,u5

Technica
Descriptio
 ATTENTION!

The present Descriptioncontains characteristics'andessentialoperating princip-

les of the ZENIT-ll camera and cannot be regardedas a handbookon photography.
Before using this camer&;m?ke thorough study of the handling rules and ope-
rating proceduresgiven in the present Description
Due to ever-advancingdevelopmentin camera construction, minor differences
may occur between the text and your camera.

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 U S E SA N D A D V A N T A G E S

Z E N I T - I l i s a 3 5 - m m s i n g l e l e n s i e f l e x c a m e r a i n t e n d e c lf o r a b r o a d c i r c l e o f
amateur photographers.lt is designed for valiious kinds of shooting on black-and-
whitp or color films.
The camera is fitted with a mechanismof automatic pre-set diaphragm, a'built-
in exposure meter, an instant return mirror, a self-timer, a shutter cocking lever
and is synchronizedfor use with flash units.
The camera is focused by a microraster as well as a ground glass collar.
The Fresnel lens ensures uniform brightness of image over the whole field of
view of the viewfinder.
W i t h t h e h e l p o f e x t e n s i o nt u b e s t h e Z E N I T - l l c a m e r a c a n b e u s e d f o r m a k i n g
copies. lt allows as well to take close-uppictures of small-sizeobjects at short dis-
tances (macrophotography) and to takp pictures with the help of a microscope
(photomicrography).
The ZENIT-l I camera has the following features:
- a secret lock of the back door; .
- a shutter disengaging bush;
- a tripod nut in the centre of the camera bottom;
- a shutter speed dial not rotating while cocking the shutter;
- a film rewinding crank;
- cable connection for flash units:
- a hot-shoe for llash units.
 HANDLING RULES
T h e Z E N I T - l l c a m e r a i s a p r e c i s eo p t i c a t - m e c h a n i c ai nl s t r u m e n t . l t s h o u l d b e
handled carefully, kept clean and protected from jolts, dust, moisture and sharp
temperaturefluctuations.
Do not remove the camera from its case the moment it is brought indoors fronr
' c o l d t o a v o i d s w e a t i n g o f i t s p a r t s , e s p e c i a l l yo p t i c a l o n e s .
Do not touch wilh fingers the surfaces of the optical parts since it is likely to
cause deterioration of their coatings. Clean the optical coated lens surfaces with
a c l e a n s o t t c l o t h o r c o t t o n w o o l w a d s l i g h t l y m o i s t e n e dw i t h r e c t i f i e d a l c o h o l o r
ether.
The surfacesof the mirror and focusing device rnay be cleaned only if absolutely
n e c e s s a r yw i t h a d r y s o f t b r u s h b u t i n n o c a s e w i t h h u m i d c l e a n i n g a g e n t s .
( e e p t h e c a m e r a c l o s e di n i t s c a s e ; i n s o d o i n g t h e c a p s h o u l d b e p l a c e d o n t h e
kns and the shutter released.
Do not remove the lens from thp carnera without need to prevent dirt and dust
from getting both onto the surfaces o f t h e l e n s o p t i c a l p a r t s a n d i n t o t h e c a m e r a
itself.

