Does anyone have a complete list of lenses for Zenit m39 mount?

RLangham · Mar 23, 2020

I'm sorry if this has been posted before, but does anyone have a reasonably complete list of the lenses for what I call the "Zenit Mount?" Which is to say, the large-flange-distance m39 mount used on Zenit 1 through 3m and Kristall, as well as prototypes of the Zenit E and B.

I haven't found a list anywhere. Most sites just mention the kit lens and say "few lenses were made for this mount" or something to that effect. I know the kit lens for the Zenit 1 was the I-22 and its sucessors all had the redesign of the I-22, the I-50. I'm also reasonably sure I've seen ebay listings of m39 SLR versions of Jupiter-3, Jupiter-9 and an image of the camera with a "Mir-1" wide angle (reverse telephoto?)

So my question is, is that it? Or are there a few more Jupiters et al made for this camera? Is there an exhaustive list anywhere?

Dali · Mar 23, 2020

Mir-1 and Helios-44 at least.

RLangham · Mar 23, 2020

Dali said:
Mir-1 and Helios-44 at least.

Oh, yeah, I remember seeing an H-44 on ebay. I want one for this camera!

I once bought an m42 H-44-2 at a Goodwill in Mississippi for a couple bucks. It was in a Vivitar leather case and I almost didn't even give it a second glance. It had a stuck focus ring and I could never get it open because of stripped set screws. It also had a ding in the mount threading that I would have had to straighten with a knife to put it on a camera. Well enough, because the shutter on my old Yashica TL Electro-X just seized up so I don't have an m42 camera at all.

What about J-8?

AgX · Mar 23, 2020

Here is the listing:

Mir-1
Industar-22
Industar-50
Helios-44
Helios-40
Tair-11
Jupiter-6
Telemar-22

AgX · Mar 23, 2020

I like the Zenit 3M, but I do not think I likely shall come across locally any other lenses than the Helios or Industar.

And adapting M42 lenses would be a major mechanical operation of making a new mount at the lens.

AgX · Mar 23, 2020

RLangham said:
...as well as prototypes of the Zenit E and B.

No, not prototypes, but a production run until KMZ realized that M42 would make their SLR's much more versatile. About 120,000 samples of the E model.
But to my understanding no B-models with M39 were made.

RLangham · Mar 23, 2020

AgX said:
No, not prototypes, but a production run until KMZ realized that M42 would make their SLR's much more versatile. About 120,000 samples of the E model.
But to my understanding no B-models with M39 were made.

Really? 120,000 is a lot for it not to be more widely known.

RLangham · Mar 23, 2020

AgX said:
Here is the listing:

Mir-1
Industar-22
Industar-50
Helios-44
Helios-40
Tair-11
Jupiter-6
Telemar-22

I was sure there was a J-3 as well, though. Is there not?

AgX · Mar 23, 2020

RLangham said:
Really? 120,000 is a lot for it not to be more widely known.

But then again one should relate this figure to all samples of the E-model, which is 3.3 million.

gorbas · Mar 23, 2020

They also had Helios 40 1.5/85mm (I had it as well as J-9 and H44). Most likely they also had Jupiter 11 - 4/135 (they made that lens in M39rf, Kiev, M42 and Convas mount). Not sure for wide angle?

Dali · Mar 23, 2020

RLangham said:
I was sure there was a J-3 as well, though. Is there not?

J-3 and J-8 were for rangefinder cameras only.

M-88 · Mar 23, 2020

Jupiter-9 and Tair-3 should also be considered among M39 SLR lenses. Along with MTO-500.

As for the cameras, original Zenit, Zenit-S (misnamed Zenit-C in English), Zenit-3/3M, Crystall and early batches of Zenit-E all used M39x1 mm thread. 'Start' camera also had the same thread, but due to peculiar shutter release button, it had proprietary lenses.

RLangham · Mar 23, 2020

M-88 said:
Jupiter-9 and Tair-3 should also be considered among M39 SLR lenses. Along with MTO-500.

As for the cameras, original Zenit, Zenit-S (misnamed Zenit-C in English), Zenit-3/3M, Crystall and early batches of Zenit-E all used M39x1 mm thread. 'Start' camera also had the same thread, but due to peculiar shutter release button, it had proprietary lenses.

Yes, and I have a Zenit S in what is advertised as good shape coming by mail. I just love the early Leica-influenced SLR's. I used to own two early Prakticas and a Rectaflex with an improvised lens. Sold em all for less than they were worth, unfortunately

RLangham · Mar 23, 2020

AgX said:
But then again one should relate this figure to all samples of the E-model, which is 3.3 million.

That is... a lot of cameras. I suppose a huge number are in Britain due to their import laws, no?

AgX · Mar 23, 2020

The UK was a major market for Zenits and Prakticas. But in West-Germany one finds next to Praktikas also some Zenits, both in original and rebranded versions.
Concerning the UK I do not think import laws were the reason.

When referring to production figures typically the AE-1 is mentioned, but the Zenits were in the same league.

