Zenit 7

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The Zenit 7 is a 35 mm SLR camera made by KMZ from about 1967-71.[1][2]

The camera incorporates a new bayonet lens mount, giving the new feature of automatic aperture stopdown (whereby the aperture is stopped down by the camera as part of the exposure sequence, replacing pre-set aperture, or even fully-manual aperture, on earlier lenses). It also has a new shutter design: a focal-plane one with cloth blinds, travelling horizontally as in many earlier Soviet cameras, but now with speeds 1-1/1000 second, plus 'B', and with flash synchronisation at 1/125 second.[2] G.Abramov states that the latter requirement made the shutter unreliable.[1] Abramov and Zenit Camera both state that design of the camera began in 1963; Abramov states that design of the new shutter delayed production of the camera.[1][2]

The lens mount is rather large. It is a dual bayonet fitting, which will accept either an internal bayonet (the 'Zenit 7' bayonet) or an external one developed for the Zenit D. In addition, the camera was supplied with adapter rings allowing both the early 39 mm thread-mount lenses made for earlier Zenit cameras, and new 42 mm lenses to be fitted. This (and the Zenit B, with only a 42 mm mount) marked the introduction of this lens fitting by KMZ, making Zenit cameras significantly more versatile, especially for foreign buyers.

The standard lens is a Helios-44-7 58 mm f/2, in the bayonet mount. Notes at Zenit Camera state that several interchangeable lenses in the same mount, and with automatic aperture stopdown, were planned (it does not state that these were in fact made):[2]

  • Mir-10 28 mm f/3.5
  • Mir-1 37 mm f/2.8
  • Jupiter-11 135 mm f/4
  • Telemar-22 200 mm f/5.6

The camera has a chrome-plated top housing, with a rather low-profile black plastic prism housing in the centre. The original camera has a plate on the front of this with narrow horizontal stripes and the number 7 ('Zenit' is marked in Cyrillic on the right of the top housing); the Russian websites show a second version with a different name-plate in Cyrillic capitals, and other slight differences of style.[1][2] On the right of the top plate is the shutter-speed dial, and a frame counter window. The film advance is a rather simple lever on the right (similar to that on the Zenit 4, but with black plastic covering). On the left of the top plate is the rewind knob (which lifts for use), with a film-speed reminder dial on the top (there is no meter).

The shutter release is a large lever on the front left of the body. Below this, close to the lens mount, is a delayed-action release, which was removed from the design for later cameras.[1]

Early cameras also have PC sockets for both 'M' and 'X' flash synchronisation, on the left-hand end of the top housing; later ones have only one socket.[1] A cold shoe, mounting on the viewfinder eyepiece, was available as an accessory.


Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Zenit-7 at photohistory.ru; text in Russian.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Zenit-7> at Zenit Camera; text in Russian.


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