Zenit Auto

<p>Altough this camera is later I put it here as it is somewhat similar to the OM-10 which is here.The Zenit Auto was one of the first designs to follow those based on the die-cast aluminium Zenits, of which there were numerous variations.<br>

It is polycarbonate bodied and by my scale weighs about 130 grams less than my aluminium bodied Zenit TTL.It is aperture priority auto only, no manual, and has a split image rangefinder.I'm not sure but don't think the aluminium bodied Zenits had split image rangefinders, my Zenit TTL does not.The Zenit Auto is quite a rare camera, hardly mentioned even in the Zenit cameras yahoo group.<br>

The Helios 44K-4 lens is 58mm f2 and unlike lenses on the earlier aluminium Zenits it is Pentax K bayonet mount.<br>

I do think that some of the old resolution tests on FSU lenses, which were presumeably on-film resoultion results,gave poor results because of the low resolution of the FSU film used.Here is a more modern test of a Helios 44 where the lens is tested under the name "Cosmogon",it compares well with some Japanese lenses.<br>

<a href="http://www.pixophrenia.com/Pages/results-fast.htm">http://www.pixophrenia.com/Pages/results-fast.htm</a></p><div></div>

<p>Here are some portraits, all taken at f4.With the split image it was easy to focus and the autoexposure was welcome on a very cold day.The background blur decreases as the subject gets furthur away.Alex quickly removed her ear covering hat for these pics.</p><div></div>

<p>A bit furthur away:</p><div></div>

<p>The first daffodils of spring already came out:</p><div></div>

<p>Finally I just like to say I think this camera has a lot going for it as a user classic,especially if the weather is cold and windy.<br>

Thanks for any comment.</p>

<p>What scanner do you use to scan in the negs? </p>

Epson V700, James.I find it adequate to make 15 in wide prints from 35 mm.

<p>Thanks for sharing with us.<br>

My only Zenit is decent, but completely manual; and built very much on the same philosophy as the T-34 tank.<br>

The Helios continues to live up to its Zeiss Biotar heritage, doesn't it. </p>

<p>Camera looks like a Ricoh clone that works well.</p>

<p>I've been using a Zenith 12XP lately with the 58mm lens. I have found the quality from this lens quite acceptable and I've been running tests lately with Fuji C200 negative film. Have a look at 3 samples below.<br /> Photo 1 - 1/125th sec at f11<br /> Photo 2 - 1/125th sec at f11<br /> Photo 3 - 1/30th sec at f4<br /><br /><br /> <a href="http://s1327.photobucket.com/user/Pallas2020/media/Scenics/013_zpsa3ca27cb.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u667/Pallas2020/Scenics/013_zpsa3ca27cb.jpg" alt=" photo 013_zpsa3ca27cb.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://s1327.photobucket.com/user/Pallas2020/media/Scenics/011_zpsa1bea7b4.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u667/Pallas2020/Scenics/011_zpsa1bea7b4.jpg" alt="Sanquhar Church Bell Tower photo 011_zpsa1bea7b4.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://s1327.photobucket.com/user/Pallas2020/media/Extras/006_filtered_zps9544adfc.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u667/Pallas2020/Extras/006_filtered_zps9544adfc.jpg" alt="Crumpled Paper photo 006_filtered_zps9544adfc.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>

<p>Surely Cosina didn't make this? Looks like the other Cosina based cameras from that period, the Konica, Nikon, and various others including the new series of Voigtlander randefinders.<br>

Maybe Zenit took a leaf from their page? Great to see that the Helios still lives on, a much underrated lens, and your portraits look excellent...especially the closest one.</p>

<p>Now that's one Zenit I haven't come across; it certainly has a generic OEM look about it. Nice pics of Alex, though I always find the Helios OOF effects a little distracting, with the Biotar swirl. I've been putting together a future post on the Zenit EM, and I find the Helios is excellent for graphic, minimalist subjects; it's a "harsh" kind of lens with a sort of Cold War look about the images, but very sharp and contrasty. Here's a sample of the kind of work I feel suits it well.</p><div></div>

<p>Alan,<br /> Zenit Auto is no rare camera. Some of them had an electronic circuit board made in France and therefore people unofficially called them a"French". It can be distinguished by few details like it can not automatically produce more than 1s exposure and they have faster blinking self timer. If you got one of those "Frenches" consider yourself lucky since they are really reliable.</p>

<p>Nice work <strong>Alan; </strong>I have a number of these Soviet lenses. I have not found any of them to be of less than good quality. Zenith seems to have made many models after the E-series; most were not available in overseas markets. I even recall one that had speeds up to 1/1000 sec. Some later models I saw in the Bazaar here had very bright view finders too! Thanks for the post. Look forward to more. SP</p>

<p><strong>JDM</strong>,we poor people inherited the Helios from the rich who could afford the Biotar,except I admit to owning a silver 1960 Helios as well.<strong>Fred</strong>,yes the Zenit auto is rather like the Ricoh XR-2,but was quite a bit later and less well specified.<strong>Mike</strong>,I saw the original photo 2 before it got deleted and it does appear the Helios will outdo any commercial scanner used to make ordinary enlargements.<strong>Tony</strong>, KMZ made the Zenit Auto around the last days of the FSU in a suburb of Moscow.They were several years later than the Japanese to produce such a camera and would have had a chance to get a good look at the cameras you mention.<br>

Thanks,<strong> Rick </strong>for noting these features of the Helios, it makes classics more interesting if one can spot such differences.<strong>Kozma</strong>,thank you for your observations about the best electronics for this camera being made in France.I tried mine, it seems to be the plain vanilla FSU variety.<strong>SP</strong>,all my Soviet lenses are good resolution except an Industar 26M.But as you have interestingly noted before there are more things to a lens than good resolution.You mention the later Zenits but these were made in the early days of their form of capitalism and I think they had to cut costs so I recon the Zenit Auto was one of the best Zenits. <br>

Thanks to all who replied.</p>

<p>Hi Alan,<br /> Reposted that image number 2. I'm not sure how it got deleted but reposting so that enthusiasts may see what you're referring to. What it demonstrates to me is if you're an amateur photographer you don't need to spends lots of money to get great results.</p>

<p><a href="http://s1327.photobucket.com/user/Pallas2020/media/Scenics/011_zps5e9fd9bd.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u667/Pallas2020/Scenics/011_zps5e9fd9bd.jpg" alt="Sanquhar Church Bell Tower photo 011_zps5e9fd9bd.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>