CameraWorth.com

Jupiter F-21 Button Camera

The Jupiter F-21 is a Soviet-era subminiature camera designed for covert photography, often referred to as a "button camera" because it was built to be concealed inside a coat with the lens disguised behind a false button. It uses a cassette-loaded strip of film and a clockwork spring-wind mechanism, and was produced primarily for state security use rather than the consumer market.

At UK auction today the Jupiter F-21 has a limited but clear track record, with hammer prices ranging from about £180 to £340 and a midpoint around £260 — these are saleroom results, so what a clean example is worth at wholesale rather than a dealer retail price. Completeness drives value: outfits that include the button-front trigger cable, spare cassettes and original case tend to sell for more than a bare body, while rough or seized examples fetch less.

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: April 2025

Date Price Source
Apr 2025 £338 Flints Auctions
Oct 2022 £175 Flints Auctions
May 2020 £355 Flints Auctions

Frequently asked questions

What is a Jupiter F-21 button camera worth today?

Recent UK auction hammer prices sit between roughly £180 and £340, so a complete working example typically sells for somewhere in that band at saleroom level.

How much does a Jupiter F-21 sell for at auction?

The two most recent tracked UK sales were £175 in 2022 and £338 in 2025, giving a median price of about £260.

What affects the value of a Jupiter F-21?

Presence of the original button-disguise front, trigger cable, cassettes and case is the main price driver, followed by the condition of the clockwork mechanism and optics.