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 T o s c r e wt h e l e n s i n a n d o u t t a k e h o l d o f i t w i t h y o u r h a n d a n d a p p l y l h e l n a i n
t f f o r t t o t h e l e n s m o u n t p a r t c a r r y i n g t h e d e p t h - o t - f i , e lsdc a l e .
L o a d a n d u n l o a d y o u r c a m e r ae i t h e r i n d o o r s o r i n s h a d ep r o t e c t i n gi t a g a i n s t
directsun light.
Always wind the shutteras i"r as it will go to avoid blank exposures.
. D o n o t k e e p t h e c a m e r a w i t h t h e s h u t t e r c o c k e df o r a l o n g p e r i o d o [ t i m e s i n c e
it is likely to impair the shutteroperation.
D o n o t t r y t o r o t a l e t h e s h u t t e r s p e e dd i a l i n t h e s h o r t i n t e r v a l b e t w e e n5 0 0a n d
" 8 " a n d t h e f i l m s p e e dd i a l i n t h e i n t e r v a l h a v i n g n o f i g u r e s . D o n o t r o t a t e t h e
s h u t t e r s p e e dd i a l a n d d o n o t c o c k t h e s h u t t e r w h e n t h e s e l f - t i m e ri s r u n n i n g i n
" 8 " m o d e a n d w h e n s e t t i ' n gt h e r e l e a s eb u t t o n i n " T " p o s i t i o n .l t i s l i k e l y t o c a u s e
u n s t i c k i n go f t h e s h u t t e r b l i n d s t a p e .
T h e c a m e r a p h o t o c e l li s d e s i g n e df o r a l o n g s e r v i c el i f e . T o e n s u r e i t s t r o u b l e -
f r e e o p e r a t i o na n d l o n g t i m e s e r v i c e d o n o t s u b j e c t i t t o t h e d i r e c t s u n l i g h t a n d
c a r r y t h e c a m e r a i n i t s c a s e w h e n y o u a r e n o t u s i n g i t . K e e p t h e p h o t o c e l lw i n d o w
clean to ensure accurate operation ol the exposure meter.
S i n c e t h e c a m e r a i s a c o m p l e x i n s t r u m e n t , i t s r e p a i r a n d a d j u s t r r r e n sl h o u l r l
bc made in repair shopsonly.
 SPECIFICATIONS
Frame slze, 24x36
Film used 35 mm, perforated
Maximum length ol lilm in cassette, m l .q5
Number of frames 30
Shutter speeds, s . from l/30 to l/500,
"8" and long exposure
Brightness measurement range
of exposure meter, cd/m2 . e. from 25 to 13000
Film speed range from 1,6to 500 I'OCT units
LENS HELI'OS44M HELIOS-44M-4
mc HELlos-44M Mc HELIOS-44M-4
Fbcal length, mm 58 58
llaximum relative aperture tl2 tlz
Distance scale, m from 0.55 to o from 0.5 to oo

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 Seat lor sun shade, fifir 454 a54
Light filter mounting ttrread, mm 52x0'.75, 52x0'.75
Viewfinder field of view, mm , t ta 2 0x 2 8
Eyepiecemagnification r I aa 4.3r
Flange/film distance, mm a ou 45.5
Cable release thread . t It Ko 3.5x0.5
Tripod bush thread tl t14
Overall dimensions. mm l 3 6 x9 3x 9 7
Mass, kg 0.s5

'uf
Wfl6

Certificates of authorship:
3ffi447; 150360; 153652;
102683; 476534; 178682.
C A M E R AD E S I G N

I -self-timer lever
2-self-timer release
button
3-f lash unit connector
socket
4-release button threa-
ded for cable release
5.-photocell
6-eyelct for strap secu-
ring
7-lens

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 8 -..-film rewind crank
9 -film rewind knob
l0 -exposure counter dial
I I -shutter cocking and
f ilm advance lever
l2 -shutter disengaging
bush
l3 -shutter speeddial
14 -protective strip of
hot-shoe
l5 -,shoe for mounting
llash units and other
accessories 9
I
14
r8

l7

t6

l0

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l6 -cassette chamber
l 7 -lock latch
l8 -cassette spool guide
l9-viewfinder eyepiece
20-pressure plate
2l -back door
22 -take-up spool
23 -sprocket
24 -tilm frame slides
25-film gate
26 -aperture scale guide
27 -tilm speed scale 26 32 3l 30
28 -aperture scale of calculator
29-shutter speedscale of calculator
3o-exposure meter needle
3l -calculator pointer
32-f ilm speed scale index mark

il
37
36
35 3 3- l e n s m o u n t i n g r i n g
38 34-aperture scale
34 &5-depth-of-field scale
33 3G-distance scale
39
3Z-focusing ring
38 -aperture setting ring
HELIOS-{4ft1-{ lens 39 -control pin

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r3
)
I
 OPERATINGPROCEDURES

I.OADINGTHE CAMERA

Load the camera in the followi,ng procedure:

