ZENIT-122 Technical Description 1.GENERAL 1.1. PURPOSE AND ADVANTAGES ZENIT-122 is a 35-mm single lens reflex camera intended for taking various amateur pictures on black-and-white and color films. It can be used for special kinds of photography as well, such as copying, taking close-up pictures of small-size objects at short distances (ultra-close-up photography), taking pictures with the help of a microscope (photomicrography), etc. The camera accepts interchangeable lenses with M42x1 screw fittings and mechanical back focal distance of 45.5 mm. The following features are remarkable with the camera: - semi-automatic exposure meter operating through the lens (TTL system) provides for correct exposure setting when taking pictures with the standard lens as well as with interchangeable lenses, light filters, supplementary lenses, extension tubes; - light-emitting diodes in the viewfinder, indicating correct exposure setting, can be clearly seen both when the diaphragm is fully open and stopped down; - instant return mirror ensures continuous viewing of a subject before and after exposure; - high speed lens is provided with a pre-set diaphragm mechanism which automatically closes the diaphragm down for the moment of shutter operation; - fully open diaphragm ensures maximum brightness of the image in the viewfinder which is very important for viewing and focusing; - composite focusing device provides excellent image sharpness in various conditions of shooting; - speedy exposure setting, simplified film loading procedure and frame counter automatically re-setting to "0" upon pressing the film rewing button reduce the time required for preparing the camera for picture taking; - built-in self timer enables you to take picture of yourselves among your friends or to make a self-portrait; - secret lock of the back door interlocked with the film rewind knob provides for reliable locking of the back door and convenient unloading of the camera; - flash unit connector socket and hot-shoe enable to use flash units both with cable and cableless connection; - shutter disengaging bush of stay-put type simplifies the film rewind procedure; - film-checking pocket on the camera body contains characteristics information of the film the camera is loaded with. Before using the camera, make thorough study of the present Description. In so doing bear in mind that the present Description can not be regarded as a handbook on photography. Due to ever-advancing development in camera construction, minor differences may occur between the text and your camera. 1.2. HANDLING RULES The camera is a precise optical-mechanical instrument. It should be handled carefully, kept clean and protected from jolts, dust, moisture, and sharp temperature fluctuations. Do not remove the camera from its case the moment it is brought indoors from cold to avoid sweating of its part, especially the optical ones. Do not touch the surfaces of the optical parts with fingers since it may damage their coatings. Clean the optical coated lens surfaces with a clean soft cloth or cotton wool wad slightly moistened with rectified alcohol or ether. The surfaces of the mirror and the focusing device may be cleaned only if absolutely necessary with a dry soft brush but in no case with humid cleaning agents. Keep the camera closed in its case with the cap put on the lens. Do not remove the lens from the camera without need to prevent dirt and dust from getting both onto the surfaces of the lens optical parts and into the camera itself. If you don't use your camera for some period of time (a month and more) remove the batteries from the camera. Keep the batteries seperately in places inaccessible for children. Load and unload your camera either indoors or in shade protecting it against direct sun light and bright artificial light. Always cock the shutter as far as it will go to avoid blank exposures. Do not keep the camera with the shutter cocked for a long period of time since it is likely to impair the shutter operation. Do not try to rotate the shutter speed dial with the index moving along its short section from "500" to "B". Do not rotate shutter speed dial when self-timer is running and when setting the release button in "T" position. When taking pictures in frosty weather, keep the camera under your street-clothes but not in the open air and take it out only for the moment of picture taking. Since the camera is a complex instrument, its repair and adjustment should be performed in repair shops only. 2. SPECIFICATIONS Lens HELIOS-44M-4 MC HELIOS-44M-4 HELIOS-44M-5 MC HELIOS-44M-5 MC HELIOS-44M-6 HELIOS-44M-6 MC HELIOS-44M-7 MC HELIOS-77M-4 MC ZENITAR-M 1.9/50 Focal length, mm 58 58 58 58 58 58 58 52 50 Maximum aperture f/2 f/2 f/2 f/2 f/2 f/2 f/2 f/1.8 f/1.9 Aperture scale 2 to 16 2 to 16 2 to 16 2 to 16 2 to 16 2 to 16 2 to 16 1.8 to 16 1.9 to 16 Distance scale, m 0.5 to oo 0.5 to oo 0.5 to oo 0.5 to oo 0.5 to oo 0.5 to oo 0.5 to oo 0.45 to oo 0.45 to oo Frame size, mm Film used Length of film in cassette, m Number of frames Shutter speeds, s Lens fitting Light filter fitting Sun shade fitting, mm Viewfinder field of view, mm Eyepiece magnification Flange/film distance, mm Tripod bush thread Overall dimensions (without case), mm Power supply voltage, V Power supply Mass, kg 2.1. CAMERA DESIGN 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 24x36 35 mm, perforated 1.65 36 from 1/30 to 1/500, "B" (by hand) and long exposure M42x1 M52x0.75 diameter 54 20x28 4.3x 45.5 1/4" 142x97x99 3 (2x1.5) from 2 batteries of Mallory D 386, Seiko SB-B8, SC-32, MC0.105 types 0.82 self-timer cocking handwheel self-timer release button self-timer window flash unit connector socket release button threaded for cable release shutter disengaging knob of put-stay type shoe for mounting flash units and other accessories eyelet of strap securing film check pocket lens film rewind knob film rewind crank film speed dial film speed scale film speed index mark protective strip shutter speed dial shutter speed index mark shutter cocking and film advance lever film counter cassette chamber battery compartment end cap viewfinder eyepiece sprocket teeth 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. take-up spool back door distance scale depth-of-field scale aperture scale lens mounting ring control pin aperture setting ring focusing ring 2.2. CAMERA LOADING Put the batteries into the camera in the following way: turn cap 22 counter-clockwise as far