It makes me really happy to hear that you are using it again! Vintage cameras like this can be frustrating AND rewarding both at the same time. The slide-on flash shoe was always breaking, due I think to quite brittle Russian metal. They are probably impossible to find now but a straight or angled flash bracket can often be found very cheaply indeed. Thanks for watching and commenting!
My grandfather used to shoot on this camera! He recently gave it to me so now it’s my turn. It’s strange trying to work the thing I was so impressed by as a child.
Hello Martina, I really like hearing stories such as yours! The fact that a 50+ year old camera is staying in the family AND getting used by a new generation is really special. I hope you enjoy using it, it can still give excellent results.
Union of soviet socialist republics. Also the E. Has nothing to do with the selenium light meter, its just a model marker. Otherwise this is a good video.
I'm sure you will enjoy it Doug, it sounds as though you have bought a body+lens together, which is getting rare these days as people realise the popularity of the Helios lens and often sell them separately. Anyway, good shooting!
@@photographyforenjoyment Thanks again. I've even gone a bit overboard, purchasing both a Zenit E with H44 and a separate K-mount H44 for my Pentax K1000. It will be interesting to compare these setups, which should be functionally similar if not entirely equivalent. That said, the online Zenit galleries seem to have a special something. It's been 30 years since I shot film manually; I'm looking forward to trying it again.
I also have a 1980 Olympics edition! I inherited it from my great-grandfather after he passed four years ago (my family immigrated to the US from the USSR in the late '80s). How did you get yours?
It will take a little getting used to but I'm sure you will enjoy the results and the experience! I have a video coming up in the next few weeks about the Helios 44 lens which you might also find interesting. Thank you for commenting!
I still puzzle over it being my most viewed video..! Back in the day I yearned to own one, and indeed I used this second-hand one for a while when testing it. It is still a capable camera, but slow and oh so heavy. Thanks for commenting Nick!
I have this model! bought in Poland in 1982... still works ;-) By the way: they translated the abbreviation USSR as united soviet socialist republics. Regards!
Question. I am having issues when setting the film counter to zero, the manual says have the shutter cocked and then set it but the dial won’t spin when it is cocked, am I missing something lol
The film counter dial should spin fairly easily (emphasis on fairly), in fact one of the issues is that it can sometimes work a bit loose? If yours is very very stiff it might be worth putting a drop (and I mean a drop!) of penetrating oil on it. If it does actually count up when cocking/firing the shutter, then just maybe load film, wind-on twice and then set the counter to zero.
Great video! I wanted to give 35mm a try and saw a model for sale. I also have a 4/3 camera and I wanted to ask if the lens is removable to use on a different camera?
Hello Paul and thanks for the kind comment! If you want to put the 58mm Helios onto any digital body (with removable lenses) all you need is the correct adaptor. So for a micro four-thirds body you just need an M42 thread to M43 (probably the cheapest ones to get!). Putting lenses from mirrorless cameras onto film SLR's though isn't possible. Lenses from DSLR's can be fitted to film SLR's, although you will nearly always have limitations.
Yes indeed they do! The Helios lens is a good performer and as long as you work within the limits of the camera (and use a meter as you say), then you can still get cracking images. Thanks so much for watching and commenting Paul!
Hi, on the shutter speed dial, below it, there are two stamped letters: X and M plus a toothed lever that moves around the dial in a circular motion. Can you explain as the their functions, please?
Hi. This is a sycronisation lever for if you are using a flash. TLDR for operation: If you are using an old single bulb flash, set it to 'M' If you are using an electric flash, set it to 'X' If you are not using a flash, just ignore it. When using a flash, the shutter time must be set to 1/30 of a sec, thus why it is marked '30x' on the dial. Hope this helps, happy shooting :)
Hello Bloom and thanks for the question. If the selenium cell has died, the camera is still more than useable. You can either get hold of a separate meter, or use the "sunny sixteen" rule (plenty online about this!). With regard to fixing it, that's probably going to be a "no" on cost grounds, even assuming you could find a repairer to do it. As it has sentimental value, my advice would be to look out for a cheap hand-held meter (like the Russian "Leningrad") as that would give you good exposures and be in keeping with the camera.
Far, far better product than the dreadful Praktica camera, Never had any issues with any of my Zenits, the Prakticas on the other hand, no end of problems with them. Zenit best camera make ever.
Don't sit on the fence Red (I'm joking!). Yes indeed, the mechanicals on all Praktica's left a LOT to be desired, the earlier Nova and SuperTL weren't too bad, but the MTL's and later were pretty unreliable with their metal vertical plane shutters. The Zenith range didn't vary a great deal mechanically and they were built "like tanks", which is why so many still get used today. Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
@@photographyforenjoyment I needed a camera back then I knew I could rely on, once you got used to its limitations, I found they were hard to beat. Did test a Canon AE-1 which when the early Jap electronics worked and the battery held charge in winter (they never did) so Zenit was the only camera for me.
Quite honestly William they are probably one of the most reliable cameras from that period in that price bracket. I would advise against any of the later models dating from the 80's onward, as the construction materials included more plastics and reliability suffered. They are definitely more reliable than, say the Praktica Nova models from the same era. Yes, I think you can say it is the photographic equivalent of the AK-47!
Hello, I am using Zenit E, and I have a problem with the diaphragm setting ring and pre-set diaphragm ring. When I set a pre-set diaphragm ring in f2, it shows the smallest opening(aperture). But we know f2 is the largest aperture regarding helios 2/58.
Prices vary hugely, mainly because the lens (Helios 44) has become a favourite with people who like vintage lenses. Your best bet is to look at online auction sites where the seller doesnt really list it well, this is usually the case when camera AND lens are sold together. Bodies only go for around £20 but the lenses on their own can go for more than £50.
Yes Nigel, it has been pointed out before on a few occasions! That video has had more views than any other of mine, at 29,000. Shows how it remains a popular film camera!
