Difference between revisions of "Zenit"

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'''Zenit''' cameras (sometimes badged in Cyrillic, '''ЗЕНИТ''' or '''''Зe<small>H</small>uḿ''''') were made by the [[KMZ]] factory near Moscow.  The original [[Zenit 1|Zenit]] is an [[SLR]] based on the [[Zorki]] [[rangefinder camera|rangefinder]] (itself based on the [[FED]], which is a copy of the Leica II).
 
'''Zenit''' cameras (sometimes badged in Cyrillic, '''ЗЕНИТ''' or '''''Зe<small>H</small>uḿ''''') were made by the [[KMZ]] factory near Moscow.  The original [[Zenit 1|Zenit]] is an [[SLR]] based on the [[Zorki]] [[rangefinder camera|rangefinder]] (itself based on the [[FED]], which is a copy of the Leica II).
  
The first few Zenit cameras have a 39 mm screw thread lens mount, exactly like that of the Zorki. The differences between the screw thread and that of any Leica-mount lens are trivial, but the SLR Zenit has a deeper body, to accommodate the mirror, so lenses made for the early Zenit are correspondingly shorter. Leica-mount lenses will fit on the camera, but the focus scale will be incorrect, and the lens will only focus at close range (the converse situation, a Zenit M39 lens mounted on a Zorki, is even worse; the lens only focuses 'beyond infinity', i.e. not at all). The early Zenit lenses are sometimes described as having a 'Zenit M39' mount to distinguish it from the more common [[39mm screw lenses|Leica thread mount]]). Some Soviet lenses such as the [[Industar-50]] can be found with an extension tube allowing the same lens to mount on a Zorki (with the tube) or an M39 Zenit (without it). Later Zenits have an M42 screw lens mount.
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The first few Zenit cameras have a 39 mm screw thread lens mount, exactly like that of the Zorki. The differences between the screw thread and that of any Leica-mount lens are trivial, but the SLR Zenit has a deeper body, to accommodate the mirror, so lenses made for the early Zenit are correspondingly shorter. Leica-mount lenses will fit on the camera, but the focus scale will be incorrect, and the lens will only focus at close range (the converse situation, a Zenit M39 lens mounted on a Zorki, is even worse; the lens only focuses 'beyond infinity', i.e. not at all). The early Zenit lenses are sometimes described as having a 'Zenit M39' mount to distinguish it from the more common [[39mm screw lenses|Leica thread mount]]). Some Soviet lenses such as the [[Industar-50]] can be found with an extension tube allowing the same lens to mount on a Zorki (with the tube) or an M39 Zenit (without it). Later Zenits have an M42 screw lens mount; they have the same film-to-flange distance as the 39 mm cameras, so that, with a very simple thread adapter, the early lenses can be used on M42 bodies.
  
  
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}}
 
}}
 
* [[Zenit 4]]
 
* [[Zenit 4]]
* Zenit 5
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* [[Zenit 5]]
* Zenit 6
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* [[Zenit 6]]
  
 
{{Br}}
 
{{Br}}
== Breech/M42/Bayonet Triple Mount SLR ==
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* Zenit 7
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== Breech/M42/Bayonet triple-mount SLR ==
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* [[Zenit 7]]
  
 
== M42 SLR ==
 
== M42 SLR ==
*  Meprozenit E
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{{Flickr_image
*  Meprozenit Pro
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/siimvahur/4171598284/in/pool-camerawiki/
* [[Zenit 11]]
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|image= http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2706/4171598284_576f37ec6c_m.jpg
* [[Zenit 12]], 12SD & 12XP, 12Pro (Belomo)
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|image_align= right
* [[Zenit 122]]
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|image_text= FS-12 Photosniper, exported model, packed<br/>(unpacked, it looks much like the FS-3)
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|image_by= Siim Vahur
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|image_rights= with permission
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}}
 
{{Flickr_image
 
{{Flickr_image
 
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/siimvahur/4273838151/in/pool-camerawiki/
 
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/siimvahur/4273838151/in/pool-camerawiki/
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|image_rights= with permission
 
|image_rights= with permission
 
}}
 
}}
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*  Meprozenit E
 +
*  Meprozenit Pro
 +
* [[Zenit 11]]
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* [[Zenit 12]], 12SD & 12XP, 12Pro (Belomo)
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* [[Zenit 122]]
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*  [[Zenit 16|Zenit 15]]
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*  Zenit 15M (BelOMO)
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* [[Zenit 16]]
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* [[Zenit 18]]
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* [[Zenit 19]]
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* [[Zenit 312M]]
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*  Zenit 412DX
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* [[Zenit 412LS]]
 
{{Flickr_image
 
{{Flickr_image
 
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/bottledog/4352417609/in/pool-camerawiki/
 
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/bottledog/4352417609/in/pool-camerawiki/
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|image_rights= with permission
 
|image_rights= with permission
 
}}
 
}}
*  Zenit 15
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* [[Zenit B]] ('Zenit V')
*  Zenit 15M (BelOMO)
 
*  Zenit 16
 
* [[Zenit 18]]
 
* [[Zenit 19]]
 
* [[Zenit 312M]]
 
*  Zenit 412DX
 
*  Zenit 412LS
 
* [[Zenit B]] (real name: Zenit V)
 
 
*  Zenit BM
 
*  Zenit BM
 
* [[Zenit E]]
 
