: March 2026
| Date | Price | Source | Variant | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | £25 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | — | |
|
Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 189) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contessa 533/24 35mm Rangefinder Camera
Description:
body G-VG, shutter working, meter doesn't respond to light, with Zeiss-Opton T Tessar f/2.8 45mm, optics G, with ERC, G. |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Feb 2026 | £56 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | — | |
|
Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 181) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contessa 533/24 Rangefinder Camera
Description:
silver, body VG, shutter works but release is stuck, RF patch working, with a Tessar f/2.8 45mm lens, optics G, with case. |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Jan 2025 | £81 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | — | |
|
Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 93) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contessa 533/24 35mm Rangefinder Camera
Description:
body G-VG, shutter working, meter doesn't respond to light, with Zeiss-Opton T Tessar f/2.8 45mm, optics F-G, some haze present, with ERC, G. |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Feb 2024 | £106 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | — | |
|
Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 223) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contessa 533/24 Camera
Description:
with Zeiss-Opton Tessar T f/2.8 45mm lens, body, VG, shutter working, lens, VG, complete with maker's case |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Jan 2024 | £56 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | — | |
|
Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 154) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contessa 35mm Rangefinder Camera
Description:
black & chrome, body G-VG, shutter working, with f/2.8 45mm Tessar T Zeiss Opton lens, optics F, some fungus & haze present, (Qty: 1) |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Jun 2023 | £75 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | — | |
|
Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 310) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contessa 533/24 35mm Rangefinder Camera
Description:
chrome, body VG, shutter working, rangefinder patch bright & clear, optics G-VG, in maker's case, (Qty: 1) |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Jan 2023 | £100 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | — | |
|
Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 146) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contessa 533/24 35mm Rangefinder Camera
Description:
body G-VG, shutter working, meter doesn't respond to light, with Zeiss-Opton Tessar f/2.8 45mm, optics F-G, some small, faint fungus blooms present (Qty: 1) |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Jan 2022 | £81 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | — | |
|
Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 191) Title: A Zeiss Ikon Contessa 533/24 35mm Rangefinder Camera
Description:
chrome, body VG-E, shutter working, rangefinder patch clear and travels, with Zeiss-Opton Tessar 45mm f/2.8 lens, optics G-VG, some very light haze (Qty: 1) |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Aug 2019 | £20 | 🇬🇧 Harper Field Auctions | — | |
|
Auction: Buying & Selling (Lot 97) Title: Zeiss Ikon Contessa 533/24 folding bellows camera with Tessar 1:2.8 f=45mm lens
Description:
Zeiss Ikon Contessa 533/24 folding bellows camera with Tessar 1:2.8 f=45mm lens |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Nov 2008 | EUR 100 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | — | |
|
Auction: Leitz Auction 14 (Lot AI_14_17641) Title: Zeiss Ikon Contessa 35 533/24
Description:
clean Contessa 35 with good working shutter, finder and meter, Opton-Tessar 2.8/45mm T no.1025825, copy of instructions, original leather case Estimate: EUR 200 - EUR 250 |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Nov 2008 | EUR 120 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | — | |
|
Auction: Leitz Auction 14 (Lot AI_14_17640) Title: Zeiss Ikon Contessa 35 533/24
Description:
Zeiss Contessa 35 with good working shutter, finder and meter, clean Opton-Tessar 2.8/45 no.674137, filter, leather case Estimate: EUR 200 - EUR 250 |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| May 2005 | EUR 240 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | — | |
|
Auction: Leitz Auction 7 (Lot AI_7_24692) Title: Zeiss Ikon Contessa 35 533/24
Description:
Zeiss-Opton 2.8/45mm no.964490, in perfect technical order, special leather case Estimate: EUR 200 - EUR 250 |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| May 2003 | EUR 188 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | — | |
|
Auction: Leitz Auction 2-3 (Lot AI_2_21741) Title: Zeiss Ikon Contessa 533/24 demo
Description:
very rare cut-away Contessa to show the function of the rangefinder, no shutter or lens Estimate: EUR 1,953 - EUR 4 |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
| Nov 2002 | EUR 625 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | — | |
|
Auction: Leitz Auction 1 (Lot AI_1_21493) Title: ZEISS CONTESSA 35 533/24 gr. beledert
Description:
Unknown Contessa with original grey leather, Opton Tessar 2,8/45 in Synchro-Compur shutter |
||||
|
Loading...
|
||||
Frequently asked questions
What is a Zeiss Ikon Contessa 35 worth today?
Based on limited UK auction data, one tracked hammer sale realised £81, so current value sits in that region for an average example, though clean working bodies can sell for more.
How much does a Contessa 35 sell for at auction?
The single recorded UK hammer price in our data is £81, which gives a wholesale reference but is not enough to establish a firm market range.
What variants of the Contessa 35 exist?
Recorded variants include the Synchro Compur, a gray-covered Synchro Compur, and a Tessar 50mm version.