as it will go, remove the cap and take out the exhausted batteries should there be any. Put new batteries into the compartment with signs "+" outward (upwards). Replace the cap and turn it clockwise as far as it will go. Check the indicating light for operation. To do this, looking through the viewfinder eyepiece press the release button 5 till a definite stop is felt. If the light-emitting diodes (one or both) light up it means that the power supply operates properly. Load the camera with film in the following way: - lift the film rewind crank 12, pull out the rewind knob 11 as far as it will go, and open the camera back door; - put a loaded cassette into the chamber 21; - return the rewind knob 11 to a locked position slightly turning it, if required, to let the spool guide enter the cassette; - draw out a film leader as long as to reach the camera edge and insert it into the slot of the take-up spool 25; in so doing make sure that sprocket 24 tooth engage a film perforation hole; - close the back door 26, tightly pressing it to make the lock latch; - to transport a nonexposed portion of film to the film gate, cock and fire the shutter twice. In doing so the frame counter should be set at "0". Should the film be wound up tightly in the cassette, the rewind knob will rotate when the shutter is being cocked. If the film is loose in the cassette, the rewind knob will fail to rotate at the first frames; - set the speed of the film loaded in the camera by turning dial 13 till a corresponding film speed value is clock-stopped against the index mark 15. Bear in mind that wrong setting of the film speed with the dial 13 will result in wrong exposure. Reference Table of Film Speed Units Designation on film speed scale GOST/ISO DIN 16 16 13 20 14 25 25 15 32 32 16 40 17 50 50 18 64 64 19 80 20 100 100 21 125 125 22 160 23 200 200 24 250 250 25 320 26 400 400 27 500 500 28 640 29 2.3. SHUTTER SPEED SETTING Turn the shutter speed dial 17 to bring a selected shutter speed opposite to the index mark 18 on the camera top plate. In so doing the dial is clock-stopped. Figures on the shutter speed dial show shutter speeds in corresponding fractures of a second and "B" indicates a hand-controlled shutter speed. Shutter speeds can be set with the shutter both cocked and released. When taking pictures at "B" the shutter remains open for as long as the release button 5 is pressed down. To obtain a long exposure turn the depressed release button counter-clockwise as far as it will go ("T" position). The exposure over, return the release button to its normal (middle) position and release it. This will result in closing the shutter. To take a picture at "B" or long exposures one is recommended to use a cable release which can be screwed into the release button thread. In so doing the camera should be mounted on a tripod. 2.4. STOP SETTING Set a selected aperture against the index mark by turning the aperture setting ring 32. When taking pictures with a self-timer, the procedure of stop setting is somewhat different as described in the section "Operating the Self-Timer" 2.5. FOCUSING The camera viewfinder is provided with a composite focusing device consisting of microprism collar and ground glass collar or focusing wedges, microprism collar and ground glass collar. Focusing should be done at all distances including infinity (oo). Before shooting remove the lens cap. Looking through the viewfinder turn the lens focusing ring to obtain sharp image of the object within the ground glass and microprism collars and for cameras with focusing wedges to match the upper and lower parts of the split image. The best sharpness is obtained when focusing is done at full aperture. It should be noted that the focusing wedges and microprism collar, ensuring the best possible focusing, are of no use when low speed interchangeable lenses are used and focusing is done at apertures more than 4. In these cases as well as in photomicrography and macrophotography focusing should be done on the ground glass collar. Focusing can be done as well without looking in the viewfinder. To do this turn the focusing ring and, making use of distance scale 27, set the distance from the film plane marked -o- on the camera top plate to the subject being shot against the larger index mark. The smaller index mark with letter "R" is used for shooting on infra-red films. In such a case you focus the image and introduce a correction by bringing the distance figure you have obtained opposite to the index mark "R". Focusing over, you can determine distances from the film plane to the near and far limits of the depth of field making use of scales 27 and 28. On scale 27 against two identical figures of scale 28 corresponsing to the aperture with which you are going to take pictures there will be set two figures, indicating the distance range within which all the subjects will be sharp on film. For example, the lens is focused for 3 m and the aperture to be used is that of 8. In such a case on scale 27 against two figures 8 of scale 28 you can read that the image will be sharp within the distance range of 2.3 to 4.5 m. Approximate depth-of-field limits can be determined visually as well by pressing the release button till a definite stop is felt with the aperture value set beforehand. On the ground glass collar of the viewfinder you will see what subjects will be sharp on film. 2.6. EXPOSURE SETTING WITH THE HELP OF EXPOSURE METER The camera semi-automatic exposure meter measures the light passing through the lens (TTL system). As a result, making use of various combinations of aperture and shutter speed values, you can set the exposure depending upon the brightness of an object and the speed of film being used with a high degree of accuracy. It remains true as well when interchangeable lenses, light filters, supplementary lenses and extension tubes are used. For more accurate exposure determination in conditions of poor brightness of the subject to be photographed the lens cap should be removed a bit earlier, before shooting. Looking through the viewfinder eyepiece in such a way that the whole its frame could be clearly seen, press the release button 4 till a definite stop is felt but not till the shutter "firing", should it be cocked, and hold the button in this position. On the right-hand side of the viewfinder light- emitting diodes can be seen. There are two modifications of cameras: one with two red and the other one green and t ...