Suzuki Opticalco. Echo 8
The Suzuki Opticalco. Echo 8 is a subminiature camera produced in Japan, notable as a disguised-style miniature designed to look like a cigarette lighter. It dates from the mid-twentieth century subminiature era and was sold as a novelty spy-style camera rather than a general-purpose consumer model.
At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Echo 8 have spanned a very wide range, from £260 up to £22,000, reflecting sharp differences between plain user examples and rare complete outfits. The most recent 2025 result settled at £688, while a 2013 sale reached £1,600, so a realistic guide to what a typical Echo 8 is worth today sits in the low-to-mid hundreds, with exceptional boxed examples selling for far more. These are wholesale saleroom results, so what a collector pays at retail will sit above these figures.
Sales History
Prices shown are realised prices — auction results and completed eBay sales, never asking prices. Most saleroom figures are hammer prices, before commission; some houses publish a premium-inclusive figure, and we do not adjust for condition. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher. How this figure is calculated.
Prices updated: November 2025
| Date | Price | Value GBP | Source | |
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| Nov 2025 | £688 | £550 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 416) Title: A Suzuki Optical Co. Echo 8 Cigarette Lighter Camera
Description:
1955, with Echor f/3.5 15mm lens, body, E, shutter working, lens, VG, complete with maker's box |
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| Jan 2024 | USD 500 | £394 | 🇺🇸 pedia_sales_tamarkin | |
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Auction: 2024 Results (Lot 329) Title: Suzuki Kogaku "Echo 8" cigarette lighter camera
Description:
Suzuki Kogaku "Echo 8" cigarette lighter camera |
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| Mar 2018 | EUR 650 | £574 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 32 (Lot AI_32_36142) Title: Suzuki Optical Co. Echo 8
Description:
mint Japanese cigarette lighter camera, late improved version with angle finder, Echor 3.5/15mm lens, with sealed film pack and copy of instructions Estimate: EUR 1,000 - EUR 1,200 |
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| Nov 2015 | EUR 850 | £601 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 28 (Lot AI_28_32448) Title: Suzuki Optical Co. Echo 8
Description:
near mint cigarette lighter camera with original green/golden maker's box (price tag Yen 3600 on reverse) including film cutter, film-spool and instructions in English (with tear), camera engraved 'Echo 8 MADE IN JAPAN ECHOR F=15mm 1:3.5 Echo PATENT' on top of camera, the set comes with a yellow Echo 8 box with 10 new film magazines Estimate: EUR 1,600 - EUR 2,000 |
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| Mar 2014 | EUR 850 | £707 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 25 (Lot AI_25_30276) Title: Suzuki Optical Co. Echo 8
Description:
mint cigarette lighter camera in original red maker's box with film cutter, two film-spools Estimate: EUR 1,400 - EUR 1,600 |
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| May 2013 | EUR 1,600 | £1,359 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 23 (Lot AI_23_10753) Title: Suzuki Optical Co. Echo 8
Description:
mint cigarette lighter camera in original red maker's box with film cutter, two film-spools and instructions in English and Japanese Estimate: EUR 1,400 - EUR 1,600 |
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| Nov 2007 | EUR 1,200 | £851 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 12 (Lot AI_12_20704) Title: Suzuki Optical Co. Echo 8 'CBS'
Description:
mint cigarette lighter camera in original red maker's box with film cutter, film-spools, instructions in English and Japanese, possibly a presentations camera for CBS Estimate: EUR 1,700 - EUR 1,900 |
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| Feb 2006 | £264 | £220 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: Cameras and Photographic Equipment including the Property of a Photographer (Lot 213) Title: ECHO 8 CAMERA/LIGHTER
Description:
ECHO 8 CAMERA/LIGHTER Estimate: £600 - £900 |
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| May 2005 | £780 | £650 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS, PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT AND OPTICAL TOYS INCLUDING (Lot 140) Title: Echo 8 camera/lighter
Description:
Echo 8 camera/lighter Estimate: £600 - £900 |
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| Nov 2002 | EUR 21,875 | £13,936 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 1 (Lot AI_1_21076) Title: SUZUKI OPTICAL ECHO 8
Description:
Cigarette-lighter camera, similar to the Zippo lighter, for 5x8mm exposures, mint condition |
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| Jul 2000 | £705 | £600 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT (Lot 186) Title: Echo 8 camera lighter
Description:
Echo 8 camera lighter Estimate: £400 - £600 |
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| May 2000 | £1,175 | £1,000 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: Magic Lanterns, Optical Toys and Cameras (Lot 290) Title: Echo 8 lighter camera
Description:
Echo 8 lighter camera Estimate: £600 - £800 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Suzuki Echo 8 worth today?
Recent UK auction hammer prices range from about £260 for a plain example up to several thousand pounds for rare complete outfits, with the latest 2025 sale at £688 giving a reasonable mid-market reference for value.
How much does a Suzuki Echo 8 sell for at auction?
Typical hammer prices sit in the high hundreds, but a boxed, complete example sold for £21,875 in 2002, so price is highly dependent on completeness and condition.
Why is the price range so wide?
The Echo 8 is a collector item where originality and accessories drive value, so a user-grade body and a full boxed outfit can sell for very different figures at the same sale.