Changes: Zenit-E

Revision as of 02:12, 27 February 2021

Zenit E, with 58mm f2 Helios lens

Zenit-E is a 35mm film SLR made by KMZ and produced between 1965-86 with quantity of 3.334.540 units. Зенит = Zenit means Zenith, a point in the sky that appears directly above the observer.

The main differences from Zenit 3M is added light meter, mechanism of mirror and cocking lever were changed. The Zenit E does not have aperture automation, and therefore must be used with manual diaphragm/preset lenses or auto diaphragm lenses with an auto/manual switch.

There are many types during its production period. ^[1]

The Zenit range was quite popular since it was priced moderately and it was offered under several other trademarks or brands as Kalimar, Revueflex, Prinzflex, Photokina, Spiraflex, Cosmorex.

Specifications

Zenit-E 09 — Zenit-E type 9a (1978) Olympic export

Lens: Helios-44-2 58mm f/2, M42 screw mount, filter thread: 41mm
- This is the standard lens, the other standard lens was Industar-50-2 3.5/50
- The lens mount was KMZ M39 screw type before 1967 (although it is possible to find M39 within the 1968 models).
- Lens release: simply turn to anti-clockwise
- Aperture: up to f/16
- Focus range: 0.5-20m +inf
Focusing: Fresnel matte glass screen; ring, distance scale and DOF scale on the lens
Shutter: Horizontally traveling, cloth focal-plane shutter, speeds 1/30 - 1/500 +B,
Shutter release: on the winding knob, w/cable release socket. For long exposure in B mode, the shutter release will lock down when pressed and turned ccw.
Cocking lever: also winds the film, long stroke, on the right of the top plate
Frame counter: on the winding knob, additive type, manual reset
Viewfinder: SLR pentaprism
Exposure meter: Selenium cell meter
- Film speed range: ASA 16-500 setting: dial on the exposure setting ring, left of the top plate
- Exposure setting: Match the needles in the window by turning the setting ring, then read out the speed and aperture
Re-wind knob: on the center of the exposure setting dial, press and turn, it will pop-up
Re-wind release: a small knob beside the cocking lever
Flash PC socket: on front of the top-plate, X sync 1/30
Cold-shoe
Self-timer: activates by pressing the small button above the lever
Back cover: hinged, opens by a latch on the left side of the camera
Engraving on the bottom plate: Made in USSR and KMZ logo
Tripod socket: ¼"
Strap lugs: none
Body: metal; Weight: 916g
Serial no. first two digits show the production year, on the back of the top plate

Some features of Prinzflex 500E

as Prinzflex 500E

Type: SLR body
Manufacturer: KMZ
Film: 35mm, with speeds 16 to 500 ASA
Lens mount: M42 screw mount without aperture release shifter
Shutter: focal plane textile shutter, speeds 1/30 up to 1/500 sec. + B, switchable to flash synchro-mode (1/30s)
Viewfinder: pentaprism finder, little round diopter correction lens mountable
film advance: film advance lever, hidden rewind knob extends out from meter control
Dimensions:137×92×53 mm
Self-timer: with own release button and 15 sec. delay-time

as Revueflex E

Notes and references

↑ Typing is as to Alexander Komarov

Links

User manuals for Zenit E at Michael Butkus Jr.'s
Revueflex E (Olympic Games 1980) at Kurt Tauber's
French user manual at Sylvain Halgand's www.collection-appareils.fr
Zenit E on rus-camera.com
JM Burtscher sovietcamera website : Sovietcamera french website
Zenit Collector by Luciano Belviso

[1] Typing is as to Alexander Komarov

[1]

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 }}
-'''Zenit-E''' is a [[35mm film]] [[SLR]] made by [[KMZ]] and produced between 1965-82 with quantity of 3.334.540 units. Зенит = Zenit means Zenith, a point in the sky that appears directly above the observer.
+'''[[Zenit 12|Zenit]]-E''' is a [[35mm film]] [[SLR]] made by [[KMZ]] and produced between 1965-86 with quantity of 3.334.540 units. Зенит = Zenit means Zenith, a point in the sky that appears directly above the observer.
 The main differences from [[Zenit 3M]] is added light meter, mechanism of mirror and cocking lever were changed. The Zenit E does not have aperture automation, and therefore must be used with manual diaphragm/preset lenses or auto diaphragm lenses with an auto/manual switch.
@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 *Focusing: Fresnel matte glass screen; ring, distance scale and DOF scale on the lens
 *Shutter: Horizontally traveling, cloth focal-plane shutter, speeds 1/30 - 1/500 +B,
 *Shutter release: on the winding knob, w/cable release socket. For long exposure in B mode, the shutter release will lock down when pressed and turned ccw.
 *Cocking lever: also winds the film, long stroke, on the right of the top plate
 *Frame counter: on the winding knob, additive type, manual reset
@@ Line 78: / Line 78: @@
 ==Links==
+*[https://retro-pixel.com/the-zenit-e/ Zenit-E general information and charts]
 *[http://zorkiphoto.co.uk/2012/11/01/zenit-e-russian-camera-review/ Zenit E review by Zorki Photo]
 * [http://blog.bkspicture.com/review_Zenit_E.html Zenit-E Review by BKSPicture]
@@ Line 94: / Line 95: @@
 * [http://www.rus-camera.com/camera.php?page=zenit&camera=zenite Zenit E] on [http://www.rus-camera.com rus-camera.com]
 * JM Burtscher sovietcamera website : [http://www.sovietcamera.fr/ Sovietcamera french website]
+* [https://zenitcollector.wordpress.com/ Zenit Collector] by Luciano Belviso
 [[Category: 35mm SLR]]
 [[Category: 42mm screw mount]]