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The '''Zenit''' (or Zenit 1) is a 35 mm [[SLR]] camera made by [[KMZ |Krasnogorski Mekhanicheskii Zavod (KMZ)]] in Krasnagorsk near Moscow in the USSR, during the cold political climate of the early 1950’s. [[KMZ]] was established in 1941. This is the first model to use the 'Zenit' name, and the founder of a long dynasty. It was produced between 1952 and '56. It is a compact, robust and clever little camera based on the [[Zorki]] rangefinder which [[KMZ]] was already making (itself copied from the [[FED]], which is a copy of the [[Leica II]]), but taken one step further to become an [[SLR]] with a fixed eyelevel [[pentaprism]] finder.
  
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The '''Zenit''' (or Zenit 1) is a 35mm [[SLR]] camera made by [[KMZ |Krasnogorski Mekhanicheskii Zavod (KMZ)]] in Krasnagorsk near Moscow in the USSR, during the cold political climate of the early 1950’s. [[KMZ]] was established in 1941. This is the first model to use the 'Zenit' name, and the founder of a long dynasty. It was produced between 1952 and '56. It is a particularly sturdy and clever little camera based on the Zorki rangefinder which [[KMZ]] were already making, and following the original [[Leica]] camera concept, but taken one step further to become an [[SLR]] with a fixed eyelevel [[pentaprism]] finder. The camera's mechanical design is arguably rather basic; it arrived too early for upcoming innovations used in its successors. The lens mount is a 39mm screw thread, but the film register is longer than in Leica rangefinders (in order to allow room for the mirror of the SLR); this excludes the use of Leica-mount lenses except for close up work<ref>Leica-mount lenses may indeed be useful for close work: for example, the [[Industar 61 |Industar-61]] from a FED rangefinder, with the focus scale at infinity, focuses at about 25 cm when mounted on the Zenit.</ref>. The removable base plate is identical in size to that on the Leica, but not interchangeable (it is identical to that on the Zorki of the same age). The outer body, including the mirror housing, is a one piece alloy casting, the top cover is in two pieces, while inside, the shutter crate is a separately cast unit. The shutter is a cloth focal-plane one, very like that on the Zorki rangefinder cameras.
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The lens mount is a 39 x 1 mm screw thread, the same thread as Leica-mount lenses, but the [[lens register]] (i.e. the depth of the camera from the flange to the film plane) is longer than in Leica rangefinders (in order to allow room for the mirror of the SLR). The result of this is that Leica-mount lenses will fit on the Zenit, but only focus very close up<ref>Leica-mount lenses may indeed be useful for close work: for example, the [[Industar 61 |Industar-61]] from a FED rangefinder, with the focus scale at infinity, focuses at about 25&#160;cm when mounted on the Zenit. A Zenit lens mounted on Leica or Zorki focuses 'beyond infinity', and is of no use at all.</ref>.  
  
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The standard lens is either an [[Industar-22]] or an [[Industar-50]]. Both are 50 mm f/3.5 coated [[Tessar]]-type lenses<ref>See these and other [http://www.commiecameras.com/sov/35mmsinglelensreflexcameras/lenses/index.htm lenses for M39 Zenit cameras] at [http://www.commiecameras.com/index.htm Zathan Dayton's 'Communist Cameras']</ref>.
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Like the Leica, Fed and Zorki, the Zenit is loaded through the base (a leader about 100 mm long must be cut at the start of the film, and attached to the removable uptake spool before inserting the film cassette and uptake spool in the camera). The removable base plate is identical in size to that on the Leica, but not interchangeable (it is identical to that on the Zorki of the same age). The outer body, including the mirror housing, is a one piece alloy casting, the top cover is in two pieces, while inside, the shutter crate is a separately cast unit. The shutter is a rubberised cloth focal-plane one, very like that on the Zorki rangefinder cameras.
  
