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Kiev Kiev 30M →
Miniature 16 mm camera
Kiev 30 was a miniature 16 mm photo camera, introduced in 1974 by
Arsenal in Kiev (Ukraine). It was the successor to the
popular range of Kiev Vega cameras, the first of which was basically a
copy of the
Minolta 16
miniature camera. The camera can shoot 25 exposures
with a frame size of 17 x 13 mm, onto a 16 mm unperforated film that is held
in a film cartridge.
It has an Industar 23 mm f/3.5 lens, with 5 different apertures (3.5 - 11)
and 3 shutter speeds (1/30 - 1/200) [1].
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The camera measures 84 x 46 x 27 mm (when closed) and weights
no more than 178 grams.
Before taking a picture, it has to be extracted as shown in the image on the
right. This uncovers the lens and advances the film to the next frame.
The user can now use the small viewfinder at the left to point at the subject,
and take a picture by pressing the square shutter release button at the right,
close to the front edge of the camera. To the left of the shutter release button
is the focus knob, which ranges from 50 cm to infinite. Note that short
distances will cause a parallax error.
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Due to its small size and short focussing range, the camera is
suitable for covert photography, and to some extent also for covert document
photography. It is often suggested that it was used by the
intelligence services
of the former Soviet Union (USSR), such as the
KGB.
Although this is possible, it is far more likely that the KGB used
other cameras,
like the Ajax F-21,
the Tochka-58
and the Minox range, which were
also available to them at the time.
In 1987, the Kiev 30 was succeeded by the short-lived (simplified)
Kiev 30M,
and finally in 1990 by the improved Kiev 303.
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Device Pocket camera Purpose Consumer and covert photography Manufacturer Arsenal (Kiev, Ukraine) Production 1974-1983 Film 16 mm unperforated Frame size 17 x 13 mm Exposures 25 Lens Industar-M 23mm f/3.5 Aperture (5) 3.5, 4, 5.6, 8, 11 Shutter (3) 1/30, 1/60, 1/200 Focus 50 cm — ∞ Dimensions 84 x 46 x 27 mm (extracted: 108 x 46 x 27 mm) Weight 178 grams
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© Crypto Museum. Created: Saturday 19 January 2019. Last changed: Wednesday, 13 September 2023 - 07:28 CET.
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