Soviet CIA spy was a Pentax user :)

rawr · 08-08-2015, 07:06 PM - **4 Likes**

I found this Pentax snippet in a recent article about a Soviet military rader designer (Adolf Tolkachev) who became a CIA spy in the late 1970's/ early 1980's:

Quote:

He would leave the office during the lunch hour with secret documents tucked inside his coat, and make the 20 minute walk to his empty apartment. There, he would take out the Pentax camera given to him by the CIA, clamp it to the back of a chair, position a lamp nearby, and make copies of documents. He would return the documents to the office after lunch. He gave the film to the CIA over the course of 21 meetings on the streets of Moscow.

How Adolf Tolkachev Became a CIA Spy in the Soviet Union - The Atlantic

It's a sad story in many ways, like most spy dramas, but I couldn't help but wonder: what model camera was he given?

Probably something simple, compact and capable of fully manual operation like a K1000 or MX, plus a fast and sharp compact prime like the M 50 f1.4.

Nowadays, of course, he could just use his phone.

g026r · 08-08-2015, 10:54 PM

Given the time period, I somewhat suspect it was an Auto 110.

rawr · 08-08-2015, 11:15 PM

Originally posted by g026r

I somewhat suspect it was an Auto 110.

That makes a lot of sense - it was available 1978 onwards, it was very compact, it was easy to use (auto exposure, plus used film cartridges), it was well-built, and also capable of very good IQ.

**clackers** · 08-09-2015, 03:06 AM

Defending the Free World ... is there anything Pentax can't do? :-)

rawr · 08-09-2015, 07:21 AM

Originally posted by clackers

is there anything Pentax can't do? :-)

Can Pentax into space?

**gofour3** · 08-09-2015, 08:17 AM

Originally posted by g026r

Given the time period, I somewhat suspect it was an Auto 110.

Yeah makes sense probably something smallish, so I guess that rules out the 6x7?

I bet the "Shaken, not stirred" agents liked the 6x7 and wooden grip.

Phil.

Cuthbert · 08-09-2015, 02:08 PM

For copying documents you would be needing a wide angle with little distortion, the Soviets in the 60s used a special "briefcase" with inside a modified Zorki 4 and a Orion 15:

Does the 110 have any wide lens?

**ChrisPlatt** · 08-09-2015, 02:38 PM

Minox, Pentax; same thing...

Chris

rawr · 08-09-2015, 06:47 PM

Originally posted by Cuthbert

Does the 110 have any wide lens?

It had wide primes and a wide zoom. Eg a 18mm wide f2.8 prime, but the field of view wasn't really very wide. In 135 terms the 18mm lens was about 35mm.

Speaking of tiny film cameras, my Olympus XA is more compact than the Pentax 110, and was available at about the same time, and was 'full-frame', not 'crop' like the 110. And there were tiny Minoxes, of course. So if Tolkachev was shooting with the Pentax 110, or even another Pentax model entirely, I would be curious to know why the CIA chose Pentax over other brands.

**clackers** · 08-09-2015, 08:43 PM

Originally posted by rawr

I would be curious to know why the CIA chose Pentax over other brands.

We could tell you, Rawr, but we'd have to kill you afterwards!

08-08-2015, 07:06 PM - 4 Likes	#1
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Soviet CIA spy was a Pentax user :) I found this Pentax snippet in a recent article about a Soviet military rader designer (Adolf Tolkachev) who became a CIA spy in the late 1970's/ early 1980's: Quote: He would leave the office during the lunch hour with secret documents tucked inside his coat, and make the 20 minute walk to his empty apartment. There, he would take out the Pentax camera given to him by the CIA, clamp it to the back of a chair, position a lamp nearby, and make copies of documents. He would return the documents to the office after lunch. He gave the film to the CIA over the course of 21 meetings on the streets of Moscow. How Adolf Tolkachev Became a CIA Spy in the Soviet Union - The Atlantic It's a sad story in many ways, like most spy dramas, but I couldn't help but wonder: what model camera was he given? Probably something simple, compact and capable of fully manual operation like a K1000 or MX, plus a fast and sharp compact prime like the M 50 f1.4. Nowadays, of course, he could just use his phone.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
So who was the spy and who just shot off his ....	pinholecam	Pentax K-3 & K-3 II	16	10-15-2013 07:23 PM
Was out with GF1 today, EVF was a necessity	djc737	Pentax K-01	6	03-19-2012 06:42 PM
The Independent: Modern art was CIA 'weapon'	deadwolfbones	General Talk	1	11-03-2010 02:55 PM

08-08-2015, 10:54 PM	#2
g026r Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,074	Given the time period, I somewhat suspect it was an Auto 110.

08-08-2015, 11:15 PM	#3
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913 Original Poster	Originally posted by g026r I somewhat suspect it was an Auto 110. That makes a lot of sense - it was available 1978 onwards, it was very compact, it was easy to use (auto exposure, plus used film cartridges), it was well-built, and also capable of very good IQ.

08-09-2015, 03:06 AM	#4
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Defending the Free World ... is there anything Pentax can't do? :-)

08-09-2015, 07:21 AM	#5
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913 Original Poster	Originally posted by clackers is there anything Pentax can't do? :-) Can Pentax into space?

08-09-2015, 08:17 AM	#6
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,091	Originally posted by g026r Given the time period, I somewhat suspect it was an Auto 110. Yeah makes sense probably something smallish, so I guess that rules out the 6x7? I bet the "Shaken, not stirred" agents liked the 6x7 and wooden grip. Phil.

08-09-2015, 02:08 PM	#7
Cuthbert Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,740	For copying documents you would be needing a wide angle with little distortion, the Soviets in the 60s used a special "briefcase" with inside a modified Zorki 4 and a Orion 15: Does the 110 have any wide lens?

08-09-2015, 02:38 PM	#8
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,694	Minox, Pentax; same thing... Chris

08-09-2015, 06:47 PM	#9
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913 Original Poster	Originally posted by Cuthbert Does the 110 have any wide lens? It had wide primes and a wide zoom. Eg a 18mm wide f2.8 prime, but the field of view wasn't really very wide. In 135 terms the 18mm lens was about 35mm. Speaking of tiny film cameras, my Olympus XA is more compact than the Pentax 110, and was available at about the same time, and was 'full-frame', not 'crop' like the 110. And there were tiny Minoxes, of course. So if Tolkachev was shooting with the Pentax 110, or even another Pentax model entirely, I would be curious to know why the CIA chose Pentax over other brands.

08-09-2015, 08:43 PM	#10
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by rawr I would be curious to know why the CIA chose Pentax over other brands. We could tell you, Rawr, but we'd have to kill you afterwards!