Zenit 122

<p>Many FSU Zenits were sold in Europe and the UK, I believe some may have found their way to the US (Did Cambridge Cameras sell them ?).In 1965 KMZ at Krasnagorsk near Moscow set up a production line for die-cast aluminium Zenit bodies, I believe it ran till 1994.The great majority of Zenits were based on this body.<br>

<a href="http://cameras.alfredklomp.com/zenite/">http://cameras.alfredklomp.com/zenite/</a><br>

However, in 1991 a plastic body was introduced as the Zenit 122. Since it seems more classic than modern I put it here. It is still possible to buy one,maybe new old stock:<br>

<a href="http://www.rugift.com/cameras-lenses/cameras/zenit-slr-cameras.htm">http://www.rugift.com/cameras-lenses/cameras/zenit-slr-cameras.htm</a><br>

It is lighter than the metal bodied versions and by chance I came across a compact Tamron 28-50 f3.5-4.5 lens that makes a lightweight M42 walkabout kit.I took it on a trip to the east coast of England.</p><div></div>

<p>Some well built cottages, perhaps they were built by a prosperous seafarer:</p><div></div>

<p>Here is the village clock tower, it chimes every hour:</p><div></div>

<p>There are many boats here and boatyards to look after them:</p><div></div>

<p>Finally a picture of a boat landing stage.<br>

I used a red filter to darken the sky in these pics and developed Agfa APX100 in Rodinal.<br>

Thanks for any comments.</p><div></div>

<p>Is that Burnham-on-Crouch?</p>

<p>Yes, Burnham-on-Crouch aka "Cowes of the East Coast".</p>

Nice series. I'm not familiar with this model, although I've seen this zoom a few times and it is a good performer.

<p>Nice results. My favorite is the 'crane'.</p>

<p>The older Zenits were certainly marketed in the USA, sometimes under their own name, often in Roman characters, and sometimes under names like Cambridge Camera's "Cambron" brand.</p>

<p>This is the first 122 that I've seen, but the name is in Roman characters, so it must have been intended for somewhere outside the USSR?</p>

<p>As for Burnham-on-Crouch, as a teenager I discovered this town in an old RAC road guide (in the USA, mind) and we all thought that the name was hilarious, being teenage boys. Sort a precursor to the suit about hot coffee sold from drive-in places....</p>

 

<p>Nice series of images, <strong>Alan</strong>. "Crane" and "Landing Stage" particularly appeal. My most modern Zenit is the 12XP, one of the last metal versions, and I've never handled a polycarbonate Zenit. The reduction in weight might bring mixed blessings, I guess, as I like the steady, sturdy feel of the old Zenits. Sharp little lens, too, as your pics demonstrate. Thanks for the post.</p>

<p>Thanks for the pics of this pretty village. Never seen a Zenit like this, and like Rick, my newest is a 12XP. Tamron made some really good zooms (still do) and I have never used the 28-50 but your looks like it produces sharp results. APX100 in Rodinal is a very classic combo as well.</p>

<p>I have a Plastic Body Zenit (122k) with K mount, it came with 50mm Zenit lens. Even though it is Plastic body the build quality is good and strong. I had a motorcycle accident where I broke my leg, the camera was around my neck at that time and nothing happened to the camera!<br>

But it does have small issues, like light leak through the film door, light leak via the eye piece in bulb mode. <br>

..and the shutter release sound, loudest I have ever heard. I still love this camera so did not sell it.<br>

Regards,<br>

Vignesh Baliga</p>

<p>Nice photos; Camera looks like it performed well, and that lens seems like a keeper. Personally, I don't care much about modern Zenits, as most late Russian productions (late 80s early 90s) were of lower quality.</p>

<p>Some of these later Zenits had improved shutters with speeds including 1/1000 sec. They are rare, though. I like the last two pictures, greatly. Lovely lighting and sharpness. Thanks, sp.</p>

<p>It also appears Lomography store is selling the K mount version of this camera with a 50 f2 for $85. Still looks like an old Zenith with a fancy plastic body. Shutter speeds still 1/30 to 1/500 and B. I think these must be NOS stuff they have discovered in some dusty old factory.</p>

<p>"Burnham-on-Crouch."<br>

That's an interesting name. I had something similar happen. I had a roommate that put down a few too many wobbly pops. Then he lit a cigarette and dropped it. It was a case of "Burnhim on Couch."</p>