RLangham · Mar 23, 2020

AgX said:
The UK was a major market for Zenits and Prakticas. But in West-Germany one finds next to Praktikas also some Zenits, both in original and rebranded versions.
Concerning the UK I do not think import laws were the reason.

When referring to production figures typically the AE-1 is mentioned, but the Zenits were in the same league.

Ah, the AE-1. The Argus C3 of its time, in a way.

mohmad khatab · Mar 23, 2020

If your goals are a research study,
This great site contained all the history of the Russian photography industry from its first release until production ceased.
Unfortunately, the site is currently under maintenance.
http://www.sovietcams.com/
You may find some information on this site
https://digitalrev.com/2016/02/18/the-classic-cameras-of-russia/
And this is the official site for Russian Zenit cameras, and there is a forum on the fringes of this site that includes most of the genius lovers of Zenith cameras.
I tried to join them, but with great regret, they rejected me for racist reasons and described me as a terrorist terrorist.
http://www.zenitcamera.com/
I will put this inquiries to Dr. Olga, a Russian photographer, currently lives in the United Arab Emirates.
Maybe you can help us on this topic.

RLangham · Mar 23, 2020

mohmad khatab said:
If your goals are a research study,
This great site contained all the history of the Russian photography industry from its first release until production ceased.
Unfortunately, the site is currently under maintenance.
http://www.sovietcams.com/
You may find some information on this site
https://digitalrev.com/2016/02/18/the-classic-cameras-of-russia/
And this is the official site for Russian Zenit cameras, and there is a forum on the fringes of this site that includes most of the genius lovers of Zenith cameras.
I tried to join them, but with great regret, they rejected me for racist reasons and described me as a terrorist terrorist.
http://www.zenitcamera.com/
I will put this inquiries to Dr. Olga, a Russian photographer, currently lives in the United Arab Emirates.
Maybe you can help us on this topic.

I regret to hear of your harrowing experience! People sure can be bastards...

4season · Mar 23, 2020

RLangham said:
I was sure there was a J-3 as well, though. Is there not?

39mm SLR lenses are sometimes referred to as "Z39" to distinguish them from L39 rangefinder optics. Flange to focal plane distance is totally different.

RLangham · Mar 23, 2020

4season said:
39mm SLR lenses are sometimes referred to as "Z39" to distinguish them from L39 rangefinder optics. Flange to focal plane distance is totally different.

No, I know...
I saw an Ebay listing of the J-3 that claimed to be for Zenit. I thought even at the time that it might be a mistake, however.

mohmad khatab · Mar 23, 2020

RLangham said:
I regret to hear of your harrowing experience! People sure can be bastards...

Thanks for your sympathy for me.
I have learned a very wonderful new English word for you, which is (bastard).
In fact, this is a very strange tragedy.
These peoples are unique peoples, revolting sectarian pathetic.
- I was a fan of Russian culture and arts (not communism), but for the time being, I am no longer like this, because these people deal with us.
Every nation regards itself as the finest race between humans, and the rest of humanity are mere squalid.
Although Islam rejects this ideology, but with great regret, even the Muslims of Russia (Tatarstan, Chechnya, and others) are dominated by this evil sectarianism.
- Even if an Arab Muslim wants to marry a Chechen girl, her parents will refuse, and even herself will be rejected for racist reasons. Although they say they are Muslims and strictly adhere to the teachings of Islam, except for that point. What is this selective Islam, how can you believe in some book and reject some of it?
- All this is nonsense, nonsense and sick souls. Evil and revolting people (the majority of course only, maybe there are exceptions)
- Our colleague of the forum, Mr. Vova, brought me a recipe for preparing Beilex from a Russian forum, and I went to this forum and liked his topics a lot, and I applied for membership, but the request was rejected, and when I inquired from my Ukrainian friend about this, he said to me, (I also applied and was rejected, and the refusal is due to racist reasons.)
- I was very surprised

M-88 · Mar 24, 2020

RLangham said:
Yes, and I have a Zenit S in what is advertised as good shape coming by mail. I just love the early Leica-influenced SLR's. I used to own two early Prakticas and a Rectaflex with an improvised lens. Sold em all for less than they were worth, unfortunately

Oh, in that case I must say congratulations to you, because that camera is essentially a Zorki (Leica copy) with mirror box. Back in my teenage years Zenit S was the cheapest camera available but I dismissed it because of non-instant return mirror and a basic matte glass for focusing screen. Back then, Zenit TTL was what everyone wanted

RLangham · Mar 24, 2020

M-88 said:
Oh, in that case I must say congratulations to you, because that camera is essentially a Zorki (Leica copy) with mirror box. Back in my teenage years Zenit S was the cheapest camera available but I dismissed it because of non-instant return mirror and a basic matte glass for focusing screen. Back then, Zenit TTL was what everyone wanted

Yes, it was a toss-up for me between finding a Zorki 3 or 3m for a little more, or the Zenit. And I figured I wanted to see some Russian glass from the focusing screen for once...

Martin Singleton · Apr 1, 2020

Jupiter 11, 135mm, was made in M39 as well as M42. I've got one stashed away somewhere in the plain brushed metal finish.

Does anyone have a complete list of lenses for Zenit m39 mount?

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