First time using a camera, Zenit E. Film problem.

niyin · Jan 11, 2021

Hello. This is my first time using a camera. I recently procured the Zenit E as a little birthday gift from an old estate because I wanted a new hobby amongst my many others. I plan to consume the world!

Here's a rundown of my unit.
1. No major chips
2. Shutter works fine, closes and opens all the way, lets light in.
3. No signs of corrosion.
4. The selenium cell is surprisingly working. Light meter moves according to light source.
5. Mirror(?) Glass(?) inside the body is fine with no scratches or cracks.

The thing is I've only have the body. The camera did not come with any lenses but only the cover. I plan on getting the helios 44 as a starter. The problem with this is that since I'm fairly new I don't know how film truly works. I had some B&W 400 film from illford (From a local drug mart) just to try loading it up and prevent tearing the film for practice.

I don't know if you are able to take a shot without the lens, because when I tried taking a picture the film came out blank. No shapes, no lines no writings or names just completely blank. The film isn't expired nor has it been exposed. My ISO dial was set between 500 and 250 for reference. I just turned the outer dial so that the circle matched the meter. (Though I don't know how the outer numbers translate to shutter speeds, I've tried deciphering some videos but no luck).

Would I require the lens to focus a light source better on the film? I plan on getting one given everything else about the unit works fine, it's just nervousness as a first time user.

woodlandSerenade · Jan 11, 2021

Yes, you need a lens in order to focus light on the film plane and form an image. With an SLR what you see in the viewfinder is (almost) the same image that will be projected onto the film.
You haven't mentioned developing the film after your first lensless test. Did you return it to the same drug store to have it developed?

niyin · Jan 11, 2021

Alright thank you! And no I haven't I was just too excited. Given the time that I do get my lens and take pictures however, how will I know when the B&W film has been properly exposed? I've seen old films, the brown ones that have little pictures on them. Will this be any different for a B&W film roll? Or will it appear blank, then id just wait and get it developed in the drugstore to see if it truly caught pictures? What are a few indicators of a picture on a film roll if any?

MattKing · Jan 11, 2021

Welcome.
You will not see anything on film until it is developed.
And if you expose the film itself (not the cassette it is in) to light in any way other than through a lens in a camera, you will destroy the utility of the film.
Most films are very, very sensitive to light, and need to be in complete darkness except when momentarily exposed in a camera.

woodlandSerenade · Jan 11, 2021

Before you have the film developed, there is no indication that you've exposed a frame correctly. You only have your intuition regarding the camera working properly and your metering being correct.
Film isn't choosy about the light it receives. Any strip of film that is exposed to any perceivable light, it is as good as useless for taking pictures with. That's because an ideal camera is just a fancy, light-tight box. The only light you want hitting the film is the focused image projected from the camera lens.
So between the time the film is made, removed from it's packaging, installed in the camera, exposed, removed, and developed, you should not be able to see anything more than the first ~8" of leader that you thread onto the take-up spool of the camera.

Before you can see the images on the film, it has to be developed with chemicals respective to the type of film. Before this is done, there is zero indication that is has a latent image on it.

runswithsizzers · Jan 11, 2021

RE: "4. The selenium cell is surprisingly working. Light meter moves according to light source."

Just because the needle moves doesn't mean it will give an accurate reading. Some old seleniuim meters are no longer reliable. But some still are!

After you get a lens:
- if you use the camera meter settings for your test roll, also keep exposure notes.
- if you are not experienced in looking at negatives, get someone to help advise you if they think the negatives are too thin (underexposed), too dense (overexposed), or about right.
- if the meter is consistently off by about the same amount for each frame, you may be able to compensate by setting the meter to a different ASA / ISO.

If the camera meter is wildly inaccurate, it's no big deal because you can get a hand-held meter or learn to use the "Sunny 16" rule.

Bill Burk · Jan 11, 2021

Now since the Zenit is a “single lens reflex” camera, you can put any kind of lens in front of it, glasses or a coke bottle. Get the needle to line-up for the light, pick the shutter speed near 2 and look through the camera for any interesting picture to take. It might work fine

summicron1 · Jan 12, 2021

Niyin -- you need a lens, yes, but you also need to go to the library and check out a couple of books on basic film photography. Before you do anything with the camera check one out, or buy one somewhere, and read the whole thing, cover-to-cover.

Go on-line, do a google search for the owner manual for that camera, and read it cover-to-cover with the camera, lens and film in your hand. Spend a whole night doing this.

THEN load the camera, shoot a roll, and don't be surprised if the results are crap. This is how we learn.

Helios 1984 · Jan 12, 2021

I like the 44-2 but I would not recommend it to a beginner because of its odd 2 rings preset mechanism which can be tricky. Instead, I would suggest the 44M which has an automatic/manual switch.

edit: 44M-4 needs to be modified to be compatible with Zenit E.

