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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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