Zenit 12, 12xp, 12sd camera review / how to use / how to inspect. Great for starters, if cheap!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ก.ค. 2024
- Hello to all. This is the second video of my chanel. Today i will speak about the ZENIT 12 camera family, and ii will also talk in detail about the 12 version. Any comments, doubts, please leave them below. I hope you enjoyed this video, and it that it was usefull to you. I am very sorry for the noises in the background!
I wanted to get into photography and my dad gave me this camera, this has really helped me understand the camera more, thank you!
Hope you can enjoy it a lot, buy a roll of kodacolor, which is consumer grade color film, and take some pictures with it, you will have a great time!
I got mine from my grandpa
Really really good video. I wanted to start analog photography but had no idea how and there isn't much of tutorial videos for zenit 12.
Thank you!!!
This was such a well explained video, thank you so much!
Thanks for this video! I have a ZENIT 12XP and really wanted to put it to use for fun and this helped me a lot understanding it a bit better!
Have just bought camera,found your explanation informative and. Unbiased.
Thank you! Very helpful video.
Keep on producing videos. Watched two of your videos on Zenit, loved both and learned a lot how to use this camera. Looking forward to the other ones.
Thanks a lot. I Will continue. Right now i am waiting for a praktica camera to do a video. Maybe i will upload the final part of the photosniper this weekend.
Superb video I just tested my newly acquired Zenit 12XP according to your guide. Everything perfect.
So it is time to shoot with it!
Great video, just bought a Zenit 12XP and learned a lot about the soviet tank in this video haha
It is great to know that the video was useful! Enjoy the camera!
Another awesome video thank you. Hoping my current bid on a 12 XP comes off. Regards Paul
Thanks a lot again!
Thanks for this video Pedro, it helped me
Wait oxide?! You are the reason I have a ratnik kit sitting in my closet
Very helpful, thank you!
Great camera if you can serve it
continue doing your video, the quality is okay, and i can see that you realy did your reserches before. with this quality it's just a question of month before you first K sub
Hello again, and thank you very much again! I will be making soon a very special video with a photosnaiper FS3 set, i think that will last very long haha. I am also getting a Zenit E and ET to review soon. I am thinking of doing a video of Helios and Industar lenses maybe. So, thank you very much for your good comments, and i hope you see soon the photosniper video! Thanks for the good wishes.
@@pedrogabrielmejia6093 I can't wait for it, I also have a FS-3 for 1980 and the Tair on it is such a great lens. I don't know what these soviet slr have, but once you get one.... Its hard not to buy more!!!🤣
Long wanted to try the Analogic Photography metod so last days I have found this camera in my grandfather's House (luck). I have no films here so I have seen the video to check if my camera works good and so it seems. I will buy a Film to become familiar with this heavy camera. Thank you
Hope it works great!
Thanks a lot! :)
Só a objetiva presta!
Expired film ??? Great video by the way. I picked up a XP last year and hope to get some use out of it this summer.
Thanks for the comments. Yes, you can still use expired film, as long as it is properly stored, but be aware that the results can vary a lot using expired. Hope you enjoy the camera a lot!
Hey what kind of battery do i need for 12sd's pozometre/lightmeter also great video loving the other zenit videos too,they shine a light since there are few videos like yours.
Hello, thanks a lot for your comments. For the 12SD you need two (x2) LR 43 batteries (SR43W or mallory D386 equivalent) I believe the LR 43 is the most common reference you can find. HOpe you find them and enjoy the camera!
@@pedrogabrielmejia6093 thank you for your help,im sure i woukd enjoy the soviet tank :)
what film should i use with this camera to get that real retro feeling with the pictures ?
Do you maybe know how to approach an issue with my Zenit EM. The mechanism on lens that closes aperture when set to A and shooting doesn't work and the mirror moves a little when cocking the mechanism so image gets darker and out uf focus? Can it be only repaired by a specialist mechanic? Because those might be hard to find in my area.
