Zenit SLX / TOE

Anyone got a history behind this export? I see these from time to time and they all seem to be in almost like new condition.. is it a modern remanufacture of Zenit E in all black?

Here's the eBay link:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ZENIT-Black-Camera-non-digital-Case-Flash-Box-42mm_W0QQitemZ290155342377QQcmdZViewItemQQssPageNameZRSS:B:SRCH:GB:101

Vlad

Vlad
I suggest to include these pictures in our camera file. As I know, this is the dark side of the TOE history and Russian cameras in England. Really these cameras are unsold Zenit 11 which were "rebadged" through a sticker glued over the "11" The "Helios" flash and teleconverter are Japanese goods which were also sold by TOE. Those goods came from the close-out of the TOE camera business near 1995. I visited TOE in 1975 and saw the selling points they had in London. It was very impressive. Almost all camera shop had Russian gear. Radios also were sold to the millions! you find them at any place.
I really cannot know how was lost this extraordinary market!
LP

Cool, thanks Luiz!

There are no good images in this seller's listing otherwise I would've asked his permission to re-post these here.. Generally eBay images are copyrighted and require seller's permission.

Not to seem totally ignorant.. what's TOE? :)

Thanks,
Vlad.

"TOE" stands for "Technical & Optical Equipment Ltd-London" (the main firm) also partner of "EWA" "East-West Agencies BV Den-Haag Nederlands" and also smaller branches "TOE Hamburg Germany" "TOE Geece","TOE Spain" and "TOE Portugal" also factory "CSS" "Cine Sales Service Bombay India".
Was the largest and most agressive world wide Soviet camera distributor specialist. Also sold Microscopes, Technical instruments, Portable Radios, House radios, Electric Measuring instruments, Optical devices, Television sets, House Refrigerators... etc...etc... Interesting to know they distributed Lubitel and Smena made in India. and Zorki/Kiev finders 28 and 135mm (The Russians produced only the 35 and 85) Founded in 1960 - Operation from 1962... Was the greatest Foreign Soviet Partner. Its buys superseed various countries together.. A History that must be told and disclosed.
Mr Abramov Georgy pehaps can tell us.....

Wow! Thanks for the explanation! Very interesting! I wonder how would you identify if these Smenas and Lubitels were made in India? I want one! :)

Vlad

Lubitel and Smena Made in India
They are absolutely equal to the Russian models. In the lens bezel you see "CINE SALES CORPORATION" No mention about Made in India.
Very interesting are the finders which were made from turned aluminium, and further anodized. Today several accessories for the Zenit are made in India.

Thanks Luiz, I will look for those!

Vlad.

Smena was also made in China. Here is my notes about the ones that I have:

Changjiang from 1960
-Smena licence Jangtze river, made in Xibei NW-China. Serial 59000088 means this is a VERY early one, books say they were made around 1959 so possibilty is this is really number 88! Quality inside is awful, very rough finish around film opening. Chrome is very coarse and satin matt. Aeria in back around pressure plate where logo is looks very home made, like the mouldpart with GOMZ-logo was hammered away to be replaced with the chinese characters...

HuaShan from 1961
-Smena licence Hua mountain, made in Sichuan. Now case is very bad leatherette. Camera itself is better, and has a film instruction from 1981 in the ERC-pocket, in chinese naturally. Very thin paper! But it has been used at least around 1980... A bit better and smenalike chromes, rear cover looks factory made now. Smells horrible inside, the hospital like bittersweet one that I almost forgot. Serial 60022426 and book says these were made around 1961.

Pictures in my website!

http://www.cedricfan.sivut.ws/Juhani's%20website%20ORIGINAALIT/

Juhani,

Yes those are insane! :) The stinky Smenas! :) LOL! Have you tried using any of them? I wonder if there is any difference in image quality vs the Soviet ones..

Vlad

Maybe not all of you know, that Juhani is the great collector of Smena cameras (and not only Smenas for sure ...).

