The Minox 35 EL is a miniature 35 mm camera, introduced in 1974 by Minox in Germany. It is known as the smallest 35 mm TTL camera in the world. When closed, it's about the size of a pack of cigarettes and can easily be hidden in a person's pocket. Although it's actually a consumer device, it became popular during the Cold War, as an alternative to the far more expensive sub-miniature cameras like the Minox B. It is equipped with a retractable 1:2.8 35 mm lens that has a focus-range from 90 cm (35 ½ inch) to infinity. It has an electronic light meter which can be read from the view finder. It also has an electro-mechanical shutter that is driven by a small electronic circuit mounted just behind the lens. The electronics are powered by 5.6V battery, such as the mercury based Duracell PX-27 (replacement battery Excell S27PX). The Minox 35 EL was so popular in the West that the Russians decided to duplicate it completely. The copy was built by Arsenal in Ukraine (former USSR) and was called the Kiev 35A. The dimensions were identical and every tiny detail was exactly duplicated, including the bright red button, one of the landmarks of the Minox. Accessories of the Minox 35 EL and the Kiev 35A are interchangeable.