Hello, I have a video of the EM in the Chanel too. If you try to shoot the camera without the lens and the mirror does not complete the full travel smoothly, there is a problem with that mechanism. If that is the case, you will need someone to fix the camera. If you cannot find one, and of the lens is working, get another body for cheap, and keep the other one for separes. Hope this helps!
Do you have a link to the zoom thing you showed in your video?
Keep up the great work!
Hello, thanks a lot. I do not have those teleconverters anymore, but they are great.
Hey, great video. I have a 12XP, and the film speed dial has broken and spins forever, it doesn't click like yours. However, the photos always come out fine. I currently use ISO 800 film, will there be issues if I never set the film speed, or is it there purely to remind the user? (I've had a look inside and it's not obvious how it works - no mechanics!)
Hello Paul. Well, whe working correctly, the film speed dial is linked to the light meterto give you the correct exposures. In this case, i guess yours is making contact and works, hence the good pictures. If it works, it works hahaha.
@@pedrogabrielmejia6093 I’m having a weird issue w my dial as well I just got the battery she meters perfectly but every time I take a picture I have to step it down or up a notch then back to 200 iso which is what I’m using is that bad do I just use it like that ? I’m scared to load my precious film in without knowing the needle goes all the way up after the shutter is fired and then like I said I have to move the iso one notch then put it back pls help 😭 other than that there’s not a single flaw even aesthetically on the camera
Great content Pedro. Thank you!
How about Zenit 12s? The fotosniper? What are the differences and how many of them were produced?
Thank you!
Thanks a lot. The differences between the 12 and the 12S are that the 12S has the secondary shooting mechanism in the bottom plate and an extended viewfinder eyepiece. That is it. It says that from the 12s kit, they constructed 118.486 units.
@@pedrogabrielmejia6093 Thanks a lot for the fast reply!
I've just got the 12S with full equipment from my father (he used to shoot with it in the 90s).
And now, thanks to you, I know all about it and how to use it!
Cheers Pedro, have a nice day
@@martinmihalik Thanks a lot. I hope you enjoy the Kit a lot, it has great stuff and you can make real cool pictures.
Where can I buy the rolls for 12xp??
Hello.
I recently got a Zenit 12s film camera and I cannot get the light meter work properly. No matter which setting I use it only reads underexposed which only works on the 500 ASA value. On the lowere ASA values the needle just jumps back tot he middle. I have replaced the battery but I'm having the same issue. Do you know what can cause this issue? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Maybe its something to do with the battery itself?
what kind of battery do you need for zenit 12?
Can you tell me what batteries does it use?
I have a question, how much I have to set in the film speed selector if I have a 200 ASA film?
Hello, the selector does not have a 200 asa value. Howhever, the slector has 130 ASA a dot and 250 ASA, and looks like this: 130 o 250 . The dot between 130 and 250 is 200 or any other speed range betwenn the values. Hope it is claer, and enjoy your camera!
hi! kind of a late comment. I own a Zenit 11 and read somewhere the ISO values where in a film speed called GOST and had to be converted! don't know if you've found the same with this 12 zenit.
Hello, that is correct. The Soviets used the GOST table. Howhever, the scle is not that off, so you can assuem that GOST is equal to ASA-ISO. I have used the light meters i9n a lot of Zenits using GOST as ISO, and they work accurately. Hope this helps!
Hello, I have a question, where do I find the serial number of my Zenit 12xp and how do I use that to know when and where it was manufactured?
Hello. The serial number is on the rear part onf the camera. Just take the camera as if you were going to take a picture, that means that the visor is facing you. Then look to the right side of the camera, just under the cocking lever and there should your production number. Once you find it, the first two numbers are your production year, so if the number is for example 8600004456, the camera was produced in 1986. Now, to know where it was manufactured look in google for soviet camera logos and search for the one your camera has, it wil ltell you more about it. Since it is a 12XP, i am pretty sure that it tis KMZ, but still look for it. I hope this information is clear and works. If the number is not on the inside of the cammera, open the rear lid as if you were going to load the camera and search for the number in the door or the inide body. Regards.