I have NEVER used a Smena for shooting, not yet...
And I have only 45 different Smena (included the rebadged ones) so only a modest collection

http://www.cedricfan.sivut.ws/Juhani's%20website%20ORIGINAALIT/

Post war Smena is a landmark in world camera construction. At first by funny (or strange) coincidence "The Change" or pehaps "The New Breed" appeard on the market just after Stalin's death. It marked the beginning of a new Russia politics.
But look to Original 1953 Smena, SmenaM Smena2 Smena2M Smena3 and Smena4 The finder are reminiscences of the VOOMP GOI,(from LOMO) itself an extension of the Leicas. and their lenses also accept 36mm accessories,and had front ring diaphragms, also reminiscesces of the Leicas, FEDs and Zorkis. A between the lens shutter and an extraordinary simple film advance- No rewind. The between the lens and advance system have a direct heritage from the Leica Compur! The cassete to cassete loading and removable back, obviously came from Contax! I did use these cameras and results are more than decent, Its lens originally (T22) 4.5 triplets with reduced focal length -This very interesting optical trick reduce aperture and focal length and lens elements - propiciates the same resoluton as Industar 22 at half the price! . and can use same sunshade filters and close-up lenses used in Leicas FEDs and Zorkis. No loss of quality versatility and an exceptional low price. Note that when Industar 22 upgraded their glasses to Industar 50 also Smenas' T22 upgraded to T 42 and soon after T43.
The new series born with Smena 5, herited the new original Zeiss Werra cristal block finder. This finder basis were first used on Contaxes, Super Ikontas and Super Nettels. Which better formula was known? The shape was changed absorbing Leningrad style, another atempt to reduce selling price was the incorporation of the reversible sunshade, again of Werra influence, and banning the costly (camera comparing) eveready case. Smena6, Smena7, Smena8 and Smena9 returned to the original camera and case formula, hoping spreading its sells, and they were better.
Sadly Smena 8M although mantaining the same general proven formula, deteriorated the overall mechanical quality probably because the paralel production of Smena SL, Smena Rapid, Smena Symbol models.
Smena 35 although with a fine lens and shutter was still worse in term of strength and presentation, but complicated desassemby for maintenace finally killed the camera. A wrong strategy.
LP

Juhani!
Congratulations for your exceptionally good camera collection. (also the bikes) particularly your Smenas and the Great Chinese Smenas.
Do you have the Chinese Lubitel? There were two. The Changle which was the exact Lubitel 2 and the Hong Mei 5 that uses all optics and shutter of the first, has a different plastic body with a Flexaret type crank focusing device.
LP

"The Changle"?? Are you serious?! LOL! Love the name! You got any links to images for those?

In the pages
http://www.novacon.com.br/influest4.htm and http://www.novacon.com.br/influest5.htm
you can see very interesting things. Russians were effective developers of all Chinese industries from 1949 to 1964 from Zil trucks to Mig airplanes, from matches to Naval industry and that included cameras. You can see "Chang Chiang" and "Nanjing" direct copies of FED2 even a "Zi Chin Chan" an extraordinary FED2 reflex accepting Zenit M39 lenses . "Chenguang" was born from Start.
"Chang Jiang", and "Huashan" were Smena reencarnations. also "Changle" duplicate the Lubitel, Several others can be seen in the various chapters on the article about Russian influences.
Our member Zhang shall be our expert!
LP
Note: For unknown reasons this same reply went to another matter.

hehehe.. it's like the bizzaro world, that is very interesting, same cameras but Chinese writing.

Removed the other reply by the way.

quote:

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Originally posted by Luiz Paracampo

Juhani!
Congratulations for your exceptionally good camera collection. (also the bikes) particularly your Smenas and the Great Chinese Smenas.
LP

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Thank you!

quote:

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Originally posted by Luiz Paracampo

Do you have the Chinese Lubitel? There were two. The Changle which was the exact Lubitel 2 and the Hong Mei 5
LP

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No, I did leave TLR and folding cameras out of my collection long long time ago. Or cameras with roll film that aren't SLR.
Ironically the chinese TLRs are a popular item so again I went my pwn way. As you know most Smena-collectors do know each other as they are so few
Juhani

http://www.cedricfan.sivut.ws/Juhani's%20website%20ORIGINAALIT/