- pull film. rewind knob 9 upwards; as a result back door 2l should open;
- holding knob I in the upper position, place a cassetteloaded with film into
chamberl6;
- return film rewind knob I completely home to its locked position;
- draw out a lilm leader from the cassetteand insert it into the slot of take.up
spool 22; in so doing ensure that a sprocket tooth engage a sprocket hole in film;
- turn shutter cocking lev.erI I as far as'it will go to make sure that sprocket23
teeth have properly engaged sprocket holes in film;
- c l o s eb a c k d o o r 2 l ;

- fire the shutter by pressing releas" tutton 4. While cocking the shutter, the
film is advanced by one frame. To transport a non-exposed portion of film to tlre
f ilnt ga-te,cock and f ire the shutter twice by turning lever 1l nad pressing button 4.
Bring figure "0" of exposurecounter dial l0 to the index mark before ihe second
shutter firing. Should the film be wound tightly in the cassette,knob g with filrn

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rewind crank 8 will rotate when the shutter is being cocked. lf the film is slack in
lhe cassette,the rewind knob will fail to rotate wilh the llrst lew trames.

F I L M S P E E D S E T T IN G

The film speed scale has figures 16, 32, 65, 130,
25O,500 showing film speed in I-OCT-ASA units.
Under figure 32 there are marked two dots: the
left-hand one corresponds to a film speed of 25
f OCT-ASA units and the right-hand one to 32
f OCT-ASA units. The opposite side of the scale
h a s f i g u r e s 1 3 , 1 6 , 1 9 , 2 2 , 2 5 , 2 8 ,s h o w i n g f i l m s p e e d
in DtN grades.
The f ilm speed scale f igures can be seen in
curved windows of the aperture scale; the windows
are fitted with setting index marks. To set a re-
quired f ilm speed (for example, 65 I-OCT-ASA
units), turn aperture scale 28 to bring the setting
index mark to figure 65. The same procedureshould
b e f o l l o w e d i n s e t t i n g f i l m s p e e di f i t i s c a l i b r a t e d
in Dl N grades.

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 Reference Table of Film Speed Unlts

l6
l6
20
22 25
32
32
n
50
il
45
oo
tr
80
il
90 100
125
130
160
180 200
2fr
250
3m
350 400
500
500
640
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 EXPOSUREDETERMINING :
Direct lhe camera at an object to be photographed.Turn shutter speed scale 2g
to fine up calculator pointer 3l with exposure meter needle 30. By scales 28 and Zg
you can read now a number of combinationsof shutter speedsand aperture values
appropriate for a given scene and speed of the loaded film. With any of these com-
binationsyou can obtain an image of proper density.
The shutter speedand the appropriate lens stop, chosen depending on conditions
ff
of photographing,should be correspondinglyset on the camera and the lens.
Figures from 5O0to 2 on shutter speed scale 29 show shutter speeds in fractions
of a secondand those from I to 30 show whole seconds.Figures wi,thin the interval
from 500 to 30, indicating fractions of a second, on the shutter speed scale 2g of l
f
the calculator correspondto those on the shutter speedscale l3 of the shutter.
For example, figure 125 of the calculator shutter speed scale alines with figure
5.6 of the aperture scale. lt means that with the lens stop of f/5.6, the shutter speed
of lll25 s should be used, with the lens stop of tl4 the shutter speed should be that

f
of 11260s; with the lens stop of f/8-l/60 s and so on.
lf necessary,it is possibleto set a required lens stop by a selectedshutter speed.

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-.-.]
 Should the marks of the scales fail to aline by hall an interval, the lens aperture
ring should be set in a halt-stop click-stop position between correspondingvalues d
of the aperture scale.
Cases of sharply heterogeneousillumination of a scene require special attention:
1) the main object of a scene is less illuminated than the background. Such a I
'
case usually takes ptace when taking pictures against snow, sky or water back-
ground lighted with the sun. To obtain correct exposure ol the main (dark) object, I
open the diaphragm I or 2 steps more as compared with the exposuremet€r reading; I
2) the main object is more illuminated than the background (when taking I *
picture of an illuminated face of a person against a dark background and so on). I
In such a case step down the lens by I or. 2 steps.

