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ZENIT-122                                                                                                                                             User manual, 1992 year 

 

 

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Zenit 122 

 

This text is identical to the one in the Instruction Manual, English version, 1992 year. 

 

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 with the diaphragm 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  view-finder  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 rewind 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. 
 

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. 

Summary of Contents for Zenit 122

Page 1: ...ter operation fully open diaphragm ensures maximum brightness of the image in the view finder 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 rewind button reduce the time req...

Page 2: ... 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...

Page 3: ...or mounting flash units and other accessories 8 eyelet of strap securing 9 film check pocket 10 lens 11 film rewind knob 12 film rewind crank 13 film speed dial 14 film speed scale 15 film speed index mark 16 protective strip 17 shutter speed dial 18 shutter speed index mark 19 shutter cocking and film advance lever 20 frame counter 21 cassette chamber 22 battery compartment end cap 23 viewfinder ...

Page 4: ... 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 a sprocket 24 tooth engage a film perforation hole close the back door 26 tightly pressing it to make the lock latch to trans...

Page 5: ...ng 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 macroph...

Page 6: ...de to the other you may select one of these values In such a case the exposure will be still acceptably correct 9 2 Exposure setting in cameras with three diode indication Lighting of the upper red diode indicates over exposure and of the lower red one under exposure Turn the aperture setting ring 32 and shutter speed dial 17 till the moment when the middle green diode is lighting continuously It ...

Page 7: ...chanism is not cocked green light indicates that it is cocked press the self timer release button 2 and take your place in front of the lens The shutter will operate no sooner than in 7 seconds after pressing the button self timer operation over return button 5 to its home position 13 Taking flash pictures The camera shutter is synchronized for use with electronic flashes To connect a flash unit w...

Page 8: ...bes without control pins should be used with the lenses in which the aperture is set manually the diaphragm mode selector switch should be set to M 15 Interchangeable Lenses Lens name focal length in mm relative aperture angle of field of view minimum focusing distance in m Mir 20M MC Mir 20M 20 f 3 5 96 0 18 Mir 10A 28 f 3 75 0 20 MC Mir 24M 35 f 2 66 0 30 MC Industar 61 50 f 2 8 45 0 30 Helios 4...

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