Next Thursday, Aston’s auctioneers will sell off a private collection of cameras including some fantastic Soviet-era spy cams. According to the auction house’s camera specialist, the most curious item is a camera containing a second camera (image below):
At first glance this appears to be a normal Zenith E camera it it’s case, but opening it reveals a hidden miniature F-21 AJAX-12 camera. The camera is mounted so the f2.8 28mm lens is pointing out of the side edge of the case. On pressing a small button on the bottom of the case the internal mechanism cleverly raises a hidden internal flap, the camera shutters fires and the flap immediately closes shut. The user simply carries the camera over their shoulder in the normal way, but can take pictures at 90 degrees without raising any suspicion as it looks like the camera is in it’s case and not being used. The camera uses 21mm film and has a clockwork drive for multiple shots without detection.