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 S H U T T E RS P E E D S E T T I N G

Turn shutter speeddial t B to bring a setected

s h u t t e r s p e e dv a l u e o p p o s i t et o t h e i n d e x m a r k . I n
s o d o i n g t h e d i a l i s c l i c k - s t o p p e d . F i g u r e so n t h e
shutter speed dial show shutter speedsin corres-
ponding lractions of a second and " B" indicates
a h a n d - c o n t r o l l e ds h u t t e r s p e e d .S h u t t e r s p e e d sm a y
be set both with the shutter cocked and released-.
when taking pictures at " B" the shutter remains
open whil.ethe releasebutton is pressed.To obtain
a l o n g e x p o s u r et u r n t h e d e p r e s s e dr e l e a s eb u t t o n
c o u n t e r < l o c k w i s ea s f a r a s i t w i l l g o ( " T " p o s i -
t i o n ) . T h e e x p o s u r eo v e r , r e t u r n t h e i e l e i s e b u t t o n
t o i t s n o r m a l p o s i t i o n .T o t a k e a p i c t u r e w i t h " 8 "
o_rlong exposuresuse should be made of a tripod.
when taking pictures at the other shutter spe.eds
s e e t o i t t h a t i n d e x m a r k s o n t h e r e l e a s eb u t i o n
and the camera top plate (betwoen"T" and "V")
s h o u l db e l i n e d u p .

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 STOP SETTING

To obtain a selectedaperture on HELlOS44fvt-4 lens align with the index mark

aperture
o n e o i t h e f i g u r e s ( 2 , 2 . 8 , 4 , 5 . 6 , 8 , l l , 1 6 ) o f a p e r t u r es c a l e3 4 e n g r a v e do n
setting ring 38.
This procedurewill not result in lens stop setting but will set preliminarily the
release
aperture value to which the diaphragm will close down at the moment the
button is pressed.
The same should be done to set an aperture on HELIOS-44M lens. But in so
posi-
doing the diaphragm mode selector switch of the lens should be set to "A"
tion.

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# FOCUSING

The camera viewfinder is provided with Fresnel

lens43 in the centre of which there are two focusing
devices: microraster 44, arranged in the centre of
the field, and ground glass collar 45. Watching an
object to be photographed,turn focusing ring 3-7to
obtain a sharp image on the microraster or the
ground glass collar. Focusing is better done with
the diaphragm fully open. The best sharpness is
obtained when the image in the microraster-is clear,
without ripples. The ground glass collar is used

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 DEPTH OF FIE,LD DETERMINING

Making use of scales i]5 and iXi, you can determine the distances from the filrn
to lhe front and back limits within which all the objects will be sharp on filrrr. For
example, the lens is focused at ll m and an aperture of f/8 is selected. lrr this case
you can read on scate i]6 against two tigures "8" of scale 35 two figures 2.3 and
{.S. lt means that objects ptaced at a distance froln 2.1} to 4.5 lttetres fronr the
camera will be sharp on film.
Approximate drepth of field limits with a certain aperture set on the lens can be
determined visually as well. In mode of automatic pre-set diaphragm to do this
press release button 4 tilt a definite stop and evaluate the image sharpness visually
on the ground glass collar in the viewfinder.

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I

Ei

P I C T U R ET A K I N G
E]
E.
I

I Having prepared the camera for picture takilrg, cock the shutter, make sure of
F correcttocusing and e x p o s u r es e t t i n g a n d s m o o t h l y p r e s s t h e r e l e a s eb u t t o n t o t a k e
J

a picture.
R E M E M B E R t h a t s h a r p p r e s s u r eo n t h e r e l e a s eb u t t o n r e s u l t s i n c a m e r a s h a k i n g
a t t h e m o m e n t o f e x p o s u r ea n d t h u s i n b l u r r i r r g o f t h e p i c t u r e .
 U N L O A D I N GT H E C A M E R A

When the exposure counter shows figure

36, rewind the f ilm into the cassette.To do
this:
-r release the shutter by pressing release
button 4;
-, s€t the shutter sPeed dial at any
shutter speed but " B" and long exposure;
- disengage the shutter by pressing
down bush l2 against the stoP;
- lift crank 8 and rotate it in the arrow
direction until the film leaves the take-up
spool;
- pull out the film rewind crank as far
a s i t w i l l g o ; a s a r e s u l t t h e b a c k d o o r w i l l open. Holding knob I in the upper po-
silion, remove the cassette.
!f necessary,the camera can be unloaded atter exposing any number of frames.