Does the timer need battery to work? Mine goes back to original position instantly and doesnt time it :/
Hello, no, the timer does not need batteries to work. The mechanism is purely mechanical, so there might be some issues with yours, howhever, if it does not affect the overall operability of the camera, you are good to go, it would be jsut a minor defect in your particular unit.
I have a zenit 12 it has the same font and everything as the standard 12 but it has only the center screw and it does not have the thing yours has on the back of the film door I am very confused
Hello Abel, to be honest, that is not surprising. The soviets made a lot of small changes during production, so a camera with diferent features is possible.
@@pedrogabrielmejia6093 ah okay thank you for clearing that up
To anybody who used it: is limited range of shutter speeds gives some considerable inconvenience? I used a camera with much better range before, don't know how important that is. Thanks!
I wanted to ask if there's anyway to put the metering to sleep on the 12xp when not using the camera or the only way is to remove the batteries everytime??
Hello Toni. As long as you are not pressing the shooting button the light metering won´t engage. So, if you have the batteries inside and the shooting buttton of the camera is in the neutral position (Not in T or V position), the light metering system will be unactive. However it is recommended to take the batteries out if the camera is going to be stored or unused for long time, this in order to prevent oxidation of the port. Hope this is clear.
Thx for your clarification🙏 but for some reason in my camera the metering light is always on even without pressing the shutter 🤔. But it works fine
Wow, that is a weird one, maybe it has some contact problems, but if it works fine, there is nothing to worry. I guess taking out the batteries will do the trick.
Yes I believe so. Thx anyways buddy 🤙🏼
Anybody know where I can get this fixed?
I just put the battery in my Zenit TTL camera, but how can I see now that the camera is ready to use ?
There should be two red lights on when looking through the little window.
Hello, if you have a TTL, push slighty the shooter button, just before the point it shoots and look trough the viewfinder. To the right side you will se a needle move between + and - symbols. Point the camera to the light and the needle should move, point it towards a dark area or cover the lens and the needle should move too and try to close and open the lens diaphragm and the needle should move. If that happens, it means that the light metering system is reponding. Take the camera to an specialist in order to checck the accuracy of the system or try to shoot it with film and most likely the sytstem will be ok and calibrated so it may work .
Hi, I have a olympus lens 75-155mm I want to know if is compatible with zenit 12xp
Hello, it depends on the lens Mount. If you have an m42 Mount (screw thread) it will work, if the lens is olympus M Mount, it wont work.
Thanks for answer, you help me a lot :D@@pedrogabrielmejia6093
Спасибо за обзор. Вопрос: зачем Вам нужен зенит, если на рынке продается куча фотоаппаратов pentax, которые более навароченные, с хорошей оптикой, позволяющие делать хорошие фотоснимки.????
Привет, спасибо за комментарий. «Зенит» очень хорош своей историей и низкой ценой. У них также есть резьба M42, которая позволяет получить доступ к хорошей оптике по низкой цене. Это отличная камера, чтобы начать без больших затрат.
@@pedrogabrielmejia6093 Спасибо. У меня с 1978 года был Зенит TTL (предшественник Зенита 12). Он показал себя с лучшей стороны. К качеству претензий не было.
How can i be sure that the battery is working?
Hello, in order to do that in an effective manner, get a multimeter and check the battery voltage, if not, get a LED bulb and conect it to the battery.
I use Zenit E, but it has seen better days and one of previous owners most probably smashed it onto the floor, because light-meter doesn`t work anymore. I found Zenit 12 on the web in excellent condition for 30 eur. It is most probably the same metal sturdy construction like 12XP, but I cannot figure out of the photos. Because soviet plastic was also very sturdy, but I don`t want plastic one. Do you have any more informations?
Hello. Poor Zenit E hahaha. The Zenit 12 is all metall construction, interior as well as exterior. It is a good camera, you should buy it if everything works well. So do not worry because it is a metal camera outside too.
