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Zenit M

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Printed on: 5/7/2026 2:41:40 PM


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Topic author: Vlad

Posted on: 20180926071810

SOURCE KMZ Zenit/Shvabe

COLOGNE, Germany, September 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Krasnogorsky Zavod, manufacturer of the Russian brand Zenit, in cooperation with Leica Camera AG, German manufacturer of premium cameras and optics, designed a new digital rangefinder camera Zenit M. The Shvabe Holding, part of Rostec, has presented this product at Photokina 2018, the largest international trade fair for the photographic and imaging industries held in Cologne.

(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/750091/KMZ_Zenit.jpg )

One of the participants of the project is Krasnogorsky Zavod (KMZ Zenit), a leading designer of photographic equipment in Russia, is now part of Shvabe. The Zenit M is technically based on the Leica M Type 240 platform, but was modified both in terms of hardware and software.

The camera is equipped with Zenitar 35 mm f/1.0 lens, completely designed and manufactured in Russia, 100% of its components and materials are Russian-made. The lens creates an image that doesn't require processing, has unique bokeh and soft focus effect.

The design of Zenit M copies designs of the legendary Zenit and Zorky cameras, it's a full-frame rangefinder camera made for shooting under various conditions.

The official presentation took place with participation of Andreas Kaufmann, major shareholder and chairman of Leica Camera AG supervisory board, Alexey Patrikeyev, CEO of Shvabe, Ivan Ozhgikhin, Deputy CEO of Shvabe, and Vadim Kaliugin, CEO of KMZ Zenit.

"Zenit and Leica cooperation forms a unique alliance between long-term experience in optics manufacturing and modern technologies of Russia and Germany. With this project we for the first time declare launch of world famous Russian brand Zenit into the new segment of photography equipment market," said Alexey Patrikeyev, CEO of Shvabe.

Zenit M will be available from December 2018 in Europe and from January 2019 in Russia at both Zenit's online store and selected photo shops.

"On purchasing the camera and the lens the users will get not only a high-quality device with elaborate ergonomic design and high optical characteristics, but a really smart camera which will provide high image quality," reported Vadim Kaliugin, CEO of KMZ Zenit.

At Photokina 2018 Shvabe also presents the whole line of Zenitar and Helios lenses manufactured by KMZ Zenit as well as historic models of SLR and rangefinder cameras. This exposition is also completed with products of another Shvabe enterprise, LZOS. Along with other showpieces the leading manufacturer of space and astronomy optics demonstrates mirror-meniscous telescopic photo lens MC Rubinar-10/1000 with high light transmission and image contrast.

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent/2692018_1.jpeg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/2692018_1.jpeg

Original article: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zenit-and-leica-present-joint-production-camera-807533135.html

Replies

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20180926072121

I wonder if there is any pricing information

Reply author: schyter

Replied on: 20180926084408

the deadly hug
the devil and holy water
etc

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Only dead fish follow the stream ...

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20180926103849

You're referring to the Zenit-Leica marriage? [:D] [:D]

Here's another image.

Vlad

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent/2692018_42622418_312670349535057_1796986622697275392_n.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/2692018_42622418_312670349535057_1796986622697275392_n.jpg

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20180926104116

According to Channel News Asia

Price will €5,000 to €6,000 (US$5,900 to US$7,000).
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/leica-revives-iconic-soviet-zenit-camera--10761046

Reply author: uwittehh

Replied on: 20180926105545

Vlad, really interesting.

Here is more information and pictures.
https://www.dpreview.com/news/9034303849/photokina-2018-hands-on-with-zenit-m

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

Reply author: rkaipov

Replied on: 20180926114023

Zenit goes back to the roots

Reply author: schyter

Replied on: 20180926124530

but the instructions in the manual are in Cyrillic ?

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Only dead fish follow the stream ...

Reply author: cedricfan

Replied on: 20180926140158

Even the price is as crazy as in USSR...

Best regards,
Juhani

Reply author: AlexanderK

Replied on: 20181014014224

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="MS Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by cedricfan</i>
<br />Even the price is as crazy as in USSR...

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Is not, Juhani.
In the USSR a Zenit-E/EM camera cost about 1 to 1,5 month salaries and you could theoretically buy it.
Today the av. good month salary is about 700$ (48-50.000 rub). So, to buy this camera you have to save money about a year.
Those persons who can afford to pay that money for the camera, will buy original Leica, but not Zenit-M. So, this camera can only appear on shelves of crazy collectors.

Regards, Alexander

Reply author: seany65

Replied on: 20181207144309

The pricing does seem to be bit of a shame. It needs to be a quite a bit cheaper to get anyone to buy it. I don't really see the point of it.

Reply author: SteveA

Replied on: 20181209053132

Yes I agree- the whole ethos of USSR cameras is reasonable quality at a low price. Not sure I'd want to pay that sort of price for a camera with the Zenit name on it???

Reply author: Vlad

Replied on: 20181214134104

Also duplicate model name [:)]

http://www.ussrphoto.com/resize/resize_image.aspx?ImgWd=800&IptFl=/UserContent/14122018_a6LBD0CGTHE.jpg


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/14122018_a6LBD0CGTHE.jpg