About this item

Zenit E, vintage Soviet SLR camera
35 mm, M42 mount, s/n 800101921
Belorussian Optical Mechanical Unity (BelOMO), USSR

Very good condition. Everything works properly except self-timer (which lever is absent). Body has signs of use and age, leatherette has partly came unstuck at the edges. Lens is not included, body only.

"Zenit E" was made in 1965-1982 by Krasnogorsky Mechanical Plant named after Zverev (KMZ), Krasnogorsk, USSR. Also it produced at "Vileyka" plant of BelOMO in Belorussia in 1973-1986.

Tottaly abot 8 mln pieces were made which is the world record for the SLR cameras, KMZ made 3 334 540 pieces, and it ts the most numerous camera of KMZ.

The letter "E" in the name of the camera was given in honour of N.M.Egorov, head of KMZ in 1953-1965.

Default lenses are "Helios 44-2"(2/58), "Industar-50-2"(3.5/50). Of course, all lenses with M42 mount fit this camera.

Camera became improved version of "Zenit-3m". It inherited fully molded metal body and rubberized made of cloth shutter. A new viewfinder working with both led up and released shutter was introduced. SLR got a built-in nonenveloping light meter. Drawbacks were also inherited. The square of viewfinder was only 65% of the real frame size. Shutter decelerator was absent so the longest shutter speed was only 1/30 s. It was also the only shutter speed when using flash. Camera was afraid of cold.

Also light isolation was absent inside camera so there were numerous light reflection inside the body. That decreased the total contrast. Light meter was not exact and due to low sensivity was useless when shooting inside. When shooting outside light meter was lighted up by the sky. Frame counter with manual setting to the "0" was outdated. Rewind of the film by a handwheel was archaic relative to roulette with handle.

On the other hand camera was very simple and reliable. Breakages were very rare and fixed easily. Camera did not need any batteries. Dim glass in the viewfinder was very comfortable. In the next versions "Zenit EM" and "Zenit TTL" glass was replaced with plastic so viewfinder of original "Zenit E" was considered to be very good. Shutter release button was very light and comfortable.

It was the cheapest SLR camera - its price with "Helios 44-2" was only 100 Soviet roubles, with "Industar 50-2" - only 77 Soviet roubles (average salary was approx. 130 Soviet roubles). Only simple version "Zenit B" was cheaper but its production was very low (90 Soviet roubles for version with "Helios-44-2" and 67 Soviet roubles with "Industar 50-2"). When exported abroad "Zenit E" was also very attractive due to its price. Camera had an "Olympic" version with symbol of Moscow summer olympic games of 1980. Its price was 110 Soviet roubles.

Till 1967 camera had mount M39x1/45.2. But because of different flange focal distance camera could not use rangefinder lenses with M39 mount. So in 1967 "Zenit E" got M42 screw mount. Early cameras had a removable shoe, later shoe became demountable. Hot shoe was never introduced so flash could be connected with cable only. Majority of the cameras were silver (like in the camera offered), but minority was fully black.

"Zenit E" was a base for:

-"Zenit B" - produced by KMZ at 1968-1973, 889617 pieces made. A cheaper version without lightmeter.

-"Zenit EM" - produced by KMZ at 1972-1985 and 1988, 889617 pieces made. Jumping diaphragm was introduced and Fresnel lens. Default lens - "Helios 44m". Its price was 140 Soviet roubles in 1980.

-"Zenit BM" - produced by KMZ at 1972-1973, 1239 pieces made. Version of "Zenit B" without lightmeter, but with jumping diaphragm was introduced and Fresnel lens. Default lens - "Helios 44m".

-"Zenit VE" - produced by KMZ at 1972-1985, 1506 pieces made. Medical version for shooting when endoscopy. No lens was included but an adapter for endoscopy was incuded.

-"Zenit ES" - produced by KMZ at 1965-1982, 97938 pieces made. SLR for "Photosniper FS-3" set. Camera has a button on the bottom to be pushed with butt of the "photosniper". Default lenses are "Tair-3FS" and "Helios 44-2".

- "Zenit B laboratory" - produced by BelOMO in 1970-80s. Camera was designed for reproduction shooting and photomicrograph. No pentaprism, no light meter, vertical viewfinder. The only shutter speed is "B".

- "Zenit 10" - produced by KMZ at 1981-1982, 19865 pieces made. Built-in lightmeter, without jumping diaphragm. Lenses: "Helios 44-2" and "Industar 50-2".

- "Zenit 11" - produced by KMZ at 1981-1990 and 1992, 1 481 022 pieces made. Built-in lightmeter, with jumping diaphragm. Lenses: "Helios 44m", "MC Helios 44m", "Helios 44m-4" and "MC Helios 44m-4".

- "Zenit ET" - produced by KMZ at 1981-1988, 61099 pieces made; "BelOMO" 1982-1995, about 3 mln pieces. Had many versions: with or without jumping diaphragm, with or without light meter.

Customers prefered cameras produced by KMZ rather than Belomo because of higher quality.

When exported abroad cameras remain their real name (Zenit E in English) or got new:

- Revueflex-E (Germany)

- Phokina, Photokina-XE (France)

- Kalimar SR-200, Kalimar SR-300, Prinzflex-500E, Spiraflex, Cambron SE (USA)

- Meprozenit-E (Japan)

- Diramic RF-100 (Canada)

Its price in Germany in 1981 was 199 DM.

Characteristics:
S/number - 800101921
Frame size - 24x36.
Shutter speeds - 1/30-1/500, B.
Type of thread - M42x1/45.5
Body - aluminium.
Dimensions (mm): 138*93*54
Mass - 685 g