Zenit B

Zenit-B with Helios-44 2/58 by Arty Smokes (Image rights).

Zenit-B with Industar lens by phillisca (Image rights).

The Zenit-B was one of a long series of Zenit cameras from KMZ. Sometimes marked ЗЕНИТ-B, where B is the Cyrillic equivalent to the English V, the Zenit-B was a purely mechanical 35mm SLR similar to the Zenit E but without the light meter. Like the E, it had no automatic diaphragm; the lens had to be stopped down manually after focusing. There were also no focusing aids apart from the plain ground-glass screen. It had a focal plane shutter with speeds 1/30-1/500s, plus B. Mostly available in a chrome-topped design, there were also some all-black models. It was usually sold with a 50mm f/3.5 Industar (Cyrillic: Индустар) or 58mm f/2 Helios (Гелиос) 44М-4 lens, and also could be bought under various other brand names, including Kalimar, Revueflex and Prinzflex 500 - and others. Production ran from 1968-78.

Other features

• Cold accessory shoe.
• Flash sync for X (electronic) or M (bulbs).
• Self-timer.
• Off-centre tripod socket.
• Usually sold with two-part black leather case.

Links

• Zenit B on rus-camera.com
• JM Burtscher sovietcamera website : Sovietcamera french website
• Zenit B on www.collection-appareils.fr by Sylvain Halgand