New batch came in

[belgiumreporter]

A new batch of cameras just arrived, i bought them as defective but they turned out rather well...

The Zenit 3M with period correct industar 3.5 50mm. Nothing wrong with this one, i've been neglecting these early Soviet cameras but they are actually rather nice.




Miranda REII with 1.8 50mm. The latch which secures the prism is missing, this is going to be a tough one to find the missing piece, no further problems detected.



Yashica FX-3 works OK but the 42-75 zoom is stuck at the 75mm position and as with all of these FX-3's the body leather is detoriated. Still got some spare Y/C mount lenses this will be easy replacable, the body will get the "snake" leather retrim, something i've done before and give great results on these Yashica's (and Contaxes)



Minolta X-500 with Rokkor 2/50mm like new condition, replaced the batteries and it works like a charm!




Mamiya 528 AL seems to be working but i don't want to spend much time on it so it'll probably end up in the parts bin.



All in all the Yashica and the Minolta more than compensate for the price i've paid this lot :-)

[julio1fer]

Nice set!

The Zenit 3M with period correct industar 3.5 50mm. Nothing wrong with this one, i've been neglecting these early Soviet cameras but they are actually rather nice.

You can say that again. I used one for 14 years as my main and only camera. It had the Helios-44, though. The I-50 is also good, most of the time.

[belgiumreporter]

Feb 28, 2022 20:33:02 GMT -5 julio1fer said:

You can say that again. I used one for 14 years as my main and only camera. It had the Helios-44, though. The I-50 is also good, most of the time.

From the brief experience i've had with these cameras i'm under the impression that the older types such as this 3M are better made than the later "E'" series.

[John Farrell]

A Zenit 3m was my first SLR, too - later replaced with a Praktica LLC. I have serviced both 3ms and Es, and the shutter construction is similar on both, and of a similar quality. The mirror mechanism differs - the E has an instant return mirror, driven in a unique way, by a cam - the 3m mechanism is simpler. Physically, the E is a few millimetres taller than the 3m, but other dimensions are almost the same. The squared off shape makes the E look bigger than the 3m.

[belgiumreporter]

I've sold the Minolta X-500 it paid for the rest of the batch