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KGB BelOMO
Mobile duplication camera
KOPIR was a small fixed-distance portable
camera system,
developed and built in the late 1980s by
BelOMO
in Minsk (Belorussia) 1 for use by the
KGB,
the PGU
and other intelligence agencies of the former
USSR.
The camera was intended for covertly duplicating signatures,
photographs, documents and small notes. It was probably one of
the successors to the S-112 copy camera.
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At the time, Belorussia (Belarus) was part of the Soviet Union (USSR).
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The diagrams below show the two main faces of the KOPIR camera: the front
side and the rear side. When closed, the camera measures 16 x 8.5 x 4
5 cm. When unused, it is carried in a
soft leather carrying bag, or
wallet. When used, the camera should be loaded with three 1.5V AA-size
battery cells and a fresh film cartridge.
The protective cap is then removed
from the bottom end and the hinged flap is opened.
The camera is then placed with the opening over the desired area.
If necessary, the film is advanced to the next frame using the handle
at the rear side. This also cocks the shutter. If the camera is correctly
positioned, press and hold the shutter release button at one of the long
sides for more than one second, to shoot the picture.
This opens the lens and activates the automatic illumination circuit.
When the red LED is fully on, the shutter release button can be released.
Next, use the handle to prepare the camera for the
next shot.
The camera is only suitable for copying small documents with a maximum
size of 6 x 4 cm, such as a passport photograph or a signature. This was
done, for example, by USSR customs, but also by intelligence services
for copying credentials, ID cards and signatures.
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The KOPIR camera was supplied in a white carton box that measures
approx. 20 x 15 x 10.5 cm, and is sealed with two thin ropes and a
glued paper seal. In order to open the box, the wires and the seal
have to be broken.
All items are inside the box, which resembles a small shoe box,
and weights approx. 1110 gr.
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When transporting the camera, it was usually packed inside a purpose
made wallet in order to protect it against dust and damage.
An example of a suitable wallet is shown in the image on the right, but
other types and colours are known to have been provided as well, all
depending on the availability of suitable material in the Soviet Union
at the time.
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The image on the right shows the actual camera system. When folded/closed
it measures approx. 16.5 x 8 x 4.5 cm. In order to protect the lens and the
rest of the camera system against dust, a metal cap covers the opening
(visible in the image at the left).
Before shooting pictures, the protective cap had to be removed and the
hinged panel should be tilted.
The camera was then placed with the opening covering the document that
was to be copied.
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KOPIR uses unperforated 21 mm film that is loaded into the film cartridge
shown in the image on the right. The cartridge is then installed in the
film compartment under the hinged list at the top of the camera.
Four empty film cartridges were supplied with each camera. They had to
be loaded with suitable film in a darkroom prior to use. Suitable tools to
do this, were also provided (see below).
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As 21 mm film was not readily available in a photo store, the small
cutting tool shown in the image on the right was supplied with each kit.
It allows standard 35 mm perforated film to be cut to 21 mm, by removing
the perforated edge at both sides.
35 mm film was readily available in photo shops in Eastern and Western
countries during the Cold War, and buying it would not attract attention.
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In order to develop exposed films in daylight — using the so-called
daylight development tank — the adapter shown in the image on the
right was supplied. It makes the development tank suitable for the 21 mm
film used with KOPIR.
The adapter is a standard accessory.
It is made of plastic and has a diameter of 112 mm. The cylinder
at the centre has a diameter of 26 mm and a length of 48 mm.
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Four small light bulbs are mounted inside the camera unit.
They are used to provide a uniform lighting for the document under the
camera.
As the light bulbs are a crytical part of the system — without them
document copying is not possible — spare ones are supplied with the kit.
They can be replaced in the field, but require the use of a soldering
iron.
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Each KOPIR camera came with a personalized document, known as the
passport (Russian: Паспорт) in which the serial number and the
release date were (hand)written. The camera featured here, was released on
15 March 1993, just after the dissolution of the USSR.
The 14-page A5-size booklet also contains the circuit diagram of the
electronic shutter system, plus full operating instructions.
➤ Download the booklet
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A simple handheld film cutter was supplied,
to convert standard 35 mm perforated film into 21 mm unperforated film,
suitable for KOPIR. The handheld cutter was provided only for ad-hoc
purposes, in case the operator ran out of film.
In addition, professional cutting devices were available, to produce 21 mm
film from 35 mm film in bulk, such as the one shown in the image on the
right. It is crank-operated and accepts a standard 35 mm photo film cartridge.
➤ More information
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Although the KOPIR is much better built than the S-221 document copier,
its contruction is not solid and not well thought through. Various
badly fitting parts are used and the paint is barely holding onto the
metal, reflecting the state of the Soviet Union at the time the camera
was made.
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When installing the batteries, the hinged lid has to be
opened fully.
In order to access the inner circuits,
the front case shell has to be removed.
This is done by removing two recessed screws from the font (close to the
film speed setting) and two at the sides, close to the large opening.
The image on the right shows the interior of the camera, in which the printed
circuit board (PCB) is clearly visible. It is fitted around the Industar
lens and controls the illumination time of the four light bulbs that are
fitted close to the large opening,
using small mirrors to project the light.
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The electronic circuit and the lamps are powered by three 1.5V AA-size
penlight batteries, but due to the way in which the battery holders are
constructed, it is very easy to cause a full short-circuit, as a result
of which one of the batteries 1 might eventually catch fire. The battery
holders are a (very) tight fit, and inserting batteries is a challenge.
Be careful not to damage the battery's isolation, as this will definitely
cause a short-circuit, which happened when we tested our unit.
Above is the circuit diagram of the automatic illumination circuit.
It is built around a
Russian KM189XA1 integrated circuit (IC).
The circuit is activated by pressing (and holding) the shutter release
button. This opens the shutter and starts the timing circuit that is
controlled by a light-depending resistor (LDR).
The KT973B transistor turns the light bulbs and on and off again.
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This is particularly the case when using Lithium batteries, as they have
a very high energy density. After inserting the batteries, check the camera
for correct operation. If it doesn't work, removed the batteries immediately.
Furthermore, NEVER leave the batteries in an unused or unattended device.
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Distance Contact with document Target area 49 x 65 mm Lens Industar Focal length 30 mm Aperture f/5.6 (max.) Shutter Electronic (photo-cell) Film width 21 mm unperforated Frame size 18 x 24 mm Exposures 25 Power 3 x 1.5V AA-size battery Dimensions 163 x 84 x 45 mm Weight 700 grams
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© Crypto Museum. Created: Thursday 30 November 2017. Last changed: Monday, 21 January 2019 - 10:31 CET.
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