@@pedrogabrielmejia6093 All of the cheaper Zenit 12 which I want to buy, were sold in front of my nose.;) At the moment I have three in my choice: Zenit TTL with olympic sign for 50 eur, excellent condition; Zenit 11 from first owner for 40 eur (this one looks like an upgraded E, but I am afraid that it was made by Belarus factory, do you know anything about this model?); and someone is selling 12XP for 15 eur (I suppose that he doesn`t know what it is, he wants only to get rid of things from a passed away relative), but inner side of camera cover is blue coloured, Zenit 12XP covers were always red coloured. In Soviet union you never had a choice of different colours at the moment. Different colour always means different era of production or different production plant. So I am afraid that this 12XP could be made after 1991, when more plastic was used and also cheaper imported parts. So what is your opinion? :-)
@@peterregorsek1504 Hello. Well, to answer that i will talk about each camera. The TTL is a cool and good camera that is a bit hard to find in good condition. It has electronic metering which makes it a bit vulnerable to suddenly failing (The metering system), even more because of its age. It is a heavy camera, a bit more than other Zenits because it tis pretty much a Zenit EM packed with electronics. The camera comes originally with a Helios 44M lens that is weirder than other Helios, and has A and M aperture buttons. Overall i think it is a very good camera that combines some old and retro features with modern ones. It is all metal construction, and it is a camera that is old, generally speaking becasue of the production years, that could mean some problems like old grease slowing the mechanism and sudden failures of the electronics or curtains. It has something peculiar that is that ususally the visor is blued or with a blue tint, that is normal due to the internal construction of the pentaprism, but is something to have into account. I believe it is the perfect balance between new and old zenits, because it has electronics, but still combines old body style and features, with the improved speed selector button that dos not need to be charged to be changed. Also a very cool detail of the TTL is that it has a needle indicator inside the visor for the light metering, as opposed to the 12xps thas have leds, but the downfall of the TTL is that it uses the 625 mushrom battery that is a bit more scarse thatn LR43 batteries. Now, i had 2 zenit 11 in the past and they are pretty much a cheapper version of the Zenit 12 because of the use of the solar metering system. It has the construction and characteristics of a 12XP or 12, with all metal construction, the new curved style of body (It has a curved surface in the lens mounting part, opposed to the flat surface the Zenit E had). I think it is also a very good camera that has the advantage of being fully manual, even the light metering, and that makes it more dependable, as long as the selenium light meter is working correctly. That is an advantage the non electronic zenits have. Both KMZ and Belomo manufactured Zenit 11 cameras, and they also made a plastic version of the 11, so check that the one he has is fully metal. I know the myth that the KMZ cameras are better than the Belomo ones, because KMZ made the export vesriosn and Belomo idid internal USSR market, but having a Belomo camera makes it special, because of that, not as common outside the Ex USSR. Now The 12XP is pretty much an improved TTL, that has the new body style and uses the more common LR43 batteries. It has LED metering system in the visor and comes wit Helios 44-4 as well a the Zenit 11. The 12xp is an export version of the 12 camera, and pretty much all i said about the TTL applies to it, except the needle system, the old body and the old style features.
All of them are good cameras as long as they are well preserved and in working condition. To choose it depends waht you want, an electronic or fully manual one, a needle or led one, a Belarussian or Russian, an older or newer model, so that is up to you. As long as they work fully well, any of them is the right one. Aobut the leather caps, i have seen 11s and 12s with blue and black interiors, i believe the nicest ones are export model that have the blue or red interior with a metal reinforcement in the top and bottom and holes in the side flaps. So, all three are good cameras for me, (Go for the metal ones). I hope this helps and happy buying!
@@peterregorsek1504 To recognize a plastic Zenit 12xp, jut look at the top body shape, the metal 12xp is flat and normal like the zenit E, while the plastic one looks like a zenit 122, look for images of the 12xp on goolge, an you will spot the difference right away.
