The most popular camera manufactured by KMZ with huge 3.334.540 total production.
Basically later Zenit-V = B is a cheaper versuion of E without the uncoupled selenium cell exposure meter, when EM adds automatic aperture closing and has slightly different layout on top controls. Many prefer E as it is a reliable and cheap workhorse, and shutter release button is well placed in the center of film advance lever.

Cameras made befores spring 1967 had the old ZM39-mount, later ones with popular M42-thread. No aperture contol between lens and camera, so only manual and preset lenses can be used.

Several minor modifications and sold under many brandnames but the basic design remained same through production. Biggest visible modification is flash shoe, which is fixed in later production and removable in the beginning.

Few "black" variation was made. Black Zenit E is harder to find.

From 1976 to 1980 Zenit E was prodused with Olimpic marking.

Cloth shutter with horizontal movement, speeds 1/30 - 1/500s and B, flash sync X and M. Auto return mirror, finder has only matt groundglass without focus aids. Meter usually 16 - 500 GOST/ASA.

Typical normal lens preset 58mm f:2 Helios-44 like in the picture, or manual Industar-50 50mm f:3,5.

Camera in picture is an olympic model with a genious repair of sel timer: lever has been removed and hole covered with leatherette! Produced in 1978 so already two years before the event.

English Manual is available here

Second camera pictured (#69086732) has a better leatherette and brown case, more typical to be found in early ones with M39-mount. supposed to be for export, and better overall finish.

Fourth camera pictured (#80196326) is KMZ-production, but the "E" is placed in the LH-end of top plate