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[[KMZ]] was one of the early pioneers in the field of 35mm SLR’s, Zenit being the ninth 35mm SLR camera brand introduced, excluding a few exotic and scarce models, mainly from central Europe, and it is the second to appear from this country, the first being the less impressive GOMZ [[Sport (SLR)|Sport]]. Its better known contemporaries are the [[Asahiflex]] and the [[Contaflex (SLR)|Contaflex]].
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The standard lens is an [[Industar-22]], a 5 cm f/3.5 coated [[Tessar]]-type lens.<ref>See this and other [https://web.archive.org/web/20210227071624if_/http://www.commiecameras.com/sov/35mmsinglelensreflexcameras/lenses/index.htm lenses for M39 Zenit cameras], table archived the [https://archive.org Internet Archive] in 2021, formerly at Nathan Dayton's ''Communist Cameras''.</ref> The lens has simple, manual aperture control, slightly inconvenient for an SLR camera; the user must either focus and frame with the lens stopped down, or take the camera away from their eye to stop down, after focusing.
  
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The Zenit, the name engraved in Cyrillic letters on the prism housing front<ref>The [http://www.zenitcamera.com/archive/zenit-1/index.html Zenit 1 camera line archive page] (in Russian) at [http://www.zenitcamera.com/archive/index-eng.html Zenit-Camera.com] also shows pre-production versions with different styling.</ref>, is the first in a long and popular series of cameras gradually evolving throughout the remaining period of the past century. The first improvement was to include flash synchronization with the model [[Zenit S (C) |Zenit C]]<ref>[http://www.commiecameras.com/sov/35mmsinglelensreflexcameras/cameras/zenit/index.htm Nathan Dayton's site] states that examples of the Zenit 1 (also the Zorki 1d) exist to which flash synchronisation was added as a modification after purchase.</ref>. A substantially different camera body with a number of improved features(the [[Zenit 3]]) was introduced in 1960. It's successors, the Crystal and the similar Zenit 3M, had most notably lever film advance and a hinged back for easier film loading, at the expense of a somewhat larger body.
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[[KMZ]] was one of the early pioneers in the field of 35 mm SLRs, yet the Zenit was the ''ninth'' 35 mm SLR camera introduced, excluding a few exotic and scarce models, mainly from central Europe, and the second to appear in the Soviet Union<ref>Yuri Boguslavsky (who trades in Soviet cameras as [https://fedka.com/fs/ 'Fedka']) states 'The camera was probably never exported'.</ref>, the first being the less familiar GOMZ [[Sport (SLR)|Sport]], which was one of the first production 35mm SLRs in the world. The better known of its contemporaries are the [[Asahiflex]] and the [[Contaflex (SLR)|Contaflex]]. The camera's design is arguably rather basic; it lacks some features which became familiar on later SLR cameras. The mirror does not return instantly, for example; it returns as the film is advanced.
  
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===Specifications===
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The Zenit, the name engraved in Cyrillic letters on the prism housing front<ref>Pre-production examples shown on the [http://www.zenitcamera.com/archive/zenit-1/index.html Zenit page] at the [http://www.zenitcamera.com KMZ Archive website <nowiki>zenitcamera.com</nowiki>] have different styling.</ref><ref>[https://www.leitz-auction.com/en/Zenit-Pre-series/AI-6-23909 A pre-production Zenit, with the name in Cyrillic block capitals], and with a prototype Vega-1 5 cm f/2.8 lens, was sold at the [https://www.leitz-auction.com/en/Cameras/Past-Auctions/Auction-6/ sixth Westlicht Photographica Auction], in November 2004.</ref>, is the first in a long and popular series of cameras gradually evolving throughout the second half of the 20th century. The first improvement was to include [[flash sync|flash synchronisation]] with the [[Zenit C]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20211128165309if_/http://www.commiecameras.com/sov/35mmsinglelensreflexcameras/cameras/zenit/index.htm Notes on the Zenits], archived at the [https://archive.org Internet Archive] in 2021, formerly at Nathan Dayton's ''Communist Cameras'', state that examples of the Zenit 1 (also the Zorki 1d) exist to which flash synchronisation was added as a modification after purchase.</ref>. A substantially different camera body with a number of improved features (the [[Zenit 3]]) was introduced in 1960. Its successors, the [[Kristall (KMZ)|Kristall]] and the similar [[Zenit 3M]], had lever film advance and a hinged back for easier film loading, at the expense of a somewhat larger body, perhaps fitting less well in the hand.
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==Specifications==
 
