When I first started to get interested in expanding my film camera collection, I really wanted to pick up cameras with character. Sure, of course I was interested in getting my hands on staple film cameras like the Pentax K1000 and the Nikon F, but I also wanted to acquire the not so popular SLR film cameras. The cameras that aren’t usually recommended on forums, the cameras at your local camera store that sit alone, unwanted in the back of the display because of their lack of traditionally prioritized and attractive camera features. I now own a handful of cameras that you would consider “rejects” amongst some of the more popular ones, and they’re all incredibly unique, with really cool origins behind them. Let’s talk about one – the Russian tank of SLR film cameras; the Zenit-E.
The Zenit-E (also spelled Zenith) first came upon my radar on eBay when I would aimlessly browse the website for cheap finds. I came across a ton cameras brandishing Russian brand names like FED, Zorki, Kiev, and eventually Zenit. In fact, there are tons of Zenits in exceptional condition for really cheap on eBay. They’re clunky, large, heavy, and very minimal in features. Check out the full camera manual here. With shutter speeds of B, 1/30 (X), 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, and 1/500, you could say it is a simple camera. It also sports the classic M42 lens mount. One of the coolest things about this SLR is the light meter on it. It is powered by a selenium cell, which is usually dead after 20 years. A weird camera for sure. You can walk into a camera store and ask to see the Zenits and they’ll probably ask you “Why?”. Just for that reason, I needed to own one.
I pretty much scoured OfferUp and LetGo for a few weeks before one popped up. A seller in Chicago, just what I wanted. The camera was in pretty great condition, and it had every fine detail a camera collector interested in history could ask for. This Zenit was different than most. Not only did it have the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics logo (which the USA boycotted) engraved into it and an original Helios 44-2 lens, but it had more history. It had the badge! This camera was rebadged, branded, and sold in the United States as a “Kalimar SR200” camera. As an American during the late 70s and early 80s it might have felt or looked weird buying a camera with a Russian name or brand on it. In this case, Zenit slapped a new name on their E camera models and sold those rebadged models to US retailers with the hopes of getting the USSR made cameras into the hands of Americans. You can check out other names for different world markets here.
It was time to meet Miroslaw, the Russian man who was selling me his late father’s camera. The journey begins. I had to make it to the Harlem Green Line stop from Old Town which meant it was time to subway surf. I hopped on the Brown Line south from Old Town to the Green Line transfer in the Loop and from there I headed West. It was a frigid night to be standing outside of a dark subway station for a half hour, waiting to meet a stranger off of the internet. But alas, Miroslaw arrived, showed me the camera and original case that it had came in (made out of a strong odored Russian Ox Hide), and the transaction was complete. Just like that, after 50 minutes of public transportation and travel, it was time to turn around for another 50 minutes of public transportation and travel. You know that feeling when you would go pick up a toy from the toy store with your parents and you’d be in the car waiting to get home to play? That’s me, every time I pick up a camera.
First thing’s first, that badge had to come off – and it did with ease. I kept the badge, don’t worry!
I always do a function check at the point of purchase with all of my cameras, but for some reason I fumbled that when I was with the seller and just handed him my $30, thanked him greatly, and went on my way. I was just too excited to finally get my hands on this camera. After a long night of riding the subway all I wanted to do was test. Luckily when I got home and did a full function test, all functions were operational and smooth – even the selenium cell light meter! The needle on the meter was moving, but to truly test if it was functioning I needed to go out and make some pictures.
The shutter on the Zenit-E is probably the loudest I have in my collection. It is trigger-esque. Nobody lied though when they said it was a tank of an SLR! But these are the things that make it stand alone from other SLRs manufactured from different countries. In Russia, they just did things differently. Not a single camera in my collection compares to my Zenit-E in any way, shape, or form.
Below are a few black and white photos I made from one of the first few rolls I ever loaded into this camera. Ilford Delta 100.
So, for all of you camera geeks like me who seek out the rejects, the ugly, the unwanted…go buy a Zenit-E! These Russian relics are simple and so much fun to shoot with, while also making great pieces for any collector.
P.S.: A friend told I needed to start sharing some of my photos, so if you want to see some siiickkkkkk photos, you can keep up with my Instagram page here.
Shutter Hunter 