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Specification

From the "СОВЕТСКОЕ ФОТО" (No. 5, 1990)

At the second Moscow International Exhibition of Consumer Goods, among the abundance of clothing and computers, perfumes from French companies and video equipment from Japanese manufacturers, photographic equipment was presented very modestly. For the first time, the exposition of the "Ministry of Defense Industry" was legalized. The large stand presented photographic equipment and samovars, bicycles and motor-blocks... There were not too many new products. "Зенит-12СД" is listed as "Зенит-122" with a transformed appearance by designer V. Shablevich. Despite the resistance to this action from the employees of the administrative apparatus (ministry), Krasnogorsk Mechanical Plant probably managed to defend the decision made earlier by the plant: to extend the life of the "12СД" model in a new modern pop form. Otherwise, was it worth demonstrating this model and publishing brochures, disorienting visitors to the exhibition? And although the camera is obsolete, it is in demand and brings in profit. Perhaps its release will somehow compensate the plant for the unprofitable "Зенит" cameras of the new generation.

From the "СОВЕТСКОЕ ФОТО" (No. 4, 1991)

The Зенит-122 camera is a modernized version of the well-known Зенит-12СД. The new camera has a changed appearance. The metal body, on which all the units and mechanisms of the camera are mounted, is covered with an overhead plastic front panel with an ergonomic protrusion. The back cover also has a protrusion for a comfortable position of the thumb, thanks to which the camera is held well, without slipping out of your hands. Thus, due to the more stable position of the camera, the possibility of obtaining sharp, unblurred negatives when releasing the shutter is significantly increased. An undoubted advantage of the new Зенит is a light, finely matted focusing screen without visible irritating Fresnel lens rings (which are hidden under the matte surface). It is equipped with typical focusing elements: Dodin wedges and a macro-raster ring. The matte surface allows focusing over the entire field of the focusing screen. Exposure parameters are determined at the working aperture, as in the Зенит-12СД camera, and their indication is carried out by the constant glow of one of the three LEDs located on the viewfinder display. The glow of the upper (red) means "too much light", the lower (also red) means "too little light", the glow of the middle green LED indicates that the exposure parameters have been selected correctly. The electric circuit of the exposure metering device is powered by two power elements (Ц-32 СЦ-0,12, МЦ-105, etc.). Film sensitivity values ​​from 16 to 500 GOST/ISO are entered into the exposure metering device using a convenient disk located on the same axis as the film rewind handle. An interesting solution is the reset of the automatic frame counter, which is performed only by pressing the retractable film rewind button. Now, when you open the back cover, the frame counter readings are not reset to "0". The camera has noticeably "lost weight": its weight is 0.82 kg. For now, the Зенит-122 is equipped with a multi-coated lens, the "МС Гелиос-44М-4" 2/58. The other technical characteristics are the same as those of the Зенит-12СД.

Without diminishing the advantages of the camera, it is worth noting some shortcomings that somewhat reduce its operational capabilities. The diaphragm drive mechanism significantly complicates the shutter release (this can be easily verified by using lenses without a jumping diaphragm mechanism). The shutter speed setting head is small and "well hidden" in the design of the top cover, which complicates working with the camera. The pocket for inserts on the front panel is also inconveniently located (it immediately had to be covered with a decorative plate), which creates inconvenience for the left hand. It should have been placed on the bottom cover, as it is successfully done on the "Зенит-Ап" camera. Another drawback is the small size of the focusing screen (20x28mm) and the long stroke of the shutter cocking lever. However, these demands are already beyond the design capabilities of this camera and can be implemented in others. In our opinion, it would be appropriate to release a version of this Зенит with a bayonet mount of the K type, which would significantly improve the kinematics of the shutter release mechanism, which, in turn, would ensure the stability of the camera during shooting and ultimately improve the image quality.

From the editor

A model developed on the basis of the Zenit-12sd and featuring a plastic body with a new design and ergonomics, a new self-timer mechanism*, as well as wedges in the center of the matte screen for ease of focusing.

* The "Зенит-122В" modification did not have a self-timer.

The camera was produced by the Krasnogorsk Mechanical Plant (Russia) from 1990 to 2005. In total, according to KMZ, 1,971,745 bodies were produced.

The weight and dimensions are indicated for the camera body with a standard lens.

Zenit-122[V] special editions (3)

• Zenit-122 "50th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War" (4500 units) - 1995
• Zenit-122 "KMZ 50th Anniversary" (6541 units) - 1992
• Zenit-122 "Moscow 850th Anniversary" - 1997

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