*Type: 35 mm single-lens reflex camera
 
*Type: 35 mm single-lens reflex camera
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*Format: 24x36 mm on standard 135 cassette film
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*Format: 24x36 mm on standard 135 cartridge film
 
*Manufacturer: [[KMZ]]
 
*Manufacturer: [[KMZ]]
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*Years of production: 1952-56
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*Years of production: 1952-56<ref name=ZCam>[http://zenitcamera.com/catalog/cameraproduction.html Production figures] at the KMZ archive site show that very few were made in 1952, and most production was in '54 and '55.</ref>
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*Number produced: Est. 39 019<ref>Yuri Boguslavsky (who trades in Soviet cameras as [http://www.fedka.com 'Fedka']) states 'The camera was probably never exported'.</ref>
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*Number produced: Est. 39 019<ref name=ZCam />
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*Standard lenses:  
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*Standard lenses: Industar-22 5 cm f/3.5
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**Industar-22 1:3.5 F=5 cm
 
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**Industar-50 1:3.5 F=5 cm
 
 
*Shutter: Cloth focal-plane shutter. 1/25 - 1/500 sec plus B. Cable release socket in shutter release button. No delayed action. No flash synchronisation.
 
*Shutter: Cloth focal-plane shutter. 1/25 - 1/500 sec plus B. Cable release socket in shutter release button. No delayed action. No flash synchronisation.
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*Viewfinder: Pentaprism viewfinder with ground glass focusing screen. No prismatic focusing aids.
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*Viewfinder: Pentaprism viewfinder with ground glass focusing screen. No prismatic focusing aids. Mirror reset as film is advanced.
 
*Dimensions (width x depth x height): 140 x 50 x 90 mm (body only); depth with Industar-22 approx. 77 mm
 
*Dimensions (width x depth x height): 140 x 50 x 90 mm (body only); depth with Industar-22 approx. 77 mm
 
*Weight: 540 g body only); 610 g with Industar-22.
 
*Weight: 540 g body only); 610 g with Industar-22.
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==Links==
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*[http://www.sovietcams.com/index34eb.html?tmpl_into=middle&tmpl_id=431&_m_e_id=19&_menu_i_id=438 Zenit 1 page] at [http://www.sovietcams.com/ Sovietcams.com]
  
 
[[Category: 35mm SLR]]
 
[[Category: 35mm SLR]]
 
[[Category: 39mm screw mount]]
 
[[Category: 39mm screw mount]]
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[[Category: KMZ]]
 
[[Category: KMZ]]
 
[[Category: Zenit]]
 
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[[Category:1952]]

Latest revision as of 16:23, 27 March 2024

4493989119_75d222d261.jpg
Zenit 1
image by M*LoW - Massimo (Image rights)

The Zenit (or Zenit 1) is a 35 mm SLR camera made by Krasnogorski Mekhanicheskii Zavod (KMZ) in Krasnagorsk near Moscow in the USSR, during the cold political climate of the early 1950’s. KMZ was established in 1941. This is the first model to use the 'Zenit' name, and the founder of a long dynasty. It was produced between 1952 and '56. It is a compact, robust and clever little camera based on the Zorki rangefinder which KMZ was already making (itself copied from the FED, which is a copy of the Leica II), but taken one step further to become an SLR with a fixed eyelevel pentaprism finder.

The lens mount is a 39 x 1 mm screw thread, the same thread as Leica-mount lenses, but the lens register (i.e. the depth of the camera from the flange to the film plane) is longer than in Leica rangefinders (in order to allow room for the mirror of the SLR). The result of this is that Leica-mount lenses will fit on the Zenit, but only focus very close up[1].

Like the Leica, Fed and Zorki, the Zenit is loaded through the base (a leader about 100 mm long must be cut at the start of the film, and attached to the removable uptake spool before inserting the film cassette and uptake spool in the camera). The removable base plate is identical in size to that on the Leica, but not interchangeable (it is identical to that on the Zorki of the same age). The outer body, including the mirror housing, is a one piece alloy casting, the top cover is in two pieces, while inside, the shutter crate is a separately cast unit. The shutter is a rubberised cloth focal-plane one, very like that on the Zorki rangefinder cameras.