@@pedrogabrielmejia6093 Thank you for your comprehensive answer, full of specific informations.:-) At the end I have decided for Zenit 11, because of your answer now I know at it is basically the same as Zenit 12, but still without electronics. Otherwise most probably I wouldn`t choose it, because I thought it is just like Zenit E. The owner of 12XP didn`t send me photos, but I won`t buy something that doesn`t work at the end, even it is available only for 15 eur. But Zenit 11 looks like new and that is what counts the most. I didn`t get it now, will report when it comes.
hello can i ask something? you said we have to take 3 shots before we set the counter to zero. why should we do that and what happens if we dont?
and why did you pushed it back to zero After taking 15 shots
@@cemresuu Hello! Thanks for the questions. When you load the camera with a roll, you are exposing the film to Light by taking the film and loading it into the spool. Since that particular part of the film has been ecposed, it no longer works. So When you close the Door and load 3 times the camera, you make sure that you have fresh film. That is why you have to load it 3 times before setting the counter.
@@cemresuu I did that for the video only. You reset the meter only when oit of film, If you still have shots in the roll, do not reset the counter or you will lose the track of remaining frames, so do not reset the meter until you are finished. If you reset it, nothing bad will happen, but you will loose the track of the pictures taken. Hope this answers your questions.
@@pedrogabrielmejia6093 thank you so much for answering.
@@pedrogabrielmejia6093 Set the counter to zero before you take your first photo.
i buy a zenit 12s and has some things at the bottom of the camera to put something and the part of the viewfinder is much further back if anyone has some information please share it 😔
Hello Tomas, you have a rare unit there. That S means "Sniper", and it means that you have a special modified camera for the Fotosniper or Fotosnaiper fs12 kit. That thing at the bottom is a secondary shooting mechanism that couples with a pistol grip and the extended viewfinder si for the gun like handling of the kit. You can still use the camera as a normal one, or you can get the special tair 300fs lens and the pistol grip for the camera.
@@pedrogabrielmejia6093 THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU💞💞💞💞
U can,t take pic without batary?
The shooting mechanism in the camera is completely mechanical, so you can use the camera withouth battery. The battery only powers the Light meter.
What is difference of Zenit 12 cd and 12 SD? Is this all the same with 12 xp? What are all the differences? Is 12 xp the best version? Thank you!
Hello, the sd and cd are the same camera, but the cd is for internal USSR or Belorrusina market, so cd is sd in cirylic alphabet. The 12xp was an export version of the zenit camera that is very common outside the ex USSR. They 12, 12sd and 12xp are all pretty much the same camera, but they differ in the alphabet uses, the plastic or metal top and bottom plates and the LED or needle light indicator. Personally, i think the 12xp or 12 are the ones to get because of the metal construction, but internally they are all the same. There is also the TTL which is the previous model, and that is a great camera too that includes a weirder lens that is the Helios 44M. All of those cameras i mentioned above have electric light metering, so they requiere batteries for the light calculation. If you want a fully manual camera, the zenit 11 or zenit E derivatives are good options too, they have selenium light meter, solar operated and no batteries requeired, but check that the meter is accurate, because they decade with time and light exposure. So, the best zenits to get in my opinion are the 12 in any version even better if it is all metal , E, EM, ET or TTL. If you are going to buy an electric one, follow the steps in this video, if you are going to buy a fully manual one check for the accuracy of the mettering system, i will make soon a video with a fully manua lcamera soon for you to check. Regards.
Pedro Gabriel Mejia thank you for very in depth reply! I learned a lot. I think I'll learn a lot about cameras especially the zenit in your channel. I'd be looking out for your camera videos. Thanks!
@@cepheus9856 thank you very much for this message. I have some other cameras to review. I will upload mlre videos in the near future. I just uploaded the forst part of the photosniper if you are interested.
Today there are a lot of cameras much better and cheap. The only reason to buy one is the lens Helios.
I agree, now you can get pretty cool stuff for cheap, yet the market is a little crazy with the prices of some cameras.
I have the Zent 11 and you don't need no battery to shoot pictures with that camera
Hello. No, the Zenit 11 is fully manual, hence it does not need a battery to operate neither to operate the light meter, so you have a fully mechanical camera, enjoy it!
Ещё бы по русски, цены бы не было. Кстати ничего не понял про 12 без букв
Nest to crank the winder in small amounts .
Cranking in heavy handed one stroke ...it wears out the mechanism
You too heavy handed