Zenit TTL Camera Problem Advise please

BADGER.BRAD · May 15, 2017

Hello,
I have finally got round to digging out my inherited Zenit camera but have noticed a problem, When looking through the view finder It looks as if either the lenses coating has deteriorated or there is a large amount of dust some where. I have swapped the lenses but it is still there and tried cleaning the mirror with a cleaning wipe for my glasses but it still remains.

Any advise is appreciated.

AgX · May 15, 2017

Looking indoors through the lens (directly, without finder) against an even lightsource will reveal any dust and its likely position.
Also haze will be visible.
Deterioration of the coatings to an extend that it will be visible as ghostings is beyond my imagination.
Local deterioration will be visible with the light source from behind.
More to be concerned about is not only the coating being corroded, but the glass surface itself. This should be visible too.

BADGER.BRAD · May 15, 2017

Having had a look at this camera I think there maybe a problem with the shutter/mirror assembly but as I know very little about cameras I could do with some advise. On my other Cameras when you press the shutter button the mirror moves out of the way but with this camera when I put it on the B setting so that I can see the shutter better the mirror remains in a position which seems to block the film from seeing the exposed image.As my father had a habit of keeping things broke or otherwise I'm a bit confused. Here is a short video, Sorry it's link to Flickr but I am not signed up to any of the other sites !
https://www.flickr.com/photos/28690387@N04/33836326524/in/datetaken-public/

AgX · May 15, 2017

Any SLR camera should swing up its mirror when released. (There are some models where you could swing it up even before.)
So there is something wrong with your Zenit. Does the shuttter open at B ?

BADGER.BRAD · May 15, 2017

The shutter opens at B but the mirror stays in the way.I know this was my fathers first SLR so maybe the others were brought to replace this as it was broken.The video was taken on B but I made it release quite fast just to shorten the video.

AgX · May 15, 2017

(Your link did not work for me, that is why I asked.)
We got some Zenit specialists here, but you will lack the ability for repair, and Zenits are cheap anyway. Keep it aside awaiting repair at better days.

Huss · May 15, 2017

Yeah, it's broken... Sorry for stating the obvious. I have one of these and I actually really like the look and feel of them. Also some of the lenses are great. But the bodies are so cheap that unless you have a friendly mechanic who can do a quick diagnostic for free, it is better to pick up a working one.

BADGER.BRAD · May 16, 2017

Thanks everyone for your help, I will keep the Camera as part of my art installation which I have already started (This was my excuse for having cameras all over the place when the Mrs Badger started moaning) Just as a point of interest does anyone know what the lenses mount type is called on this camera ? Just in case I come across another camera that suits the lenses I have ?

Thanks again all

Sewin · May 16, 2017

Hi Brad,

Mount is M42, some call them screw mount, Praktica / Pentax mount. But M42 is the correct terminology, the lens screws into the camera, other cameras have a bayonet mount.

Screw off the lens, if it has a little shiny prong protruding out of the back it is an auto lens.

BADGER.BRAD · May 16, 2017

Thanks Sewin much appreciated

Zenit TTL Camera Problem Advise please

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency