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← Kiev 30M Kiev
Miniature 16 mm camera
The Kiev 303 is a miniature 16 mm photo camera, released in 1990 by
Arsenal
in Kiev (Ukraine), as the successor to the popular
Kiev 30
and Kiev 30M cameras.
It is actually an improved version of the Kiev 30,
with an extra shutter speed of 1/250. It has the same Industar
23 mm f/3.5 lens that focusses from 50 cm to infinite, with stops at 1
and 2 metre.
It was available in five colours: black, green, red, white and grey.
Due to its small size, it was suitable for
covert photography.
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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 (although it has a parallax problem).
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.
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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 (4) 1/30, 1/60, 1/200, 1/250 Focus 50 cm — ∞ (stops at 1m and 2m) 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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