Zenit-C
This Zenit-C is a surprisingly compact 35mm SLR camera that was made in the USSR by KMZ (Krasnogorskii Mekhanicheskii Zavod) between 1955 to 1961. The Zenit-C was the second model in the Zenit line and a modest upgrade on the original Zenit (or Zenit 1) camera. The Zenit-C added flash synchronization as a feature, both for X and M sync. A fun little bit of trivia is that the "C" in the Zenit-C model name is a translation of the Russian letter for "S" meaning Synchronization. This synchronization feature takes the form of a dial on the top of the camera with an adjustable delay between 0 milliseconds (used for electronic flash) up to 25 milliseconds (slightly longer than the typical M sync of 20 milliseconds, which is also an option). This allows the flash sync of the Zenit-C to be adjusted for the variety of flash bulbs that were sold on the market at the time, while still being compatible with what was the new and expensive electronic flash market that was steadily gaining popularity.
Apart from that difference, the Zenit-C is pretty much the same camera as the original Zenit. The Zenit line in general is interesting in that it is based on the Zorki line of 35mm rangefinder cameras. KMZ had been producing Zorki cameras since the 1940s and had based them on the FED rangefinders cameras - a different rangefinder camera made by a different Soviet factory that was essentially a clone of the Leica II. The Zenit-C retains some notable and fascinating features of the Leica II DNA, such as being a bottom-loading camera, the cloth shutter, using an M39 lens mount (but with a different flange distance) and having a very similar body shape (if you ignore the prism finder housing). But where the Zorki and FED cameras were true rangefinders, the KMZ engineers integrated a reflex mirror and eye-level prism into the Zenit design. This is why the camera manages to be very compact as an SLR - it has the body of a rangefinder! While the Zenit-C still uses an M39 lens mount, the flange distance (distance from film to lens mount) had to be increased to account for the reflex mirror. KMZ produced a specific lineup of M39 lenses for the Zenit. Other M39 rangefinder lenses can be mounted but due to the deeper depth of the camera body they only focus at close distances and focus at infinity is not possible.
As mentioned, the Zenit-C retained the cloth curtain, horizontally-travelling shutter design of the previous Zorki, FED and Leica cameras. The shutter on the Zenit-C is pretty simplistic with no slow speeds and only five faster speeds of 1/25 (or 1/30 on some variations), 1/60, 1/125, 1/250 and 1/500 plus a Bulb mode. Like the Zorki and FED, the shutter speed dial should only be adjusted when the camera has been wound and film advanced. Adjusting the shutter speed when in the unwound state could damage the shutter mechanism.
Even though limited in selection, the Zenit M39 lens selection included both Industar and Helios lenses that are both inexpensive and reasonably decent. Today Helios lenses are often sought after for their distinct character and swirly bokeh. The Zenit-C itself is not a bad way to make use of such lenses. While the camera is quite affordable and reasonably well-built for a Soviet design, many Zenit cameras today suffer from a lack of maintenance and use. Repair techs experienced in Zenit cameras are also hard to find, though the Zenit is simple enough that someone with good mechanical inclination and some camera repair experience could do a good amount of the work themselves.
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