Donald Qualls · Jan 12, 2021

One of the better features of that Zenit is that it can use any of the huge variety of lenses with the Pentax-Praktica or PP mount -- also commonly called M42 because the thread is 42mm diameter. That means, assuming you can verify the camera is working correctly, you aren't limited to Soviet/Russian made lenses, but can also use the many very high quality Japanese and German made lenses in that mount.

I agree, do get an "automatic" lens -- preset lenses are one more thing to remember when you're trying to make a picture. I'll also second everything said above about reading up on how to operate a 35mm SLR in general. BUT -- assuming the shutter speeds are fairly close, and you get a lens with correctly working automatic diaphragm, you'll have a far more usable camera than my first 35mm (a Kodak Pony 135 Model B, back around 1972). The reflex viewfinder is a huge advantage -- because as noted, what you see in the viewfinder is what goes on the film (give or take some at the edges; I recall the Zenit will give you some there that you can't see in the viewfinder).

Dali · Jan 12, 2021

Helios 1984 said:
I like the 44-2 but I would not recommend it to a beginner because of its odd 2 rings preset mechanism which can be tricky. Instead, I would suggest the automatic 44M-4 which has a regular aperture ring or the 44M which is the same lens with an automatic/manual switch.

Not sure it is possible with a Zenit E as there is no diaphgram link between the camera and the lens (hence the preset lenses like Helios-44-2, Indusrat 50-2 or Mir-1).

foc · Jan 12, 2021

The Zenit E will not operate the iris on an auto lens. The Zenit EM does.
I think, even for a beginner, a preset lens would be best. It just takes a few minutes to learn how it works. Yes there will be mistakes, but that is part of the learning process.
The fact the Op has decided to go with a Zenit E, your most basic and simplest SLR, would suggest a preset lens to me. Why not go the whole manual hog.
If you have to learn how to use a Zenit E then learning how to use a preset lens is easy..
Maybe you could also try an M42 Induestar 50, but the viewfinder will darken as you stopdown.
The Industar 50 is probably cheaper than a Helios 44-2.
Go with both.
Don't forget to read the manual.
https://www.cameramanuals.org/russian_pdf/zenith_e-35-english.pdf

AgX · Jan 12, 2021

foc said:
The Zenit E will not operate the iris on an auto lens. The Zenit EM does.
I think, even for a beginner, a preset lens would be best.

For the Zenit E any lens with the common M42 thread can be used, that either
-) got no steel pin protruding out of the rear ring with that thread
or
-) got such pin, but also a Auto/Manual switch, that must be put at M.

BGriffin23 · Jan 12, 2021

Some links for the OP On getting started in film photography:
The Art of Photography - Photography Basics - Also check out the whole YouTube channel as Ted Forbes is great
Ilford - Introduction to Film Photography - Similiar info from Ilford
Mastering the Basics of Photographer by Susan McCartney - Oldy but goodie intro to the subject
Good luck and have fun!

Helios 1984 · Jan 12, 2021

AgX said:
For the Zenit E either any lens with the common M42 thread can be used, that
-) got no steel pin protruding out of the rear ring with that thread
or
-) got such pin, but also a Auto/Manual switch, that must be put at M.

or there's always the old heat shrink conversion trick. That's how I used my 44M-4 on my Rebel XT, back when I was actively using digital.

AgX · Jan 12, 2021

I wanted to keep all simple in content and wording.

(There a various approaches to keep that pin depressed.)

Ko.Fe. · Jan 12, 2021

Get rid on this camera. Most likely it is not working. And based on what you have posted, it is not your type of camera.
Get recent Nikon or Canon Autofocus, auto everything SLR with matching lens.
This will allow you to get correct exposures.

Kyle M. · Jan 12, 2021

A manual for the Zenit E there should be one online, a compatible lens, handheld meter or at least a light meter app, and some YouTube videos on exposure and how film works is what I would recommend.

AgX · Jan 12, 2021

Unless one buys a full-auto SLR where one actually only has to press 1 button, the Zenit is no bad choice, just because it has only few controls.
Furthermore it is one of the most sold SLRs of the world.

And I guess the OP just wanted something different from a digi-cam of any sorts.

As above already indicated I strongly advise too reading some 70's/80's books on photography. Over here libraries already long before 2010 had thrown out their film photography related How-To books. Anyway, any book by for instance Langford or Freeman (both bestsellers) is a good start.

Ko.Fe. · Jan 12, 2021

I work in customer support for decades now. From OP it is obvious what manual camera is not OP thing at all.
Especially real estate Zenit E without lens. FSU these days means junk most of the time and wasting money on lens OP has no clue which to get is just same wrong direction.

Not a big deal, but OP is about to get nice looking FSU camera withi some lens as cute display item.

First time using a camera, Zenit E. Film problem.

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