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 O P E R A TNI G T HE S E L F . T I M
ER

To use the selt-tirner lnou nt the calnera on :r

tripod, then do the following:
- focus the lens;
- set an exposure ( shutter speed and aperture
);
- pr€SS button 4 till a definitp stop and turn it
clockwise. with HELlos-{4M lens instead of
pressing the button, set the d iaphragm mode se-
lector switch to "M" position;
- cock the shutter;
- wind the self-timer by turning the sell-timer
setting lever I down as far as it will go;
- press self-timer release button 2 completely
home;
- take your place in front of the lens.
The shutter will operate no sooner than 7 se-
conds after pressing the button.

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 TAKING FLASH PICTURES

v
The camera shutter is synchronized for use with various types -of flash unlts
(X-synchronization). To connect a flash unit with the camera the latter is fitted
*ittt-" socket on the front wall ol the camera. The camera is provided as well with
a hot-shoe.
Flash pictures can be taken at a shutter speed of l/30 s only.

I N T E R C H A N G E A B L EL E N S E S
t,'

The camera accepts various interchangeable lenses intended tot TENIT type ot
-
reflex cameras with a roller-blind shutter.
ift. interchang..bl. lenses likewise the standard ones are mounted on the ca'
-"i"-Uy--.u.r m42Xl thread. The fla-ngeffilmdistance of the lensesis 45.5 mm.
When using "fu fAlfi-gn interchangeabE'lens the left-hand and the right-hand
--itt.
.ages well ?s the upper one of the-image on negativ..may be slightly llt"?lf;^
"rcamera does iroi'altow to use its exposure meter when use is made ot 3M-5A
lenses
o, niC Mi'o-i000- nrrl int"rchangeable lenses as the outer mounts of these
shade the photocell.
Whpn interchangeablelenses having no automatic pre-set diaphragm are used,
the diaphragm is set manuallY.

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 Interchangeable Lenses

Lens name focal angle of

length field of
in mm view

M i r -l 0 A 28 f/3.5 75" 0.20

Mir-l 37 r12.8 600 0.24
MC Industar-61 50 r12.8 45" 0.30
Jupiter-9 85 rl2 280 1.00
Helios-40-2 85 t l t. 5 29" 0.80
T a i r -I 1 A 135 f12.8 l8' 1.20
Jupiter-6-2 180 r12.8 L4" 2.00
Jupiter-2lA 200 fl4 12" 1.70
Tair-3A 300 f 14.5 80 2.20
3M-5A 500 f/8 50 4.00
MC MTO-IOOO AM I 000 f/10 2030' 10:00
 CLOSE.UPSHOOTING

With the help of a special stand

t h e Z EN l T - l l c a m e r a c a n b e u s e d f o r
making copies of drawings, manu-
scripts, photographs, etc. To make
c o p i e s u s e s h o ul d b e m a d e o f e x t e n -
sion tubes that go between the camera
casing and the lens. One tube or a
combination of tubes can be used to
achieve the magnification wanted.
Reproduction scale depends on the
length and number of tubes which is
clearly illustrated by the copies of a
postage stamp.
When use is made of H ELIOS-44M-4
lens, extension tubes fitted with cont-
r o l p i n s ( y T 3 T ) s h o u l d b e u s e d .O t h e r
inlerchangeable lenses accept exten-
sion tubes without control pi ns ( yT3 ) .
In such a case the diaphragm is set
manually.

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 CONTENTS
Attention 2
Uses and Advantages . 3
Handling Rules 4
Specifications 6
Camera Design 8
Operating Procedures l4
Loading the Camera t4
Film Speed Setting l5
Exposure Determining t7
Shutte-rSpeed Settinf l9
Stop Setting 20
Focusing 2l
Depth of Field Determining 22
P-icture Taking 23
Unloading the Camera 24
Operating
Operatins the Self-timer
Self-tin 25
Takins Flash IPictures
Taking 26
InterchangeableLenses 26
Close-uo Shooting
Close-up Shooti 28

Ord.8303-1135

iil