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Zenit-B

The zenith of Soviet camera manufacturer Krasnagorsk, aka KMZ, could rightly be embodied by the Zenit line of cameras, produced from the 1960s through the 1990s. While the Zenit cameras came in many styles and types, the Zenit-B is the one most commonly found today. This all-mechanical SLR was first introduced in 1968 and it's production continued until 1978, with a brief four year hiatus from 1973-1977. During this production run, nearly a million Zenit-B cameras were made.

The Zenit-B is a fairly simple SLR camera that makes use of the wonderful line of M42 lenses. For the time, the Zenit-B was a decent SLR featuring a self-return mirror but lacking any provision for automatic aperture diaphragms. The Zenit-B was the lower-cost successor to the Zenit-E, which had a selenium cell light meter that the Zenit-B is lacking. The Zenit-B has an abbreviated range of shutter speeds, beginning with 1/30th of a second and topping out at 1/500, in addition to a "Bulb" mode.

Perhaps one of the Zenit-B's greatest draws is the hope of acquiring it with its original lens. These cameras were initially sold with either an Industar 50mm f/2 or a Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 lens. Both of these lenses are somewhat coveted for the unique bokeh and image rendering they deliver.

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Zenit-B and Helios 58mm f/2 with Sample Images

The Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 lens and this Zenit-B camera have a relationship much like cheese and bread: the latter is really just there to serve as a vehicle for the former. While we are sure we could say some nice things about the Zenit-B, this entry is really about the lovely qualities of the Helios. ⁠

⁠Based on the Zeiss Biotar (which itself was a variation on the Zeiss Planar) the Helios ticks a couple noteworthy boxes. First, it has a slightly non-standard focal length of 58mm. This is great if you find yourself constantly wishing you were about a step closer when shooting with the usual 50mm lens. It can be a nice focal length for portraiture, or for those street photographers that don't like getting as close to their subjects. Overall, you don't see many 58mm focal length lenses and we always find our curiosity intrigued by any lens that has a relatively non-standard focal length.⁠

⁠Discussion on the Helios' focal length is really just preamble to the feature for which it is really known: it's bokeh. We have heard this lens referred to as the "bokeh monster," which we suppose was chosen because "king of bokeh" was already taken. While most reviews of the Helios describe it's bokeh as "swirly," in actuality it can achieve a number of different looks, depending on how close you are focusing and which aperture you use. For example, focus as close as the lens will go and shoot wide open; the Helios will create a smoother defocused look. Lock in on a subject between 4-8 feet away with a background well behind it and stop the aperture down to f/2.8; you can achieve that swirly look that many photographers swoon over.

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Zenit-B with Helios 58mm f/2

This Zenit-B was on our shelves for only a short while before staff member, Young David added it to his collection. To be honest, he was mostly interested in the Helios-44-2 58mm f/2 lens that came with the camera.

This particular lens has a bit of a cult following as it is known for producing a distinct-looking swirly bokeh. In fact, many lenses made either in the Soviet Union or East Germany, during the 50s and 60s, often boast a character all their own. The Helios lenses were mass produced and are not really rare at all. Even better, you can find them in a few different mounts. This Zenit-B, for example, uses the universal M42 lens mount. So, if you can track one of these lenses down you can mount it easily to your favorite Spotmatic or adapt it to virtually any SLR, film or digital.