Sometimes the camera must act as a simple recorder, and its full-fledged equipment is not only excessive, but also wasteful, especially if there is a risk of equipment damage. For such purposes, laboratory versions of cameras were produced, among which was the Zenit. We can only guess which model became the basis for this particular specimen which entered the museum’s collection. Most likely, it was Zenit-10. The camera worked only for bulb exposure; the shutter opens once the button is pressed and closes when released.

Such cameras were often used to record oscillograms in various research institutes, including the defence sector. For oscilloscopes, special light-shielding tubes were produced in the form of a cone ending with a camera socket. The tube was put on the round oscilloscope screen, and a camera was installed in the socket, which worked without human intervention. Usually, the shutter releasewas performed by an electromagnetic pusher before the experiment, which was recorded by oscilloscopes.