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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.

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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: November 2025

Date Price Source
Nov 2025 £688 Flints Auctions
Jan 2024 USD 500 pedia_sales_tamarkin
Mar 2018 EUR 650 Leitz Auction
Nov 2015 EUR 850 Leitz Auction
Mar 2014 EUR 850 Leitz Auction
May 2013 EUR 1,600 Leitz Auction
Nov 2007 EUR 1,200 Leitz Auction
Feb 2006 £264 Christie's
May 2005 £780 Christie's
Nov 2002 EUR 21,875 Leitz Auction
Jul 2000 £705 Christie's
May 2000 £1,175 Christie's

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.

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