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Post by John Farrell on Dec 28, 2015 18:46:03 GMT -5
This sad specimen is my latest online purchase. It is a Zenit B from 1968. It was described as "not working", and it isn't - the shutter needs an overhaul. The prism is also showing faint traces of the dreaded brown line.
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Post by philbirch on Jan 1, 2016 5:56:42 GMT -5
I can't believe you actually bought a dead Zenit B.
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Post by belgiumreporter on Jan 1, 2016 7:15:48 GMT -5
I can't believe you actually bought a dead Zenit B. Me neither! it is beyond me why any one would want any zenith unless they want to repent and punish themselves with one of the worst slr's ever made.There used to be a time when zenit's were the only cheap ticket into slr photography. I can remember way back in the sixties one of my friends bought a zenit because he wanted a "new" camera, i was quite happy with my exakta with a nice 50mm 1.9, 135mm 3.5 some extension tubes and what not, second hand for the same amount of money he paid for the dreaded zenith. Still if a zenit is your thing, do enjoy, it's just me and zenit's don't mix
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hansz
Lifetime Member
Hans
Posts: 697
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Post by hansz on Jan 1, 2016 13:46:48 GMT -5
Once, I found (more or less a couple of Russian lenses - 3 x 35mm, 4 x 58, 2 x 135 and 1 x 1,5/75, all in a very good condition - for a very agreeable price - remember, I'm Dutch:-) But, they didn't fit M42 thread mount! It turned out to be M39 - something different than the Leica L39 - I found that out then and there too.
The digital system cameras at that time were not available (got my NEX3 now), so somebody told me to get a Zenit 3M. After the 3rd Zenit 3M finally got one without quirks... Does this make me a Zenit collector? NO! Are the Russian lenses worth while? Yes, but it depends... quality is not even - the 1,5/75 is very, very nice (but heavy...).
Hans
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hansz
Lifetime Member
Hans
Posts: 697
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Post by hansz on Jan 1, 2016 14:15:35 GMT -5
I meant a Helios-40 1,5/85, boxed with 3 filters
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Post by John Farrell on Jan 1, 2016 17:56:25 GMT -5
It's a challenge - Zenits are reasonably easy to work on, so I'm going to open it up, and see if I can get it working. I have a scrapped Zenit EM I can practise on.
Hansz - there were Zenit Es with the M39 thread mount, as well. The very early ones had it, and had a non return mirror. I have a Zenit E from 1968, with the M39 thread, and with instant return mirror. I wonder if it's a valuable rarity?
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Post by camfiend on Jan 1, 2016 18:16:36 GMT -5
I have several Zenits in my collection, but then I collect cameras more then use them,especially the last few years as I get less mobile,I couldn't even guess at the number of cameras I own that were never in the 'Top Class' range and would make professional photographers cringe but to me they are just as treasured as any others.... Zenits have an advantage over almost all other cameras ... when their totally broken and useless they make excellent door stops and a not half bad boat anchor
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Post by John Farrell on Jan 1, 2016 18:41:10 GMT -5
The first SLR camera I owned, in 1970, was a Zenit 3M with the Helios lens. I took some good pictures with that camera, and only sold it to buy one with a built in meter - better for exposing slide film. I replaced it with a Praktica LLC.
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Stephen
Lifetime Member
Still collecting.......
Posts: 2,718
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Post by Stephen on Jan 1, 2016 19:31:26 GMT -5
It's a challenge - Zenits are reasonably easy to work on, so I'm going to open it up, and see if I can get it working. I have a scrapped Zenit EM I can practise on. Hansz - there were Zenit Es with the M39 thread mount, as well. The very early ones had it, and had a non return mirror. I have a Zenit E from 1968, with the M39 thread, and with instant return mirror. I wonder if it's a valuable rarity? Not quite a "valuable" rarity, but very uncommon, the Russians made the E body with M39, M42, Nikon and Exakta mounts, the Nikon is the rarest version. It uses the mount from the Kiev Nikon fit. The Russians made many specials to use up parts, they rarely threw anything out!. There was also an E body that took the 6x6 lenses from the Kiev. Other lens less E bodies were made to fit telescopes direct, and also Microscopes, using standard mounting tubes. The E is relatively easy to work on, the shutter is the classic design from the Leica clones. There are tear down notes on the net, I don't have the reference to hand. Stephen.
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Post by philbirch on Jan 5, 2016 13:58:27 GMT -5
My first SLR was a Zenit B with I50 50mm f3.5 lens for about £23. Not the greatest camera, but my first new one and it got me into SLR photography. It was terrible, the lens wasn't sharp, there were light leaks and/or flare, the finder was dark and poky.
But I used it for 3 years and shot over 5 bulk rolls of FP4 on it. And more kodachrome than I can possibly remember.
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Post by John Farrell on Jan 5, 2016 15:15:58 GMT -5
In 2005, I bought another Zenit 3M, in honour of my first camera. It had the Industar f3.5 lens. I had Helios f2 lenses, but only in m42 mount. I took the lens mount and one of the Helios lenses to work, and Roger, one of the machinists, turned an m39 thread on it.
I loaded the camera with film, and went out shooting. After a few frames, the shutter failed - one of the shutter tapes had detached. I rewound the film, loaded it into a Zenit B, and finished it off in that. When the film was developed, it showed that the 3M had a fault with the mirror lift, as well.
I stripped down the Zenit 3M, gave it a good clean and lube, and reglued the shutter tapes. It now works fine.
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Post by philbirch on Jan 5, 2016 23:19:48 GMT -5
I had the offer of a 3M but passed on it. I wished I hadn't. After working in the photo trade you can acquire a snobbishness about the humble Zenit and the Zorki4. I suppose it was because they were bottom of the price range and with a roughness of finish and lack of specification compared with East German and Japanese cameras.
My collection of FSU cameras is growing but I'm still finding it hard to buy a Zenit E or Zorki 4. My collection is mainly 50's Zorkis, a Fed and a couple of Smenas - oh, yes and the Salyut C.
The Crystall and a Leningrad are next on my list!
OK, I have a Zenit TTL. Mint with case and instructions. It came 'free' with a nice Hoya 70-210 lens.
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Post by camfiend on Jan 8, 2016 4:39:30 GMT -5
I have both a Zenit 3 and a 3M ... I have an E but believe there is also a Zenit 4 but haven't managed to find it yet I believe Zorki from what I read to be much the same (correct me if I'm wrong) but have none in my collection yet
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Post by John Farrell on Jan 9, 2016 0:13:58 GMT -5
The Zenit 4 is a leaf shutter camera - rather like a Voigtlander Bessamatic. I've never seen one. The Zorki is a rangefinder camera, and the original Zenit is like one of these, with a pentaprism and mirror. The later Zenits have similar shutters to the Zorki.
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Post by hannes on Jan 9, 2016 4:11:58 GMT -5
The Zenit 4 (5 and 6) are wonderful cameras. Especially when fitted with the mighty Rubin 1 Zoom lens. These Zenit are very close to the Bessamatic, rumors say that Bessamatic lenses fit but that's not true. Information about the Zenit 4 is rare. This is one of the best sites about all FSU cameras www.sovietcams.com/index.php?-1568052997Here are some images from my Zenit 4 set from 1965. I got this from a friend many years ago. The shutter is broken, but the set is complete. Interesting fact is that this combination Zenit-4 with Rubin-1 seems not to be official. All information I found is that theses sets have been with Zenit-6. Black leather case for Zenit Set by Johannes Hromadka, auf Flickr
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