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Soviet cameras
Covert KGB and GRU cameras

Below is a more complete overview of the various photo (film) cameras that were used by the Soviet Union's intelligence agencies, such as the KGB and the GRU. This list is compiled from Keith Melton's excellent book The secret history of KGB Spy Cameras that was released in 2018, with a few additions [1]. For other KGB equipment, click here.

 About the KGB
 About the GRU
  
Orginal emblem of the KGB. Image via Wikipedia [1].

KGB/GRU cameras on this website
Minox miniature and subminiature cameras
Tochka-58 and Tochka-58M subminiature clockwork cameras used by the KGB (Russian variant of the Minox-A)
Russian Photo Sniper (Foto Snaiper) with 300 mm telephoto lens used by the KGB
Russian Krasnogorsk F-21 spy camera used by the KGB for a variety of applications
Soviet covert observation camera with spring mechanism
Miniature electronic covert surveillance camera
Commercial rollover camera, also used by the KGB
High-volume covert surveillance camera
Yolka S-64 (a.k.a. Yolochka, Elka and Yelka)
Fixed-distance compact reproduction camera S-112 (C-112)
Small portable document copier
Kiev miniature cameras
JASEN (S-270) Forensic infrared viewer
Known KGB and GRU cameras
  • AJAX-8
    M-F
    First operative surveillance camera (1948)
  • AJAX-9
    MF-1
    Surveillance camera (1949)
  • AJAX-10
    Surveillance camera (1950)
  • AJAX-11
    Surveillance camera (1951)
  • AJAX-12
    F-21
    Surveillance camera (1952)
  • ALMAZ
    16 mm reproduction system (based in Kiev 30)
  • ALYCIA
    Rollover document copy camera (in cigarette case)
  • ALYCIA-2
    Improved version of the ALYCIA
  • ANTCHAR
    C-75
    Document copy system based on Zorki-4 (35 mm)
  • ARNICA
    Agent document copy camera (Minox replacement)

  • BAGULNIK
    Microscope for creating microdots and soft film
  • BUK
    C-330M
    Infrared viewer (for darkroom use)
  • ?
    C-112
    Scan camera for signatures and small documents


  • D-7507
    Microscope for microdot production
  • DO-7058
    AJAX with radio receiver

  • FS-2
    FOTO SNAIPER (photo sniper)
  • FS-3
    FOTO SNAIPER (photo sniper)
  • FS-12
    FS-12-3
    FOTO SNAIPER (photo sniper)
  • FS-122
    FOTO SNAIPER (photo sniper)
  • FS-412
    FOTO SNAIPER (photo sniper)

  • GIMOLOST
    Silent camera for compromising photography
  • GRANITNIK-1
    Rollover document copy camera (in cigarette pack)
  • GRANITNIK-2
    Rollover document copy camera (in cigarette pack)
  • GUGELICHA
    Surveillance camera with 1000 mm telephoto lens

  • IKSIA
    IXIA
    KGB optical surveillance system
  • IMBIR
    C-97
    Movie camera surveillance system
  • IMBIR-M
    C-97M
    Movie camera surveillance system

  • JASEN
    C-270
    IR viewer


  • K-175
    KGB optical surveillance system
  • KEDR
    C-232
    (Cedar) 35 mm system for photographic through walls
  • KIEV-30
    C-196
    Special version in cigarette pack concealment
  • KOPIR
    Small camera for copying fingerprints, stamps, etc.
  • KORITCHA
    C-125
    Portable rollover document copier
  • KRAPIWA
    C-215
  • KUNGUT
    KGB optical surveillance system
  • KUZNETCHIK
    Document copy system (predecessor of C-64 Yolka)

  • LAVR-5
    Silent camera for compromising photography
  • LAVR-6
    Silent camera for compromising photography
  • LENOCK
    C-257
    (Lenok) Zorki-6 for through the wall photography

  • MASLINA
    Telescopic microdot viewer
  • MINOX
    Subminiature cameras
  • MOROZNIK
    C-179
    Silent camera for compromising photography

  • NAILON
    Successor to AJAX-12
  • NAKLON-68
    Portable photocopier
  • NAPERSTOCK
    Microdot reader (made in Cuba)
  • NAPRAVLENIE
    35 mm camera through walls and ceilings
  • NEGUS-2
    Long-distance observation camera (500 - 3000 mm)
  • NEOZIT
    C-289
    F-27, successor to NAILON
  • NEPER
    Portable copy system (successor to Yolka)
  • NEPER-2
    Portable copy system (successor to NEPER)
  • NEPTUN
    Subminiature camera concealed in cigarette lighter
  • NEZNAKOMKA
    35 mm camera through walls and ceilings
  • NICHROM-63
    Rollover camera (successor to ALYCIA)
  • NIMFA-3
    35 mm camera through walls and ceilings
  • NIPPEL
    16 mm rollover camera (replaced by ZALOM)
  • NOCH-K
    35 mm low-light camera
  • NYROK
    C-166M
    System for photographing through walls

  • OSA
    8 mm micro-movie camera

  • RUBIN
    Large hand-held rollover camera


  • SELENA
    C-199
    Police traffic surveillance camera
  • STOLBNIK
    Stanhope lens for reading microdots
  • SVETLACHIOK
    8 mm surveillance movie camera (unsuccessful)

  • TOCHKA-58
    C-252
    Subminiature camera (Minox fomat)


  • VEGA-2
    Subminiature camera used in concealments
  • VENUS
    Subminiature document copy camera (DDR)
  • VUNOK
    Small document copy camera (predecessor of ZASLON)

  • YELKA
    C-64
    (RA-1) (Yolka) High-volume document copy system


  • ZABEG
    Portable 16 mm compromising camera
  • ZADATOCK
    Improved version of GRANITNIK
  • ZADOR
    Successor to ZVENO
  • ZAGADKA
    Micro document copy system in Parker pen
  • ZAGAR
    16 mm rollover camera
  • ZAKHOD
    C-263
    Miniature automated camera (successor to NEOZIT)
  • ZAKLON
    Original codename of ZODCHI document copier
  • ZALIV
    Successor to ZAGADKA Parker pen camera
  • ZALOM
    8 mm rollover camera (replacement for NIPPEL)
  • ZARYAD
    Surveillance movie camera
  • ZASADA
    High-quality observation/surveillance camera
  • ZASLON
    C-313
    Copy system for signatures and small documents
  • ZATCHET
    FKP-2
    Microfiche copy system
  • ZENIT
    MF-1
    Commercial modelof AJAX-12
  • ZIMA
    16 mm rollover camera (successor to KORITCHA)
  • ZIMNIK
    35 mm portable document copy system
  • ZINNIA
    C-256
    35 mm surveillance camera
  • ZINNIA-M
    C-206M
    35 mm surveillance camera
  • ZLAK
    16 mm stationary copy camera
  • ZODCHI
    Successor to ARNICA agent document copy camera
  • ZOLA
    C-387
    Surveillance camera (successor to ZINNIA)
  • ZONT
    Microscope for producing microdots and soft film
  • ZUBR
    Large 16 mm copy machine
  • ZUID
    Micro camera concealed in glue stick (and felt-tip pen)
  • ZURNA
    16 mm KGB surveillance movie camera
  • ZVENO
    Round subminiature surveillance camera
  • ZVOUK
    Subminiature camera in cigarette lighter or lipstick
References
  1. H. Keith Melton et al., The secret history of KGB Spy Cameras
    ISBN 879-0-7643-5616-2. 2018.
Further information
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© Crypto Museum. Created: Wednesday 07 November 2018. Last changed: Monday, 28 June 2021 - 07:33 CET.
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