The "Zakhod" is the latest and most advanced evolution of the F-21 miniature surveillance camera. Probably also the last used by the KGB, and possibly still used by security and police agencies such as the FSB in Russia and the KGB in Belarus. I have been told it is still used by these agencies.

Most examples of this camera seem to date from about 1988 to 1992, and after the Soviet Union dissolved into independent countries and the KGB was disbanded (or actually, called something else, everywhere else except in Belarus, where they kept the name), KMZ came out with a consumer model of this camera called the MA-2 (see Princelle 2nd Edition, page 194). So, like the F-21, like the Zakhod, also made for KGB surveillance use at the "special workshop" at KMZ, there later became a consumer model.

Pictured is a complete set, including accessories such as different trigger releases, button disguises, the film cassettes, and the manual, which is rare as evidently only one was made for every ten cameras. The manual features real photographic (silver prints) illustrations and is bound in a blue cover.

The Zakhod has an electronic shutter with two groups of three blades and with a range of 1/60th to 1/1000th of a second. It has through-thelens automatic metering system that reads the light with a silicon meter, reading off the film plane, and automatic exposure control.

The lens is F. 2.8 - 25mm thre element lens, and the electronics system is the same as that of the F-27 Neozit KGB camera. The disguises for this camera are, in general, the same variety as with the F-21 and F-27, including belts, buttons, bags, and creative disguises thiught up as needed.

The remote control of camera 92576 differs from the earlier ones and has only one battery (6V).

Serial Numbers:
No. 91029 - seen on Ebay
No. 91056 - seen on Ebay
No. 91081 - collection Aidas Pikiotas
No. 91088 - collection Bill Parkinson

No. 91100 - seen on Ebay
No. 91105 - David Tomlinson
No. 92576 - collection Detlev Vreisleben