* [[Zenit E]]
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== Bibliography ==
 
== Bibliography ==
* Princelle, Jean-Loup. ''The Authentic Guide to Russian and Soviet Cameras.'' Hove Foto Books, 2nd edition, 1995. 200 pages. ISBN 1874031630.
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* {{Princelle USSR}}
  
 
== Links ==
 
== Links ==
* [http://www.zenit-camera.com/ Zenit company homepage].
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* [http://www.zenitcamera.com/mans/index-eng.html Instructions Manuals] from KMZ R&amp;D Center, now hosted by Zenit Camera (mostly Russian website, some manuals in English)
<!-- This link dead as at 19 May 2012: * [http://www.zenitcamera.com/mans/index-eng.html Instructions Manuals] from KMZ R&amp;D Center (Russian website, some manuals in English). -->
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* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/listeK_imagettes.php#Krasnogorsk KMZ cameras] at [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/francais.php Collection Appareils] by Sylvain Halgand (in French).
* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/listeK_imagettes.php#Krasno KMZ/Zenit cameras and user manuals] on [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/francais.php www.collection-appareils.fr] by Sylvain Halgand.
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* [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/russian.htm Russian camera instruction manuals, PDF format, in English] including various Zenits on [http://www.butkus.org/chinon Mike Butkus' Orphan Cameras].
* [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/russian.htm Russian camera instruction manuals in English] including various Zenits on [http://www.butkus.org/chinon Mike Butkus' Oprhan Cameras].
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180425223527/http://anusf.anu.edu.au/~aab900/photography/cameras/zenit.htm Zenit cameras - including list of alternative brand names] by [https://web.archive.org/web/20170702132036/http://anusf.anu.edu.au/~aab900/ Andrey Bliznyuk] (archived)
* [http://anusf.anu.edu.au/~aab900/photography/cameras/zenit.htm Zenit cameras - including list of alternative brand names] by [http://anusf.anu.edu.au/~aab900/ Andrey Bliznyuk]
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* [http://www.photo-manuals.com/manual/zenit Zenit Camera Manuals : Photo-Manuals.com]
* [http://www.photo-manuals.com/tracking/38 Zenit Camera Manuals : Photo-Manuals.com] by Ben Squire.
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* JM Burtscher's [https://web.archive.org/web/20130330102947/www.sovietcamera.fr/ Sovietcamera website] (in French) (archived).
* JM Burtscher's [http://www.sovietcamera.fr/ Sovietcamera website] in French.
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* [http://www.sovietcams.com/index34eb.html Zenit page] on [http://www.sovietcams.com/ Sovietcams.com].
* [http://www.sovietcams.com/index.php?1111669253 Zenit page] on [http://www.sovietcams.com/ Sovietcams.com].
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090109040406/http://www.rus-camera.com/camera.php?page=zenit Zenit page] on [https://web.archive.org/web/20090201050412/http://www.rus-camera.com/index.php  the Antique Soviet Camera Resource] (archived).
* [http://www.rus-camera.com/camera.php?page=zenit Zenit page] on [http://www.rus-camera.com/index.php  the Antique Soviet Camera Resource].
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[[Category:Soviet cameras]]
 
[[Category:Soviet cameras]]
 
[[Category: KMZ]]
 
[[Category: KMZ]]

Latest revision as of 04:36, 13 October 2023


Zenit cameras (sometimes badged in Cyrillic, ЗЕНИТ or ЗeHuḿ) were made by the KMZ factory near Moscow. The original Zenit is an SLR based on the Zorki rangefinder (itself based on the FED, which is a copy of the Leica II).

The first few Zenit cameras have a 39 mm screw thread lens mount, exactly like that of the Zorki. The differences between the screw thread and that of any Leica-mount lens are trivial, but the SLR Zenit has a deeper body, to accommodate the mirror, so lenses made for the early Zenit are correspondingly shorter. Leica-mount lenses will fit on the camera, but the focus scale will be incorrect, and the lens will only focus at close range (the converse situation, a Zenit M39 lens mounted on a Zorki, is even worse; the lens only focuses 'beyond infinity', i.e. not at all). The early Zenit lenses are sometimes described as having a 'Zenit M39' mount to distinguish it from the more common Leica thread mount). Some Soviet lenses such as the Industar-50 can be found with an extension tube allowing the same lens to mount on a Zorki (with the tube) or an M39 Zenit (without it). Later Zenits have an M42 screw lens mount; they have the same film-to-flange distance as the 39 mm cameras, so that, with a very simple thread adapter, the early lenses can be used on M42 bodies.


Zenit M39 SLR


Leaf shutter SLR


Breech/M42/Bayonet triple-mount SLR

M42 SLR


K-mount SLR

Prototype SLR (Never or only a few produced)

  • Zenit 11 (1964)
  • Zenit 15
  • Zenit 2000
  • Zenit 66
  • Zenit 9
  • Zenit Automat D
  • Zenit Pre-series
  • Zenit T1-MTL

Compact 35mm

Bibliography

  • Princelle, Jean Loup (2004), The Authentic Guide to Russian and Soviet Cameras ('Made in USSR'), Le Reve Edition. ISBN 2952252106; or the earlier edition: Hove Foto Books, 2nd edition, 1995. 200 pages. ISBN 1874031630. Paperback.

Links