Ufa
The Ufa (Уфа) is a miniature camera made in the Soviet Union; a 'spy camera' that may actually have been intended for use by the secret services.[1][2] It makes rectangular exposures on subminiature film, apparently unperforated, passed from a supply cassette to a take-up cassette. The camera is attached to an external battery, which presumably powers the film advance.
The camera has a fixed-focus 20mm f/2.7 coated lens,[1] only stopping down to f/8. The shutter has speeds from 1/10 to 1/100 second, selected with a knob on the top plate. There is no obvious shutter release on the camera; this is presumably done remotely via the electrical connection. There is no viewfinder.
The camera is named for the city (and river) of Ufa, which is the capital of the Republic of Bashkortostan in Russia, about 1200 km east of Moscow. The auctioneer's notes for the example cited state that the camera was made there.[1] The name is engraved on the top plate, together with a logo.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ufa camera with battery, cable and metal box; box and camera both numbered 201; camera also with serial number 450164; sold at the 42nd Leitz Photographica Auction, in September 2023. Several good photographs of the camera.
- ↑ Another example, serial number 451191, sold at the 40th Leitz Auction, in June 2022.
