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KGB BelOMO
Compact reproduction camera
S-112
(Russian: С-112)
was a compact covert reproduction camera,
developed in the mid-1980s
by BelOMO
in Minsk (Belorussia) 1 for use by
Soviet intelligence services
like the KGB,
the MVD
and other special services. It was also
actively used by the
Soviet Union's
Border Security services for copying
passports and other documents. S-112 is the successor to VUNOCK and ZASLON [2].
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The camera uses 21 mm film, which can be cut from a standard 35mm perforated
film by means of the supplied film cutter.
It uses an internal light source, so that it is not sensitive to varying
ambient lighting conditions. For this reason it uses a fixed shutter speed.
In fact, it can be used in complete darkness during a covert operation.
The S-112 was delivered to the KGB in a
sealed purple carton box,
that included the camera,
an instruction leaflet,
a film cutter and a
soft napkin for cleaning the lens occasionally.
Batteries were not included and had to be sourced elsewhere.
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Cameras like the S-112 were used by the Second Chief Directorate
(counterintelligence) of the Soviet KGB,
when conducting searches of
residences and hotel rooms of suspected targets like dissidents,
spies, agents, foreign politicians, business men, diplomats, terrorists, etc.
The camera was used to copy small documents, like receipts, diaries, notes,
identity papers and photographs.
The S-112 was introduced in the mid-1980s, to replace older portable
document copy systems, like VUNOCK and ZASLON (C-313), both of which had
been developed at the KGB laboratory. It was succeeded in 1992 by
the improved KOPIR,
which was also made at BelOMO in Belarus
[2].
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At the time, Belorussia (Belarus) was part of the Soviet Union (USSR).
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The diagram below gives an overview of the features of the S-112 camera.
The camera is shown with the target opening
(i.e. the part that is placed
over the document) facing the top right. At the bottom left is the
film compartment,
which is shown here without a film present in the chamber.
At the side is the rectangular shutter-release button.
The film advance lever is not visible here.
Before using the device, two special 332/FBS-0.25 batteries should be
installed in the battery compartment
at the center of the device;
one at either side of the lens. Two spare batteries can be stowed inside
the protective cover,
which also holds two spare 2.5V/150mA E-10 light bulbs.
When ready to shoot, the protective cover is removed by
pressing the two circular red buttons
(one at either side) simultaneously. At the same time,
the flap expands itself, which effectively make the target opening larger.
The opening is now placed over the target
(e.g. a signature) and the shutter release button is pressed.
This turns the four internal light bulbs on, and releases the shutter.
Once the shutter is closed again, the film
should be advanced to the next frame.
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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 the S-112. The handheld cutter was provided only for ad-hoc
purposes, in case the user 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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Distance Contact with document Target area 50 x 66.5 mm Lens Industar Focal length 30 mm Aperture f/5.6 Film width 21 mm unperforated Film length 1.25 m Frame size 18 x 24 mm (negative) Exposures 36 Light source 4 x light bulb 2.5V/150mA, E-10 Power 2 x 1.2V battery, type 332/FBS-0.25 Dimensions 164 x 82 x 41 mm Weight 1.3 kg
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© Crypto Museum. Created: Wednesday 22 November 2017. Last changed: Monday, 21 January 2019 - 10:30 CET.
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