Can someone shine some more light on this camera for me please? (V.old slr!)

Rob E

Rob E

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My Dad gave me this today. He told me his brother gave it to him just before I was born (22-23 years ago) Its all in working order etc. Just wondering if anyone could shine some light about value/quality etc on it. Here is some pics

1. Leather box
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2. Everything out ('scuse the mess!)
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3. I havent a clue what this is, its hollow with threads at one end
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4. KoKin filter holder
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5. Light meter
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6. Light meter
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7. Flash
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8. 200mm lens and leather case
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9. Camera Front
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10. Cameara Rear
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11. Leather Camera case
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12. Warranty card?
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13. Info leaflet
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the camera has "made in the USSR" printed on the underside. It all works and there was a roll of film in the box too. Im tempted to have a go at using it while my 400D is in the repair shop :lol:
 
The Zenit was indeed made in the USSR I remember them from the late 70's early 80's. The light meter is a little cracker, the weston master was very well made.

As for value, difficult to say, I know quite a few people here have the weston waster meter, should have a look on fleabay and see what it would likely fetch. If it's all in working order though I'd go and get some film and have a go. You never know what you might learn :) lol.
 
My dad has a set up just like that. although many of his lenses have fungus in them due to going so long without use:(

Apparently they were the nuts back in the day:shrug:
 
I have one of those except I have the Zenit-E model. As AliB said, it's an old Russian camera.

I got mine from my grandfather who used it when it was brand new. It was amazing back then :D

Sadly mine is broken - completely locked up.

I'm pretty sure it's a bit older than late 70s though.
 
I got a lovely clear view through the viewfinder with the small lens but it was very grainy with the 200mm lens (mould as said above?)

thanks for the info you lot have provided, Im going to do some digging in the net now :lol:
 
I think you are right, it's older than late 70's, that's just when I remember them from, goes off grumbling about blooming whippersnappers........at least I have my own teeth..............:)
 
AliB said:
I think you are right, it's older than late 70's, that's just when I remember them from, goes off grumbling about blooming whippersnappers........at least I have my own teeth..............:)
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my dad had his from before i was born which was 1977 so i guess they were around before then.
 
Hi m8, the first two digits on the camera body indicate the Year built... :thumbs:
 
I'll have you know I don't smell!.............................yet....................:D
 
They don't make em like that any more ! My first camera ever was a Zenit E. A good camera but very heavy, like carrying a brick around all day.
 
My first SLR was a Zenith EM in the early 70's. It was a cracker and I loved it. Weighed about 3 tonnes if I remember.
 
Our Physics dept has one unused for ten years... I might see if I can convince them to part with it.
 
Well those links posted above are a great find :D Next I need to try figure out how on earth you set everything up :lol:
 
I wouldn't get rid either. I'd at least have a crack with it...get some film.....it's a great way to learn, especially if like me you came into the photography game properly with a digital.

Cracking little camera you have there!
 
romper stomper said:
Well those links posted above are a great find :D Next I need to try figure out how on earth you set everything up :lol:
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Not much to set up really, you just take a light reading, set the aperture and shutter speed and fire!

No menu's to navigate or custom functions etc. - Just a camera that takes pictures :)
 
Aye, as marcel said ive always used digital cameras so this is going to be an interesting thing to get to grips with. No i need to figure out this light meter. Ive got to admit this has made me realise how much we rely on technology these days :(
 
romper stomper said:
thanks tazza :D this one is a 1971 model then. It even smells old :lol:
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They even smelled that way when they were new and I used to sell them , I once mentioned this to to the rep. from Technical & Optical (the importers) and he told me it was due to method they used for tanning the leather in Russia, a very old one, using urinary acid, derived from pig urine that goes back to the middle ages.
 
I had a Zenit E back in the early 70s
my first "proper" camera.

The back tended to pop open if you weren't careful
but only at the end of a roll of film!!!

hang on to it - it'll be an antique soon enough!
 
I used to have one of these:love:

Started off with a 110 instamatic jobby, then bought a second(3rd,4th:D)
hand Zenit B in about 1977 I'd guess.

It got nicked in about 1982, so I bought a Zenit E which disappeared in one of my home moves.

They're built like tanks as I found out when I ran it over in a very fast balloon landing during my training:bonk: The lens was a bit bent but it still worked fine:thumbs:

They're also brilliant for learning the basics of photography. They don't get much more basic than this:lol:

Have fun with it!
 
What a cracker,

lomography.com are selling these at £136 ex VAT!
 
The Weston Master meters are superb and I regret that in a moment of Digital zeal I sold mine,as for the telephoto its a pity there is a fungus problem because I have an old Soligor 135mm and it is a real belter
 
136 ex vat? thats crazy. dont know what its like in the rest of the country but in aberdeen these things are everywhere. i've got the Zenit-E myself and its a cracking little camera but is a b****r to get to focus properly. the light meter on them will most likely be toast or unreliable so i' use the meters you found. i stopped using mine though it's weight makes it good cold shoe when i use of camera flassh :)
 
i know!
They charge £60~ on canvas bags to put your compact in.

I love these old russian cameras, havent used a zenit yet but my main camera at the moment is a FED-3 rangefinder which is actually a huge joy to use! and a BIG breath of fresh air for me creatively

Give the camera a go!!
 
Just for badness, here are some pics I took on my Zenit last summer of the guys at my work trying to fix G1's bike. It seemed every other week, something would go wrong!
Gs_Bike_Lives_by_koomber1664.jpg


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To give you an idea, I had the Zenit for almost 15 years after picking it up at a scout sale on the cheap. Never took a picture with it until last year!
I had retty much never taken a picture in my life and after a quick chat with one of the guys at work who explained what everything did I went arounf hte yard and started taking pics!
 
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