Help identifying a Zenit camera

Hi all - I've just recently acquired a Zenit camera, and in the process of trying to learn my way around it's functions. But I am struggling to identify the exact model. It looks very much like a Zenit E, but the shutter release is in a different spot.. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have attached some photos.

That looks very much like my Zenit EM. In fact, it is identical aprt from colour..

Hi Peltigera - thank you!

You most likely got a Zenit EM.

One now may wonder why the designation is missing. You may check if it actually yields all features of the EM, especially the automatic diaphragm.
It instead may be an inbetween special model.

At second look I realize that the area where otherwise the Zenit name was placed got an aluminium patch.
Does this come true for the other side, where the model designation should be, too?

Maybe this is an aftermarket modification to just disguise the camera, or to give it a new (dealer-) designation that meanwhile has rubbed off, or was wiped off deliberately.

Looks like you've got a Cosmorex!

AgX said:

At second look I realize that the area where otherwise the Zenit name was placed got an aluminium patch.
Does this come true for the other side, where the model designation should be, too?

Maybe this is an aftermarket modification to just disguise the camera, or to give it a new (dealer-) designation that meanwhile has rubbed off, or was wiped off deliberately.

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Hey! Great spot on the patch!! That's exactly what was there, I've just pulled it off...

4season said:

Looks like you've got a Cosmorex!

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Great shout, that's it.

So it seems a EM custom labelled by KMZ, with brand and model just on one side which later got covered. Either by the user or maybe by someone who bought a surplus batch either from KMZ or that Cosmorex entity under the prerequisite to sell them with covered label.

Your photos bring it all back. I had a much earlier version, but the build seems to have remained agricultural. The shutter button reminds me of a potato masher.

Can still be made to take decent photos, though. I hope you enjoy yours.

brengmurphy said:

Hi all - I've just recently acquired a Zenit camera, and in the process of trying to learn my way around it's functions. But I am struggling to identify the exact model. It looks very much like a Zenit E, but the shutter release is in a different spot.. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have attached some photos.

Click to expand...

Hi, Zenit EM. Sometimes they were rebadged, just by sticking a plate over the name. SLX was one of them. I think Dixons in the UK also rebadged them.
Does yours have 'the zenit crack' in the viewfinder? This is caused by foam just above the prism rotting and eating into the prism silvering. It gets worse and worse until the camera is unusable. Please consider changing the foam under the prism, it will stop the damage progressing.
Please visit the facebook group Zenit Camera Club

snusmumriken said:

Your photos bring it all back. I had a much earlier version, but the build seems to have remained agricultural. The shutter button reminds me of a potato masher.

Can still be made to take decent photos, though. I hope you enjoy yours.

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Even the plastic 122s have the same internal workings, just with an outer plastic wrapper ) There were some improvements, but the basic shutter mechanism remained the same.

The first two numbers of the serial number is production year. Yours is 1975.

Niglyn said:

Hi, Zenit EM. Sometimes they were rebadged, just by sticking a plate over the name. SLX was one of them. I think Dixons in the UK also rebadged them.
Does yours have 'the zenit crack' in the viewfinder? This is caused by foam just above the prism rotting and eating into the prism silvering. It gets worse and worse until the camera is unusable. Please consider changing the foam under the prism, it will stop the damage progressing.
Please visit the facebook group Zenit Camera Club

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Hi Niglyn, yes it does unfortunately... Are they replaceable or is it simply a case of stopping the damage? It would be great to be signposted to a trustworthy repairer of these cameras. Thanks!

Is the camera auto aperture like the lens suggests? If so that is a big step up from the Zenit E.

The main upgrading feature of the EM is the automatic diaphragm (it got more such features).
I only questioned this as in this very sample the exact model was not clear.

brengmurphy said:

Hi Niglyn, yes it does unfortunately... Are they replaceable or is it simply a case of stopping the damage? It would be great to be signposted to a trustworthy repairer of these cameras. Thanks!

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Hi, I do not know of anybody who repairs Zenits. I do mine myself. Every Zenit I own, I have replaced the prism foam. They all rot, even if it is not yet showing in the prism, it will be rotting and will damage the prism in the future.
It will slowly degrade and get worse, eventually the prism will turn orange!
There are no new prisms available in the world (I have looked) so the best option is to remove the foam & sticky goo, to stop the problem getting worse.

I don't think camera repairers generally touch Zeints. You could try searching 'tinternet for one close to you and see if they would just do a foam remove, clean & replace.

(edit, realised it was an EM, not E)
It is easy enough to do yourself. There are plenty of youtube videos showing how to remove the top.
The two tricky bits are removing the centre disk around the exposure counter, it is a right hand thread, you need to wind on (cock the shutter) put a pair if dividers (like a two pointed pair of compasses used for drawing circles) in the two little holes and turn clockwise without slipping. Then when loose, press the shutter button to de-cock it.
(end edit)

Second is removing the winding lever without the spring unwinding (there is a little trick to doing this, easy when you know requiring just a thin piece of metal, like a paperclip put into one of the screw holes)

When the top is off, the prism & prism foam can clearly be seen. Undo the prism clamp and carefully pick off the foam, then use IPA to gently remove the rest of the sticky. Replace with a new bit of foam sponge, but put a piece of aluminium foil (kitchen foil) between the prism & new foam.
Remove the other bit of sticky foam to the side of the prism & replace with something similar, I use self adhesive closed cell EDPM foam (bought from Ebay. I replace the bit of foam under the viewfinder as well.

Photo shows a plastic topped ET, but it is very similar.
Blue arrows show where the original foam to be replaced is.
(Red arrows are where I add additional light seals as the plastic ETs are known for light leaks, green arrow is where light gets down the side of the prism & where I add a light baffle)

The brown line on the top of the prism is something Zenit put on their prisms, no idea why. Anyway, the foam under the black prism clamp degrades and eats into this material, spreading along it and then into the silvering underneath. This is why you get a horizontal line.

I'm happy to assist with guidance & photos if you want to have a go at replacing the foam.
Zenit Es go for 99p on Ebay. You may be lucky & get one with a good prism, or get one for 99p to practice taking apart before attempting on your own one.





Below is a Zenit 12XP, the horrible sticky brown foam can be seen. The E does not have the wires or circuit boards, so is easier to work on.

Niglyn said:

Hi, I do not know of anybody who repairs Zenits.

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My first though "Can't be", my second thought "None comes to my mind who list Zenits".

But as you already indicated, Zenits are likely the most ideal SLR models to give a try at complete disassamble and reassemble, even if one is not a Zenit user. One might become one thereafter...