ZENIT-E (KMZ)

According to J L Princelle, when the Zenit-E was first produced it did not have an instant return mirror. I have two early Zenit-E cameras, but both have instant return mirrors. Has anyone seen a Zenit-E without an instant return mirror, and if so what is the serial number?

David.

Good evening David!
I have a number of very early Zenit-E #65000062.
http://www.ussrcameras.ru/?rp=1&action=tovar&tovar_category=141&id=356
This camera have instant return mirror.
Maybe J L Prinselle knows even earlier versions?

Thank you very much for your reply. As your camera is number 62, I think we can be pretty sure that all production Zenit-E cameras did have an instant return mirror.

David.

The book in German by Alexander Schulz (http://www.g-st.ch/privat/kameras/zenitbuch.html) also quotes this information by Princelle, but admits that there isn't any Zenit E known without instant return mirror.

Off-topic: Is it correct to write "there <u>isn´t any</u> Zenit E known" or should I have said "there <u>is any</u> Zenit E known"?

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="MS Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Off-topic: Is it correct to write "there isn´t any Zenit E known" or should I have said "there is any Zenit E known"?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Both sentences seem to be correct, though the last question is better. If someone asks me "don't you want some coffee?" and the answer is yes... I would not get my coffee if the sentence was taken literally. [:D]

I don't know how common it is in other languages to ask denying questions, but they might be confusing.

On Topic: I don't think a Zenit E without instant return mirror existed. The new model was designed to have one. Early models are sometimes found with the old Leica tread mount.

Hello Milo

Well, in german the double negation is an affirmation, BTW. But that's not the point.

Early Zenit E and B don't use the M42/1mm mount, but a M39/1mm mount, that's true. But the flange distance (distance between lens mount and film/sensor) was the same as on M42, will say 45.46mm (and not 28.8mm like on M39/LTM). Small adaptor rings from 39 to 42mm where used to adapt early Helios-44 lenses to later Zenit E/B. I own some of this stuff but only one Zenit E with M39 mount; there are quite rare and most of the sellers don't even know about this.

Best wishes - Guido

Early Zenit E and B have M39 mount and the flange distance 45,2mm

Hello Alex

My sources say 45.5mm or 45.46mm (add film thickness and you will get 45.50mm):

http://www.graphics.cornell.edu/~westin/misc/mounts-alphabetical.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flange_focal_distance

And in the first list you will even find a entry for the Zenit 3M (with the same mount as early Zenit E/B).

Do you have better sources?

Best wishes - Guido

Guido
Alex is right according to original KMZ data, although difference is too little to be noted is most cases.
Regards
LP

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="MS Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Guido Studer</i>
<br />
Do you have better sources?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I have! GOST 10332-72 and GOST 10332-63
http://www.zenitcamera.com/qa/qa-gost10332-72.html
http://www.zenitcamera.com/qa/qa-gost10332-63.html

P.S. If anyone thinks that 45.5 mm is only in a Russian standard, please refer for example to:
http://www.zenitcamera.com/archive/lenses/flektogon-2-8-35-adb-lk.tif

P.P.S. About a history of "45.46 mm" see
http://www.zenitcamera.com/archive/history/mounts.html#n1