<p>First, Burnham-on-Crouch derives from old English : burna=stream, ham=village or homestead,<br>

crouch=creek. What did the Romans ever do for us?<br>

<strong>Mike</strong>,thanks,the zoom was at f8 and adequate except at the edges.<strong>JDM</strong>,thanks for the note on marketing of Zenits in the US,I dimly recalled seeing an ad in an old US magazine.There was a company in London established in 1962 which imported checked and distributed many types of FSU cameras lenses and radios called Technical and Optical Equipment,perhaps that was one destination for the Roman lettered cameras.<br>

<strong>Rick</strong>, I may have slightly exaggerated the weight advantage of the platic Zenit 122.Actually it only weighed in at 10 grams lighter than my Praktica MTL5.<strong>Tony</strong>,I never saw a plastic Zenit 122 before either,IMO it's quite good looking for a Zenit.<strong>Vignesh</strong>,I agree the shutter is loud for a horizontal cloth one.<strong>Ralf</strong> and<strong> SP</strong>,thanks for your comments on later Zenits.Mine did not leak light but fails to wind on a couple of frames at erratic intervals giving double exposures.<br>

<strong>John</strong>,thanks for that info, it is interesting to know that the Zenit 122 is re-invented as a hip Lomograpy camera.Regards to all.</p>

I think it all performed extremely well..Exc ellent results. Liked th first two especially. I was thinking how nice the sky was... Thanks for mentioning the filter. My Zenit 11 and as per my firiend have problems with jumping frames in the wind on. Mine is clearly broken, he reports (like you) "from time to time" . I agree too that it is rather attractive. While I had seen this .. it was indeed at the Lomo stand at Photokina. I recall thinking .. they've plasticized a Zenit.. but I was wrong they really built it, and as youi mentioned the weight "loss" is not so critical. MMmmmhh I hate this forum Now I'm on the lookout for this too!!

<p>The first SLR that I bought (rather than borrowed) was a Zenit 212K which I have fond memories of</p>

<p>I hate this particular Zenit 122. The quality was terrible. Looked like it was a *plot* to destroy Soviet photo industry altogether. Right around the time this particular Zenit model was released C-41 mini-labs with Kodak Gold along with cheap PAS cameras were introduced to Russian market. People dumped in mass all their Soviet gear in exchange for the plastic import. Krasnogosrk tried to keep up but their quality suffered. Even Helios 44-7 of the early 1990-ies were bad... </p>

<p>Your "hi-tech" Zenit definitely looks like a keeper, Alan.<br>

I still have my Zenit 12XP , the first SLR I purchased . It was supposed to be the re-badged "Cambron TTL", but the body came without the "Cambron" sticker , and it's not the Zenit TTL model, either. IIRC, the price in 1988 was approximately $89 for the camera with the Helios 44M 58/2 lens, a tremendously malodorous everready case , a lens cleaning kit, and a horribly translated Xerox copy instruction sheet. <br>

I fondly recall my ealry pre-teen bus trips to the Village and perusing the dusty shelves behind the counter at Cambridge camera. Speaking Hungarian won me favor with a generous Chassid salesman there who gifted me an old GAF(Chinon) body, some ancient screw mount lenses, and out-dated film. <br>

Your Zenit thread, and an earlier post by Walter about First Cameras, made me dust off the old 12XP. It suufers from malfunctioning shutter dial and sticky curtains. I would like to attempt a repair this winter. Does anyone have schematics for disassembly? <br>

I also have a Zenit B; much simpler, meterless body, and only uses pre-set lenses. </p>

<p>Thanks,<strong>Chuck</strong>. Re Lomography I have never investigated if FSU is still making new cameras for them. <strong>Chris</strong>,it might be a small but good investment.<strong>Kozma</strong>,thank you for this anecdote about what really happened.<strong>Gabor</strong>, the Yahoo tech group Zenit has some information:<br>

<a href="http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Zenitcamera/">http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Zenitcamera/</a><br>

This link to the repair manual may work:<br>

<a href="http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/cDTsUOXkfyOS3TKk4oW2Oz0ELk-J1SPEo5QJMjeOFMiprEkp0JYRaX6dZmfovkrQeggake4ePi051sxGf-6CpCVZjDR2szcXGWE4unub8aJVRKzCbJr9HA/Zenit%20E%20Service%20Procedure.pdf">http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/cDTsUOXkfyOS3TKk4oW2Oz0ELk-J1SPEo5QJMjeOFMiprEkp0JYRaX6dZmfovkrQeggake4ePi051sxGf-6CpCVZjDR2szcXGWE4unub8aJVRKzCbJr9HA/Zenit%20E%20Service%20Procedure.pdf</a></p>