The standard lens is an Industar-22, a 5 cm f/3.5 coated Tessar-type lens.[2] The lens has simple, manual aperture control, slightly inconvenient for an SLR camera; the user must either focus and frame with the lens stopped down, or take the camera away from their eye to stop down, after focusing.

KMZ was one of the early pioneers in the field of 35 mm SLRs, yet the Zenit was the ninth 35 mm SLR camera introduced, excluding a few exotic and scarce models, mainly from central Europe, and the second to appear in the Soviet Union[3], the first being the less familiar GOMZ Sport, which was one of the first production 35mm SLRs in the world. The better known of its contemporaries are the Asahiflex and the Contaflex. The camera's design is arguably rather basic; it lacks some features which became familiar on later SLR cameras. The mirror does not return instantly, for example; it returns as the film is advanced.

The Zenit, the name engraved in Cyrillic letters on the prism housing front[4][5], is the first in a long and popular series of cameras gradually evolving throughout the second half of the 20th century. The first improvement was to include flash synchronisation with the Zenit C[6]. A substantially different camera body with a number of improved features (the Zenit 3) was introduced in 1960. Its successors, the Kristall and the similar Zenit 3M, had lever film advance and a hinged back for easier film loading, at the expense of a somewhat larger body, perhaps fitting less well in the hand.

45639755721_f5809301f2.jpg
image by schyter (Image rights)

Specifications

  • Type: 35 mm single-lens reflex camera
  • Format: 24x36 mm on standard 135 cartridge film
  • Manufacturer: KMZ
  • Years of production: 1952-56[7]
  • Number produced: Est. 39 019[7]
  • Standard lenses: Industar-22 5 cm f/3.5
  • Shutter: Cloth focal-plane shutter. 1/25 - 1/500 sec plus B. Cable release socket in shutter release button. No delayed action. No flash synchronisation.
  • Viewfinder: Pentaprism viewfinder with ground glass focusing screen. No prismatic focusing aids. Mirror reset as film is advanced.
  • Dimensions (width x depth x height): 140 x 50 x 90 mm (body only); depth with Industar-22 approx. 77 mm
  • Weight: 540 g body only); 610 g with Industar-22.
5486852436_e7aee581bc_m.jpg
5486260029_bdb32b4727_m.jpg
5486263919_40fb9cc6d3_m.jpg
5486864606_3da76eac14_m.jpg
5486848182_b84fc6e879_m.jpg
Images by Dustin McAmera. (Image rights)


Notes

  1. ↑ Leica-mount lenses may indeed be useful for close work: for example, the Industar-61 from a FED rangefinder, with the focus scale at infinity, focuses at about 25 cm when mounted on the Zenit. A Zenit lens mounted on Leica or Zorki focuses 'beyond infinity', and is of no use at all.
  2. ↑ See this and other lenses for M39 Zenit cameras, table archived the Internet Archive in 2021, formerly at Nathan Dayton's Communist Cameras.
  3. ↑ Yuri Boguslavsky (who trades in Soviet cameras as 'Fedka') states 'The camera was probably never exported'.
  4. ↑ Pre-production examples shown on the Zenit page at the KMZ Archive website zenitcamera.com have different styling.
  5. ↑ A pre-production Zenit, with the name in Cyrillic block capitals, and with a prototype Vega-1 5 cm f/2.8 lens, was sold at the sixth Westlicht Photographica Auction, in November 2004.
  6. ↑ Notes on the Zenits, archived at the Internet Archive in 2021, formerly at Nathan Dayton's Communist Cameras, state that examples of the Zenit 1 (also the Zorki 1d) exist to which flash synchronisation was added as a modification after purchase.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Production figures at the KMZ archive site show that very few were made in 1952, and most production was in '54 and '55.

Links

Retrieved from "http://camera-wiki.org/index.php?title=Zenit_1&oldid=230328"